Impressions of An Indian Childhood

Text: Zitkala Sa's "Impressions of An Indian Childhood pgs. 1006-1019

While reading Zitkala Sa's "Impressions of An Indian Childhood" I began picking up on some general themes that are presented throughout the text. I thought there was a big theme of freedom being developed as well as a big theme on the importance of family and tradition. From the very beginning Sa's mother expresses her deep hatred for the "paleface" or the white man; this is important in seeing how Sa was brought up to view the white man. Zitkala Sa was brought up to hate the white man, however, at the same time we see Sa's mother have relationships with white men and Zitkala Sa is in fact half white. So there is quite a contradiction when it comes to what her mother says and what Zitkala sees her doing. I thought that was very interesting.

I was rather surprised when Zitkala Sa's mother allowed her to go to the East and travel away from home like she did. It's obvious throughout the story that Sa looked up to her mother and that family was a big part of their everyday lives. However, Zitkala Sa's mother allows her to go regardless of what she thinks about the white man. I think her mother allows her to go because she realizes that Zitkala Sa is very curious about what is virtually unknown to her. I think that she realizes that if she doesn't let Zitkala Sa go then she might lose her.

Freedom is another big theme throughout the text. It seems to me that Zitkala Sa cares a lot about freedom and is sometimes worried about losing it. Her mother talks about when their freedom was taken away and how they were forced to move to another place. So Zitkala Sa grows up with these stories of the freedom of her family members being stripped away from them and then having to grow up and realize that she's not so free herself. So I think that Zitkala Sa struggles with freedom and the fact that she wants it but sometimes feels as though freedom is too far out of reach for her.

I think this is a story about freedom, family and traditions, as well as a growing up story. A story about identity and about a girl trying to find herself. It's about a girl trying to find herself is a very confusing world. She's trying to find her own identity amongst all the people who already have an idea about who she is. She's trying to find her place in the world.

Washington Vs. Du Bois

Washington at the beginning of his speech seems to really want the Negro race to move forward and to leave behind the prejudices of the Southern white people. Washington is seemingly encouraging them to join together, work together with each other in order to better both races. However, as the speech goes on we see Washington contradict himself (he seems to change his stance) and basically tell the Negroes that they should try and get whatever they can. That they need to work on obtaining equality with the Southern white people and that they need to bring themselves up to the 'level' of the whites. So I found Washington's speech to be quite contradictory.

Du Bois' piece was basically his way of disagreeing with what Washington was saying and pointing out the bad aspects of his speech. Du Bois repeats parts of Washington's speech and comments on them. He explains that although Washington sounded as though he was all for the equality between races it seemed that he didn't think that the equality should be an immediate change and that Negroes should be happy for what they get. Basically Du Bois thought Washington was telling the Negro community to give up some parts of equality in order to obtain other aspects.

After reading the pieces by Washington and Du Bois I have no choice but to agree with Du Bois. Du Bois addresses how he disagrees with Washington's advice to the Negro race and how he thinks Washington was wrong. Du Bois criticizes Washington's speech only after he admired the small parts which he thought were well done. Du Bois brings up very valid points about the downfalls of Washington's speech. As Du Bois stated:

"Mr. Washington distinctly
asks that black people give up,
at least, for the present, three
things --
1. political power
2. insistence on civil rights
3. higher education of Negro youth" (889)

and Washington instructs them to instead focus all of their energy on "industrial education, the accumulation of wealth, and the conciliation of the South" (889). Du Bois, and I agree, seemed to feel as though that is a lot to give up and there is a lack of anything really gained.

Regionalism - Story

“Look Mommy, I’m dancing in a snow globe!” six-year-old Molly yelled to her mother a few feet away.
“Awesome Moll,” her mother responded, “just be careful!”
Maura, single mother of one, loved the fact that Molly was so carefree. Despite the hardships and all the problems they had encountered over the last few years, that all disappeared as the snow continued to fall around her. Molly was the single thing that kept Maura going and made her remember the good things in life.

The snow covered wood filled with naked maple and oak trees surrounded the mother and daughter. For miles all one could see was snow covered wildlife and nature. The snow covered everything, making the landscape turn a beautifully pure shade of white. Glancing around Maura scanned the forest for a sight of her daughter.
“Molly!” she screamed. “Molly, where are you!?”
Maura turned around and around frantically searching for her little girl. After what seemed like forever, she hears a faint giggle amongst the deafening silence.
“Mommy, look,” Molly giggled, “I made a snow angel!”
Looking behind her, Maura finds her daughter slowly getting up as to not smudge her perfect snow angel.
“That’s lovely Molly,” Maura breathed a sigh of relief, “but make sure you stay with me, you want to get to the top of the hill don’t you?”
“Yes Mommy.” Molly said picking up the sled that was discarded just a few moments earlier in the snow.

