|
|
Article: Native Americans in books from the past.
- Article from:
- The Horn Book Magazine
- Article date:
- September 1, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Horn Book, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Since approximately the late 1960s, there has been a steady flow of critical writing on the subject of anti-Native-American bias in children's literature. Most of the criticism has challenged readers and writers to reconsider the way Native Americans have been, and are, portrayed in children's books. There is no arguing that such a challenge is needed; anyone familiar with children's literature is aware of the many inaccurate and racist portrayals of Native Americans in children's books. Take, for example, the d'Aulaires' Buffalo Bill (Doubleday), published in 1953. The text of Buffalo Bill inaccurately informs readers that Plains tribes commonly used poisoned arrows ...