Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West is a 1970 book by Dee Brown that tells the history of Native Americans in the American West in the late 1800s. The book is considered a classic and has won numerous awards, including the 1971 Bancroft Prize for history.
Dee Brown was born in 1908 in Alberta, Louisiana. He received a bachelor's degree in history from Louisiana State University and a master's degree from the University of Illinois. Brown was a prolific writer and historian, with a particular interest in the history of the American West and Native Americans.
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is a detailed and deeply moving account of the struggles of Native Americans during the late 1800s, as the United States government pursued a policy of expansion and colonization that often resulted in the displacement and extermination of Native American tribes. The book begins with the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864, in which a group of Cheyenne and Arapaho people were brutally killed by U.S. troops, and covers a range of events up until the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890, in which hundreds of Lakota Sioux were killed by U.S. troops.
Throughout the book, Brown draws on a wide range of sources, including government documents, diaries, and eyewitness accounts, to provide a nuanced and deeply human portrayal of the Native American experience during this period. He writes with compassion and empathy, bringing to life the stories of individuals who were often marginalized and forgotten in mainstream histories of the American West.
One of the most powerful aspects of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is its ability to bring to light the complexities and contradictions of the Native American experience. While the book is filled with stories of violence and injustice, it also highlights the resilience and determination of Native American leaders who fought for their rights and their way of life. Brown's portrayal of these leaders, such as Sitting Bull and Red Cloud, is nuanced and respectful, and he makes a powerful case for the importance of understanding and acknowledging their contributions to American history.
In conclusion, Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is a landmark work of history that has had a lasting impact on the way we think about the American West and Native Americans. Its powerful and poignant portrayal of the struggles and triumphs of Native American people during the late 1800s continues to inspire and educate readers today.
