This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Monday, September 21, 2009
"In The White Man's Image" - Period 1
Today you watched the film, In the White Man's Image. Post your thoughts about the film and make sure to comment on at least one other student's post.
24 comments:
Eric Campos
said...
I thought that the movie informed me on alot of things i didn't know. Thought it was pretty crazy how "the white man" would make Native Americans be like them. The pictures of the Native American families that had all short hair and wearing American clothing made me think about America's history. After seeing what the families used to look like and what was acceptable in their culture i was mind boggled to see what "the white man" had actually done to the Native Americans.
i thought that movie was very informing about things that i didnt even know went on., the fact that the white man took people away from their families and cultures i felt was wrong. they may be known as savages and different from us but i dfont believe that it is right for us to take them away and convert them into our cultures
i thought it was intereswting how the black and the native americans had the same problems and they were kinda treated the same. for the americans to take them away like erin said is wrong in my eyes. let them live the life they want to live, let them believe in their own culture.
After watching this film I was reminded of the song "Indian Reservation (Cherokee People)" This song is about the Cherokee People being forced onto a reservations site. I have also read a book about an indian reservation called _The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven_. This film was similar to these two other descriptions of life on a reservation. Obviously the Native Americans did not go willingly and looking at this it seems so cruel to force this on these people. The "White Men" worked to completely strip the Cheyenne People and many other tribes of their culture. I was just as shocked as Eric was after seeing at how the Cheyenne People's apperances alone were so strikingly different from their original look. I agree with Timonicca that the Native Americans and African Americans faced similar problems with the white race and none of the negative actions towards these races are/were acceptable.
After watching this film I too was shocked like Eric and Lyndsey about the significant appearance change the Cheyenne people went through. I think that the white men knew they could take advantage of the Natives and did it to the best of their abilities. The white men were selfish with their actions and didn't consider the people they we're distroying along the way, which makes me think of how people do that today as well.
It really struck me when the narrator said that the "white men" forced the Native Americans to cut their hair even though in the Native American culture, that is a sign of mourning.I realized that the white men didn't care to learn about the Native American culture and I believe that this is the basis of a lot of our problems throughout history. If both parties involved in the issue dont take the time to learn about each others beliefs and cultures then how can they begin to fix the issue? I agree with what Timonicca said and that it is important to let people have their pwn cultures and practice their own beliefs.
I agree with eric, it was very interesting to see how they managed to "transform" almost all aspects of the native american's lifestyle and practically brainwashing them into believing that they were of "white" decent. I remember reading about the trail of tears last year, however this was something knew and rather baffling about how American's during that time period treated and isolated the native americans.
I was actually going to comment on the hair thing just like Rebecca did. But one thing that really disturbed me was that it seemed what the "white man" was doing was chillingly reminding me of the Holocaust. People being forced into experiment and completely unaware of their future, life or death? It suck with me throughout the film and make me think twice about the history of this country.
I learned alot about the problems that Native Americans had to deal with besides being hunted down and put onto reservations. They had to also deal with "the white man" attempting to destroy their culture. This is the problem of being put into boxes, people try to force you into some little area, some little stereotype, in the instance of the Native Americans, they were savages so they had to be changed , Blacks had a different skin color so they were inferior and were slaves, etc. These boxes only limit us. This movie was yet another portrayal of how forcing people into a box to fit your stereotypes of them is a bad thing.
I also agree with Eric in how the Native Americans looked completly different when their hair was cut and they were put into American clothing. It was just crazy seeing that large of a difference in seeing the same people.
I thought the movie was sad, it's unfair that some of the Native Americans were taken from there homes and then later more Native Americans were tricked into getting their kids taken from them too. I agree with Chris that stereotypes do come into play because in the movie they said that once the Native Americans looked white they were more accepted by society and given jobs.
