User:Katherine Hudson/sandbox

The additions I am going to make on this Wikipedia page is a section on the Historical Traumas of the Spokane Indians and add to the Censorship section. I am mainly going to reference Jan Johnson's "Healing the Soul Wound in Flight and Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," it touches upon the aspects of the healing of the Spokane Indians. I believe an addition about the Spokane Indian Traumas is necessary because the site lacks this information, and it is important that people learn more about the hardships and tragedies this group went through. Another addition I am going to make is adding to the Censorship section of the site. This section lacks detail about why the book was banned in certain places and does not go into depth about how or why the book was banned. The specific case I am going to go into detail about is how in Idaho, public schools have a requirement to have indigenous texts, which led to student outrage and protests. ~ Katherine Hudson (talk) 03:28, 14 November 2016 (UTC)Katherine Hudson

2015, Meridian Idaho

Sherman Alexie’s, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has been banned in numerous places across the country because of its explicit descriptions of sexual behavior, racism, and profane language. According to Marshall University Libraries, in 2015 the text was banned from the Meridian (ID) school districts' required texts due to parents complaining that it “discusses masturbation, contains profanity, and has been viewed as anti-Christian” (Marshall University 3). As an attempt to make amends with the parents and their wishes, a committee from the school board decided that the book was not going to be fully banned. In order for 10^th grade students to be eligible to read it in class they needed a parent signed permission slip (Roberts 1). The Meridian high school superintendent, Linda Clark, was the one who made the executive decision that the book should be fully pulled from the curriculum and replaced with something more age appropriate (Roberts 1). Numerous parents agreed with their actions, however, there were many adults and students who did not see an issue with the book being taught in a high school setting (Roberts 1). Certain adults spoke out and took action to keep the novel in the districts curriculum because they saw that its content can potentially impact a student in a positive way. A petition organized by Brady Kissel, a mountain view student, was signed by 350 different students from the Meridian district. It gave Baker and Lott, two young women from Washington State, an idea that allows the students to have access to the book without it being required (Connelly 1). Their thought process was if students are un able to read it in a school setting, it should be accessible outside the classroom (Connelly 1). Stacy Lacy, a teacher from Meridian high school was one of many who spoke out against the decision to ban the novel. She believes that the story of how a young boy is put into a new school environment and is bullied due to his race and ethnicity applies to many teenagers today (Connelly 1). To back up her argument, she told a story about a boy she had in one of her classes. At first, the boy was attached to his phone and never read a book in his life, but once he was handed Sherman Alexie’s novel it changed everything. He read every single page of the book and then passed it on to his classmates to read (Connelly 1). Clay believes that despite the fact it contains profane language and “inappropriate” scenes, the book can have a positive impact on students (Connelly 1).

Historical Traumas of Spokane Indians

Sherman Alexie grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. While living on the reservation he had to make sacrifices and choices that guided the direction of his future. In his novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, he writes a story about his own personal experiences he faced once he left the reservation, and how he decided to go to school for a proper education was quite difficult to adjust. In Jan Johnson’s article Healing the Soul Wound in Flight and The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, she talks about how Junior went from being one of the smartest kids on the reservation, to being a target in his new prominently white school. Johnson explains that behaviors of the character in Flight is a reflection on the traumas Native American Indians went through. On the other hand, The Diary, is a possible indication of the healing process from the tragedies and traumas the Spokane Indians faced throughout history (Johnson 224). It is important for people to understand how this specific group and other groups of Native Americans were dehumanized and ripped of their cultural values, which is what Johnson considered the “soul wound” of American Indians. Columbus and his men colonized the new land they encountered in horrid ways that diminished Native people of anything they had. Violent invasions by Columbus and his crew left the Indians with nothing to call their own. Sacred land, animals, plants, and relatives were all lost during the time of what Maria Yellow Brave Heart and Lemyra DeBruyn called the “American Indian Holocaust” (Johnson, 226). The ones that were somewhat fortunate enough to stay alive were brainwashed of everything they knew, and were forced to believe and follow the religious practices of the Christian faith despite the fact it was not what they believed in. The Indians were also forced to relocate and leave everything; which led to many of them dying due to illness or unbearable conditions they had to walk in (The American Indian Holocaust: Healing historical unresolved grief). Even though the traumas Native Indians faced occurred millions of years ago, they currently are still affected by them (The American Indian Holocaust: Healing historical unresolved grief). It is the “historical unresolved grief” that is the cause of high crime rates and mental health issues among Native American people today (The American Indian Holocaust: Healing historical unresolved grief). Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart and Lemyra DeBruyn, explain the meaning behind “historical disenfranchised grief” and how it is overlooked by Americans. American Indians are experiencing disenfranchised grief because of how this group of people was and still is seen as savages, emotionless, and have no right or reason to mourn and grieve (The American Indian Holocaust: Healing historical unresolved grief).

Bibliography:

Alexie, Sherman,,Forney, Ellen,,. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian., 2009. /z-wcorg/. Web.

Scales, Pat,,. Books Under Fire : A Hit List of Banned and Challenged Children's Books., 2015. /z-wcorg/. Web.

Duran, Eduardo, Bonnie Duran, Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart, and Susan Yellow Horse-Davis. "Healing the American Indian Soul Wound." International Handbook of Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma (1998): 341-54. Web.

Maria Yellow Horse, Brave Heart, and Lemyra M. DeBruyn. "The American Indian Holocaust: Healing Historical Unresolved Grief." American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research 8.2 (1998): 56. ProQuest. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.

"Marshall University Libraries." Marshall University Libraries - Banned Book - Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.

"Meridian Leaves Controversial Novel in Limbo." Idaho Education News. N.p., 2014. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.

"Book Controversy Gives Way to Giveaway." Idaho Education News. N.p., 2014. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.

Robertsbroberts@idahostatesman.com, Bill. "West Ada's Linda Clark Resigns, Blames Trustees' 'witch Hunt'" Idahostatesman. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.

Hello Katie,

  Your Meridian Idaho case for censorship is really thorough. Perhaps you could cite more of the sentences in the description of the case, however. I know that the citations are there but they are a little sporadic. Putting them in after every sentence may feel repetitive (I didn't do it in my draft for that reason), but it would feel better researched to a reader. I like how you brought in a related case in Washington State, but perhaps clarify what happened and the link between the two cases. The wording is at times confusing.

Your second question is really well explained and I think is an important piece missing from the article. Again, tighten up on citing almost every sentence and make sure you aren't expressing opinions. The "as an American..." line needs reworking. Make sure you have a verifiable source for statements like that. Perhaps a quote from a critic expressing the sentiment you write would work, if you can find. Best, Percy I left the same note on the talk page but wanted to make sure you saw it here. Comments also on the talk page. Percymetcalfe (talk) 18:20, 28 November 2016 (UTC)PercymetcalfePercymetcalfe (talk) 18:20, 28 November 2016 (UTC)