Earlier that morning Maura woke up at quarter to 6 to the sound of her alarm clock. Quickly, as to not disturb Molly, she snapped the alarm off and sluggishly crawled out of bed. Slowly she made her way to the kitchen, poured herself some coffee that was left over from the day before and placed it in the microwave. Sitting down at the dinning room table she reached for the remote and click on the television.
“What one of the three News programs do I want to watch this morning?” Maura grumbled to herself.
She hated not having more than three channels. Although she would love to have some of the educational channels and maybe the Disney channel for Molly she couldn’t afford the extra bill every month. So for now they made due with the three local channels.
“For those of you who haven’t looked out your windows yet,” the weather man boomed, “we had quite the storm while you were sleeping!”
Beep…beep…beep…the microwave sounded altering her that it had been two minuets and her coffee was ready to be consumed.
“Great more snow,” Maura mumbled as she reached to add some sugar in her coffee.
Sitting down at the kitchen table once more Maura watched the school closing run along the bottom of the screen.
“I wouldn’t plan on going anywhere today because it can only get worse folks!” the weather man pronounced with a huge grin.
“Why are you so happy? You get paid even if it doesn’t snow so can’t you just predict it to be nice for a change?” Maura asked the weather man while intently watching the schools continue to scroll.
“Mommy! Mommy!” Molly gleefully proclaimed while running out of the bedroom.
“Yes dear?” Maura asked.
“Did you see the snow outside? Did you see all of it? There’s so much! I can’t believe it! I think it’s higher than I am! Can I go play in it? Please Mommy! Please!” Molly pleaded.
“Don’t you want to know if you have to go to school or not?” Maura asked while proceeding to stand up to grab a bowl for Molly’s breakfast.
“Mommy, I can’t have school today! Nothing can get through that stuff! It’s people proof!” said Molly in all seriousness.
“Oh is it now?” Maura asked with a giggle.
Maura placed a bowl filled with CHERRIOS and milk in front of Molly so she could eat some breakfast.
“Orange Juice or Apple Juice this morning, kiddo?” Maura asked opening the fridge.
“Apple, please!” Molly said with a mouthful.
“Okay, well while you eat, Mommy is going to watch for school closings to see if you can go outside and play.” Maura explained setting down the cup of juice.
“What does school starts with?” Molly asked.
“School stars with an ‘s’ but your specific school starts with a ‘d’” Maura said.
“I’ll watch for a ‘d’.” Molly said taking a huge spoonful of CHERRIOS in her mouth.
While Molly’s eyes were glued to the screen watching for a ‘d’ to come on Maura went to pour herself another cup of coffee.
“There it is Mommy!” Molly yelled, jumping out of her seat and running over to her.
“Yep, no school for you!” Maura said.
“Yay!! I get to go play then?” Molly asked.
“Do you want to go sliding?” Maura asked.
Molly’s eyes grew to be as big as she thought about this question. You could see the excitement in her eyes and she thought about it. Her mouth gapped open and she began to giggle.
“Am I old enough?” Molly asked.
“I think so, it’ll be fun. A great way to spend a day a snow day!” Maura said. “Now go on and get ready, we have a long walk ahead of us!”
Molly ran into the bathroom and started brushing her teeth. Maura heard the faucet turn on and Molly humming along while brushing her teeth. Maura sat down at the kitchen table and smiled. At least snow is good for something, she thought to herself.

As Maura and Molly finally reached the top of the hill and Molly was glad.
“That’s a big hill mommy” Molly said.
“I know baby” Maura said patting her on the top of the head.
Maura turned around and looked down the hill. It was higher than she had remembered. It was more beautiful than she had remembered too.
“Mommy are we going to go down the hill?” Molly asked after waiting patiently for a couple of minuets.
Snapping back into reality Maura looked down at Molly and said, “Yes dear. Now here, I’m going to sit down on the sled and you can sit in front of me.”
Molly sat down in between Maura’s legs and held on tightly. Maura pushed them off and held onto Molly tightly as they went speeding down the hill. Maura could hear Molly’s giggle get louder as they went down the huge hill. Their hair flying back in the wind as they glided on top of the snow, seemingly weightless.

At the bottom of the hill Molly rolled off of the sled and rolled around on the ground laughing. Her laughter echoed throughout the wood as Maura sat there starring at her. Slowly a smile came to Maura’s face and she began to giggle. Molly’s laugh was like and infection spreading into Maura’s body and making her so happy. The sound of the laugh was contagious creating and impossible urge in Maura to laugh just as loudly and just as long. Eventually Maura couldn’t help herself any longer and began laughing along with her daughter.
“Mommy, what’s wrong?” Molly said standing over her Mother.
“What do you mean?” Maura asked sitting up and looking at the terrified look that had crossed Molly’s face.
“You’re crying…” Molly said quietly.
“Oh hunny,” Maura said, bringing her close to her in order to give her a hug. “I’m just so happy that I started to cry but I’m not upset. I’m just so happy.”
“I’ve never heard you laugh like that.” Molly said.
“I know, hun, and thanks to you I’ll be able to laugh like that more often.” Maura said tickling her.
Molly started laughing hard again and so did Maura.

Together laughing hysterically the mother and daughter were having the time of their lives. Getting soaked from the snow beneath them and covered with the falling snow. Amongst the tall Maple and Oak trees, Maura remembered what it meant to grow up in Western New York.