Voices of Wounded Knee

By William S.E. Coleman

Book Overview

In Voices of Wounded Knee , William S. E. Coleman brings together for the first time all the available sources-Lakota, military, and civilian-on the massacre of 29 December 1890. He recreates the Ghost Dance in detail and shows how it related to the events leading up to the massacre. Using accounts of participants and observers, Coleman reconstructs the massacre moment by moment. He places contradictory accounts in direct juxtaposition, allowing the reader to decide who was telling the truth.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803215061
• ISBN13: 9780803215061
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
• Length: 446 Pages
• Weight: 1.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.8" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

The true voice of our darkest history

William S.E. Coleman, who is one of America's best writers to begin with, has created the definitive history of the tragedy at Wounded Knee. The consummate western researcher, Doctor Coleman has been one of the foremost experts on William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody for several decades. His knowledge and fascination with the bridging of the wild west into the theater of the 20th century has led him on this profound, oral excavation of the events that signaled the final betrayal of the American Indian and particularly the Sioux culture. This mesmerizing project presents the actual words of the principal witnesses to the massacre of non-combatant men, women and children near Wounded Knee Creek in 1890. There has never been a truer or more accurate accounting of the events that formed the Messianic, Ghost Dance rituals of the Oglala and Lakota Sioux, which were ultimately misinterpreted by the Eurocentric, white settlers and military. Beginning with the reminiscence of Ben Black Elk in a hypnotic, 1971 interview, Coleman uses the written transcripts of the participants, observers, government employees and the Indians themselves to describe the shattered treaties, subcultural prejudices and provocative press accounts that spawned the genocide. His resources are varied and composed alongside each other in an unusually egalitarian mixture, allowing the reader to judge complicity and culpability without bias. Voices is the ultimate deconstruction of an extremely confusing and dangerous time in the United States as the home, lifestyle and spiritual essence of the first Americans all but evaporate with the final settling of the frontier. 118 years seem to vanish as the very words of those involved allow us an intimate and authentically immediate recounting unlike any ever offered. It is a masterpiece of human understanding and one of the most exciting histories I've ever read.

Excellent Book on Native American History!!!!

This book was very informative and Coleman's style of writing took me back in time during the time of Wounded Knee. Coleman's sources are the most accurate on the subject of the Soiux Nations struggles, Because he interviewed a Soiux tribal member. I thougt it was awesome the way Coleman takes his son's to meet the author of " Bury my heart at Wounded Knee." or at least the author's grandson.

A National Crime Re-Examined - Voices from the Past Speak

I thoroughly appreciated Coleman's technique of piecing actual historical record (interviews & letters) with a minimal of commentary - While hardly a dry presentation, Coleman's technique recreates the atmosphere of the time, and made me feel like I was "living" the events of the time as if I was recieving real-time press reports and actually listening to interviews of the participants. Coleman also reminds the reader of the importance of studying "unfiltered" historical material - His organization of such material into a comprehensive chronolgy is what makes this book truly unique.From a historical perspective - the book is also a must-read and should be REQUIRED READING in ALL US HISTORY COURSES. As usuall, our national crimes and shame in mistreating the American Indians - particulary the Lakotas - continues to be white-washed. Reading actual writings from many of the key individuals of the time (Red Cloud, McLaughlin, Short Bull, Nelson Miles, Sherman, and various newspaper editorials) provides a shocking view of America's virulent racism, the press's penchant for creating panic and militaristic feeling, political greed and ambition, Indian despiration and hoplessness. If reparations are due anyone - its these people.

Voices of Wounded Knee

A very informative, well written book. It shows the injustice that the "white man" did to the Native Ameican. It is a Must Read for all. Am glad that the author had first hand information from someone that was there at the time.