The movie "In The White Man's Image" was shocking to me. I knew that the Native Americans faced many prejudices and suffered the atrocious acts of white men, but what amazed me was the psyche and manipulation of the white men in this film. Many Americans actually convinced themselves that they were helping the Native Americans by taking them away from their families and stripping them of their culture. I agree with erin and feel that what the white men did was wrong; in many cases I believe that death may have been more humane than drowning the Native Americans in the White Man's culture. I also agree with Jesse and think it is crazy how the white men actually succeeded in transforming these people.
Last year in Ms. Coelho's class we did actually talk about the "americanization" of the native americans. I understand the white man's side in trying to make everyone a whole and fit them into their society although I strongly disagree on the fact that they did it to benefit themselves and not for the benefit of others (NA). Maybe if the "White Man" had tried to adopt some Native American customs instead of excluding them and trying to eliminate them completely, the course of history concerning Native Americans would have turned out completely different instead of the separate and judgmental that it is today, and has been. Maybe society would be much more blended in and racism and generalizations wouldn't take such a huge part in everyone's culture.
I agree with Timonicca. Instead of fighting against the beliefs and life styles that others have, they should've had accepted it, include it or just let it be.
After watching "In the White Man's Image" I was surprised that the white men acually took Native Americans out of the homes just to experiment with them. It shocks me that the white man manipulated the Native Americans into letting them go into the "white man's territory" and supposivly go back to their tribe after the "experiment" even when they new from the get-go that they were going to keep them with the white man.
honestly, though it was upsetting and frustrating to watch as the "white man" forced Native Americans into a different way of life, i wasnt particularly shocked. throughout history that has been the pattern, a bigger civilization comes in and concurs a smaller one, converting their population so they can assimilate into the bigger society. this is just an example of human nature in action. my difficulty however, comes from the fact that the bigger civilization, OUR civilization, should be intelligent enough to realize the folly of that pattern. i just dont get how thousands of years can pass and people refuse to learn a simple lesson: treat all humans as equals.
Although the film "In The White Man's Image" provided a more in-depth perspective of the attempted assimilation of the Native American into white culture, I wasn't surprised by the content of the film as I have talked about this subject in various classes since freshman year. I think that it's unfortunate how whites treated the Native Americans, but I can't say that I necessarily blame white people for doing what they did. I believe that it's human nature for people to look down on people who they consider uncivilized and inferior and try to raise them to their level by integrating them into civilized (and therefore "better") society as much as they can. I think that the white man probably felt like he was doing something good for the Native Americans, even though we know now that they weren't. It is easy for us to sit here and criticize the white people for what they did, but after all, hindsight is 20/20.
I think that Timonicca brings up a very interesting point as to how blacks and Native Americans were treated pretty much equally and had the same types of problems. Even though the people and cultures of these two groups were as different as can be, they were still considered equal because they were both considered inferior to whites.
I thought the movie "In the White Man's Image" was disturbing and makes me a bit more curious about the history behind what happened between the Native Americans and "the white man". The fact that they could shamelessly change the identities of the Native Americans was shocking to me. Also, i agree with Timonicca and Marisa in that "the white man" should have left the Native Americans alone or accepted them into their culture just as they are.
I understand the white man's side in trying to make everyone a whole.And I think the white man was wrong because I think they are suppost to let them live the life they want to live let them believe in their own culture.
the film was about how "the white men" changed Native Americans into "white men and women". they cut there hair, forced them to change their religion and cultures. its not right to change a persons way of life.
In my opinion i think i have not seen anything like this in past how a race can try to change a different race, just so they all can be the same as the white race. how they changed native indian clothing style basically everything, just so they can look like the white's. i think i agree with eric what he said cause just so u dont like someones culture doesnt mean u start trying to make them like you.
I never knew that the settlers tried to actually force the natives to conform to their society by forcing them to go to specific schools, though i am not very surprized considering the other struggles the natives were put through at that time
I was surprised that the white men took some Indians out of their homes just because they wanted to. It bothers me to know that people would screw with another group of human beings and make their life awful just because they don't have the same customs as you.
