Women and the Plight of Native Americans

            The authors of these works come from very different backgrounds, however, the theme of their writing coincides. Apess, Sigourney, as well as other writers of their time (Thomson, Wordsworth, Whitman) all discuss people that were the second-class citizens in society, women and Native Americans.

            Apess takes a more literal and direct approach in discussing the plight of the Native Americans because he had experience in discrimination since his mother was Native American. Apess does not understand why white people degrade other races and treat them as a lower class, since they are all children of God. He brings up certain viewpoints and reasoning from the white perspective talking about why they took over the Native Americans. He makes it clear that they were thought of as uncivilized and uneducated, but it was obvious that they had still had many talents that could be beneficial to Americans if they cooperated with them.  “Now, if these people are what they are held up in our view to be, I would take the liberty to ask why they are not brought forward and pains taken to educate them, to give them all a common education, and those of the brightest and first-rate talents put forward and held up to office.” (641, Apess) He states that Native Americans still have the same principles and feelings even though they have a different skin color. Apess’s main point through his writing is that Native Americans are no less than whites and should not be treated as any less. “If black or red skins or any other skin color is disgraceful to God, it appears that he has disgraced himself a great deal- for he has made fifteen colored people to one white and placed them here upon this earth.” (642, Apess) He also brings in his personal life by stating “And I can tell you that I am satisfied with the manner of my creation, fully-whether others are or not.” (642, Apess)

            Sigourney also highlights these important issues of the time with her poems “Indian Names” and “To a Shred of Linen.” Her approach to the status of women and the plight of the Native Americans is a little more metaphorical. “Indian Names” explains that while Native Americans have been killed and vanished from this country, they will forever have an imprint because they were the ones who first settled and treasured this land. “Your mountains build their monument, though ye destroy their dust.” (1205, Sigourney) In each stanza Sigourney describes he traditions and belongings of the Native Americans that have disappeared, but she ends with a line describing how their memory and culture will live on. This poem is a testament to the original settlers of the United States and how they will always be a part of our history, despite the desperate actions of the hateful white settlers. “To a Shred of Linen” is slightly more light-hearted, but still just as important in describing the status of women. This poem is written through the eyes of a woman who’s only worth is thought to be a housewife. Her husband believes that she is not intelligent and that reading and education make her disobedient. Sigourney brings in some satire by making light of the man’s thoughts “For men have deeper minds than women-sure!”, but it does not make her point any less important because women at that time were trying so hard to be treated as intelligent equals, just as the Native Americans were.