I Am a Man: Chief Standing Bear's Journey for Justice

by Joe Starita

Book Overview

In 1877, Chief Standing Bear's Ponca Indian tribe was forcibly removed from their Nebraska homeland and marched to what was then known as Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), in what became the tribe's own Trail of Tears. "I Am a Man" chronicles what happened when Standing Bear set off on a six-hundred-mile walk to return the body of his only son to their traditional burial ground. Along the way, it examines the complex relationship between...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312606389
• ISBN13: 9780312606381
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

"I Am a Man': Chief Standing Bear's Journey for Justice

Book arrived as promised and in new condition. Contents are outstanding and very well written. Highly recommend it to anyyone interested in Native American history.

breaking news story

Perhaps the greatest strength of this book is Starita's ability to uncover details that break the mold- of dusty images that shape a single definition of that period in history which we forcibly removed Indians ( in keeping with the historical use of the word) from their traditional lands. There were in fact army generals who fought for Indian rights and there were Indians who pulled half frozen U.S. soldiers out of the snow. Nothing is left out. You will know how much snow fell on an eventful day and what was eaten for breakfast,what was worn to church, and so on. Starita begins with Jefferson pursuing grand illusions that translated to violent removal of Indians and ends with the Hayes presidency bestowing gifts like St Nick and restoring the good faith of white citizens while granting tangible property rights and restitiuion to Native Americans. Standing Bear stands in between all this, surviving all those years with unkillable resolve and supernatural grace. The death of his son is the pivotal moment of this story, creating the symbolic sacrifice that a Christian nation's heart could not ignore and fueled a vigorous debate of those in moral and intellectual circles whose power (and wealth) eventually reached congressional halls. The voice of Starita is one of respect and awe. He returns us to a breaking moment of history so that we awaken from the apathy of time to discover Standing Bear in a federal courtroom giving us his famous words " I am a man" no less famous than "The British are coming" at the time. The significance was lost to us but Startia tries to keep the profound moment fresh when Standing Bear is granted constitutional rights under the 14th amendment. It might have you cheering or just wondering why you never learned this before.

A Story Few of Us Know

As a graduate from UC Davis with a minor in Native American Studies, and being of Cherokee descent, I thought I know a fair amount of Native American history. While I had heard of Chief Standing Bears court battle to be recognized as a man and a citizen of the United States, I knew only the surface of this intriguing and important event. Joe Starita has done Chief Standing Bear and the Ponca a great service in his well-written account of a fascinating chapter of US history that has far-reaching implications for all of us of Native American descent. Starita manages to present the facts and keep the reader's interest in what could have been--but is not--just another boring history book. Starita's book is a page turner, especially as the trial approaches and he reveals one fascinating fact after another. I only wish this book were required reading for all students of American history. It is an eye-opener!

Great Read of Fascinating True Story

This book was recommended by the History Book Club. I rarely read a nonfiction from front to back, this is one of the few that I could not put down. This is an inspiring story about a Ponca chief challenging the federal government in court and the many white citizens working on his behalf. While it tells of many horrors, it is a success story for all americans regardless if aboriginal, immigrant, or native. Tells of experiences in Nebraska, Oklahoma, and travels in Chicago, New York and other cities in eastern U.S. This is history of events that took place after the american civil war.

A great read

This is a fascinating book. I was born and raised in Nebraska and had not heard this story. Absolutely a must read.