MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD/ STORY I

MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD

Zitkala-Sa'& Bama

The Cutting of My Long Hair

Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, whose pen name is ‘Zitkala Sa’ (Which means’Red Bird’) as an extraordinary talented and educated Native American woman who struggled and triumphed in a time when severe prejudice prevailed towards Native American culture and women. American Policy towards Native American has been an evolving process. In the late 19^th Century reformers in efforts to civilize Indians adapted the practice of educating native Indian Children in boarding schools. The experience in the boarding schools which existed from 1875 to 1928 was difficult for Indian children who were forbidden to speak their native languages and in numerous other ways forced to adopt white cultural practices. In this extract Gertrude Simmons Bonnin remembers her childhood days when she started getting the English education. For her it was cultural shock. Later she dedicated her life to fight against the oppression by the white people.

The two autobiographical episodes are commemorative of struggle and triumph in the face of extreme prejudices, evils of oppression and a life lived in the shadow of being from a marginalised community.

 Zitkala-Sa, the pen-name for G . Bonnin triumphed by surpassing all those barriers that were imposed upon the natural Americans. Although in her childhood' she had to surrender to the high handed attitude of her oppressors but not without expressing her resentment and rebellion against regimentation, bondage and dogmatic existence.

STORY I: Cutting of My Long Hair (by Zitkala-Sa)

 

v Regimentation at Carlisle Indian School:
·       Loud crashing breakfast bell.
·       Tapping of a small bell for pulling out a chair from under the table.
·       Second small bell sounded for being seated.
·       Third one sounded/rung for picking up cutlery and to start eating.

 The author was not used to this 'eating by formula' but she had no other choice. Besides there were other things too that came as a surprise' to her. Students were forced to wear the same kind of dress and shoes. Things of comfort (blanket, moccasins) were taken away from them. The worst, however, was yet to come. This would prove to be the hardest trial but the author had planned to give a stiff resistance to it

 v Cutting the author's hair, her resistance

The author had been told by her mother and other people of her community that shingled hair were of
·       Unskilled warriors or prisoners of war
·       Mourners and cowards
·       The author had planned to put up a fight. So she
·       Slipped out unnoticed
·       Entered a room in the dormitory and crawled under the bed in the farthest corner.
·       She did not open her mouth even when she was being hunted.
·       When finally she was located and dragged out, she resisted by kicking and scratching wildly.

v Unbearable/intolerable humiliation
The author was forcibly carried and tied in a chair. She opposed vehemently but in vain. Her thick braids were mercilessly chopped off. She lost the spirit to resist.

v Extreme indignities:
·       Spirit bound in a struggle for liberation
·       Comforts taken away
·       Regimentation while moving, eating sitting etc.
·       Uncomfortable stares by the people around
·       Dealt with as if she was a puppet or an animal herded around.
·       No one to comfort her.

 

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