> I am seeking reviews of Russell Means' book "Where Whitemen Fear to Tread"...
Joe,
I am replying to you, but a lot of people have written lately about the
irony of Russell Means--activist turned actor. Almost everyone views
this with criticism. But let me offer another point of view.
Russell Means has a chapter called "Prison" in his book--about his time
in South Dakota State Prison. My husband (Yankton-Rosebud, age 44) is in
that prison now, as many who were there way back when Russell Means was
there. It is interesting that while us professors and other
professionals are quickly critical of Means today, that is not the
attitude of those who know him on the inside. For many Lakota prisoners,
and they have read his book through interlibrary loan opportunities,
Means is
1. A Symbol of Hope: That you can break out of the alcoholism and
prison cycle and fight the establishment in a different way.
(This view helps these men with their own intentions to turn
around their lives, and more importantly, their children's lives.)
2. A Symbol of Courage: That you can reflect on your life and admit
the truth about alcoholism and wife abuse and child neglect,
and find an inner strength to apologize to your family and work
hard to set a different example. (This view helps men to start
over within their families.) Also, that you can continue to stand
by your past actions and your reasons for them--not giving in an
inch or apologizing to racist America.
3. A Symbol of Survival: That you can survive, and you can find
positive ways to challenge the white racists which control this
country in so many ways--through writing (books), speaking,
acting, working with your people.
Let's put it this way, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the prison population
can make gains because of Russell Means movies and books. These forms of
communication are a direct affront to the racists in that city who would
have preferred he remain an abusive man or a prisoner who they can
continuously harrass and hurt. Russell Means helps his people in yet
another original, effective way. He led his people into protest and
confrontation in the streets of America when that was needed to break
through; he leads people now into the heart of the establishment when
that is needed to break through in another way. And much of the Lakota
prison population continues to cheer him on and use his efforts to
improve their lives. (As does much of the Rez population.)
When you look over Russell Means life in this country and Nicaragua, it's
clear that a quick judgment like "He makes money now and so he must have
sold out" is neither logical for farsighted.
Anyway, my thoughts.
Mary Dog Soldier