24 comments:
I thought that the movie informed me on alot of things i didn't know. Thought it was pretty crazy how "the white man" would make Native Americans be like them. The pictures of the Native American families that had all short hair and wearing American clothing made me think about America's history. After seeing what the families used to look like and what was acceptable in their culture i was mind boggled to see what "the white man" had actually done to the Native Americans.
i thought that movie was very informing about things that i didnt even know went on., the fact that the white man took people away from their families and cultures i felt was wrong. they may be known as savages and different from us but i dfont believe that it is right for us to take them away and convert them into our cultures
i thought it was intereswting how the black and the native americans had the same problems and they were kinda treated the same. for the americans to take them away like erin said is wrong in my eyes. let them live the life they want to live, let them believe in their own culture.
After watching this film I was reminded of the song "Indian Reservation (Cherokee People)" This song is about the Cherokee People being forced onto a reservations site. I have also read a book about an indian reservation called _The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven_. This film was similar to these two other descriptions of life on a reservation. Obviously the Native Americans did not go willingly and looking at this it seems so cruel to force this on these people. The "White Men" worked to completely strip the Cheyenne People and many other tribes of their culture. I was just as shocked as Eric was after seeing at how the Cheyenne People's apperances alone were so strikingly different from their original look. I agree with Timonicca that the Native Americans and African Americans faced similar problems with the white race and none of the negative actions towards these races are/were acceptable.
After watching this film I too was shocked like Eric and Lyndsey about the significant appearance change the Cheyenne people went through. I think that the white men knew they could take advantage of the Natives and did it to the best of their abilities. The white men were selfish with their actions and didn't consider the people they we're distroying along the way, which makes me think of how people do that today as well.
It really struck me when the narrator said that the "white men" forced the Native Americans to cut their hair even though in the Native American culture, that is a sign of mourning.I realized that the white men didn't care to learn about the Native American culture and I believe that this is the basis of a lot of our problems throughout history. If both parties involved in the issue dont take the time to learn about each others beliefs and cultures then how can they begin to fix the issue? I agree with what Timonicca said and that it is important to let people have their pwn cultures and practice their own beliefs.
I agree with eric, it was very interesting to see how they managed to "transform" almost all aspects of the native american's lifestyle and practically brainwashing them into believing that they were of "white" decent. I remember reading about the trail of tears last year, however this was something knew and rather baffling about how American's during that time period treated and isolated the native americans.
I was actually going to comment on the hair thing just like Rebecca did.
But one thing that really disturbed me was that it seemed what the "white man" was doing was chillingly reminding me of the Holocaust. People being forced into experiment and completely unaware of their future, life or death? It suck with me throughout the film and make me think twice about the history of this country.
I learned alot about the problems that Native Americans had to deal with besides being hunted down and put onto reservations. They had to also deal with "the white man" attempting to destroy their culture. This is the problem of being put into boxes, people try to force you into some little area, some little stereotype, in the instance of the Native Americans, they were savages so they had to be changed , Blacks had a different skin color so they were inferior and were slaves, etc. These boxes only limit us. This movie was yet another portrayal of how forcing people into a box to fit your stereotypes of them is a bad thing.
I also agree with Eric in how the Native Americans looked completly different when their hair was cut and they were put into American clothing. It was just crazy seeing that large of a difference in seeing the same people.
I thought the movie was sad, it's unfair that some of the Native Americans were taken from there homes and then later more Native Americans were tricked into getting their kids taken from them too. I agree with Chris that stereotypes do come into play because in the movie they said that once the Native Americans looked white they were more accepted by society and given jobs.
The movie "In The White Man's Image" was shocking to me. I knew that the Native Americans faced many prejudices and suffered the atrocious acts of white men, but what amazed me was the psyche and manipulation of the white men in this film. Many Americans actually convinced themselves that they were helping the Native Americans by taking them away from their families and stripping them of their culture. I agree with erin and feel that what the white men did was wrong; in many cases I believe that death may have been more humane than drowning the Native Americans in the White Man's culture. I also agree with Jesse and think it is crazy how the white men actually succeeded in transforming these people.
Marisa Gaspar
Last year in Ms. Coelho's class we did actually talk about the "americanization" of the native americans. I understand the white man's side in trying to make everyone a whole and fit them into their society although I strongly disagree on the fact that they did it to benefit themselves and not for the benefit of others (NA).
Maybe if the "White Man" had tried to adopt some Native American customs instead of excluding them and trying to eliminate them completely, the course of history concerning Native Americans would have turned out completely different instead of the separate and judgmental that it is today, and has been. Maybe society would be much more blended in and racism and generalizations wouldn't take such a huge part in everyone's culture.
Marisa Gaspar
I agree with Timonicca.
Instead of fighting against the beliefs and life styles that others have, they should've had accepted it, include it or just let it be.
After watching "In the White Man's Image" I was surprised that the white men acually took Native Americans out of the homes just to experiment with them. It shocks me that the white man manipulated the Native Americans into letting them go into the "white man's territory" and supposivly go back to their tribe after the "experiment" even when they new from the get-go that they were going to keep them with the white man.
honestly, though it was upsetting and frustrating to watch as the "white man" forced Native Americans into a different way of life, i wasnt particularly shocked. throughout history that has been the pattern, a bigger civilization comes in and concurs a smaller one, converting their population so they can assimilate into the bigger society. this is just an example of human nature in action. my difficulty however, comes from the fact that the bigger civilization, OUR civilization, should be intelligent enough to realize the folly of that pattern. i just dont get how thousands of years can pass and people refuse to learn a simple lesson: treat all humans as equals.
Although the film "In The White Man's Image" provided a more in-depth perspective of the attempted assimilation of the Native American into white culture, I wasn't surprised by the content of the film as I have talked about this subject in various classes since freshman year. I think that it's unfortunate how whites treated the Native Americans, but I can't say that I necessarily blame white people for doing what they did. I believe that it's human nature for people to look down on people who they consider uncivilized and inferior and try to raise them to their level by integrating them into civilized (and therefore "better") society as much as they can. I think that the white man probably felt like he was doing something good for the Native Americans, even though we know now that they weren't. It is easy for us to sit here and criticize the white people for what they did, but after all, hindsight is 20/20.
I think that Timonicca brings up a very interesting point as to how blacks and Native Americans were treated pretty much equally and had the same types of problems. Even though the people and cultures of these two groups were as different as can be, they were still considered equal because they were both considered inferior to whites.
I thought the movie "In the White Man's Image" was disturbing and makes me a bit more curious about the history behind what happened between the Native Americans and
"the white man". The fact that they could shamelessly change the identities of the Native Americans was shocking to me. Also, i agree with Timonicca and Marisa in that "the white man" should have left the Native Americans alone or accepted them into their culture just as they are.
I understand the white man's side in trying to make everyone a whole.And I think the white man was wrong because I think they are suppost to let them live the life they want to live let them believe in their own culture.
I agree with Timonicca too.
they should've had accepted it, include it or just let it be.
the film was about how "the white men" changed Native Americans into "white men and women". they cut there hair, forced them to change their religion and cultures. its not right to change a persons way of life.
Nimish Sahani
In my opinion i think i have not seen anything like this in past how a race can try to change a different race, just so they all can be the same as the white race. how they changed native indian clothing style basically everything, just so they can look like the white's. i think i agree with eric what he said cause just so u dont like someones culture doesnt mean u start trying to make them like you.
I never knew that the settlers tried to actually force the natives to conform to their society by forcing them to go to specific schools, though i am not very surprized considering the other struggles the natives were put through at that time
I was surprised that the white men took some Indians out of their homes just because they wanted to. It bothers me to know that people would screw with another group of human beings and make their life awful just because they don't have the same customs as you.
Post a Comment