"If I'm transformed by language, I am often
crouched in footnote or blazing in title.
Where in the body do I begin;"
. contextualize the quotation and explain what you understand by it
2. develop contrary and/or subsequent arguments
3. establish relations with at least two other texts studied in class
4. Express your opinion and justify it.
5. Use sentence connectors to help you structure your commentary
6. Mind the paragraphs
7. Conclude. If possible, with a golden key.
It may help to know more about Layli Long Soldier's artistic stance and particularly her project Whereas. Listen, therefore, to the interview you can find, along with other information, here:
https://onbeing.org/programs/layli-long-soldier-the-freedom-of-real-apologies-oct2018/
The quotation presented is from Layli Long Soldier’s poem, a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation who decided to write this collection of texts after hearing about the Congressional Resolution of Apology to Native Americans, which Obama signed in 2009. Long Soldier made this decision because of how this Apology was delivered; it was not read aloud and no tribal leaders or representatives were invited to witness it. In an interview with On Being, Long Soldier talked about how she only found out about this apology months later because of how quiet and careful the delivery was. She explained that this collection explored what an apology is and how to do a good apology. The author believes it is important to discuss this subject for there to be real justice.
ReplyDeleteIn this same interview, the author also says how she did a lot of research for this text and mentioned Canada’s apology to their natives and how it was transmitted and read out loud, very unlike the US’ apology. This is important because in this quotation the author specifically states “If I’m transformed by language, I am often / crouched in footnote or blazing in title”. I interpreted this to be about the two apologies, Canada’s and the US’, “crouched in footnote” represents the United States delivery of the Apology and “blazing in title” the Canada’s delivery. Long Soldier explains how the Apology’s language is very careful and thought-out, therefore the metaphor of “crouched in footnote” represents how small and insignificant the Apology was. On the other hand, “blazing in title” represents the pride the natives in Canada feel because of active and public their apology was. One could also argue this line represents the tribes’ relation with the government in general. The same government who will acknowledge the tribes’ existence when it benefits them but in any other situation ignores them.
This text or, more specifically, this situation with the United States’ Apology reminded me of Miné Okubo’s book, “Citizen 13660”. Just like Long Soldier and many other members of Native tribes didn’t find out about the Apology until months later, I also did not know about the Japanese internment camps until Okubo’s book. Both of these incidents serve as an example of how hidden and “tucked away” non-white’s history is in America and popular culture. Reading this text, I am also reminded of Malcolm X’s speech and his struggle with the government not acknowledging blacks. Native tribes and the black community both have suffered immensely at the hands of the American government, both genocide targets. In both of their texts, Malcolm X and Long Soldier ask for justice and the chance to be heard, criticize the poor efforts of the government to truly make blacks and natives part of the American society.
In my opinion, Long Soldier’s poems are beautiful to read out loud, the melody and sentiment contained in them is hypnotizing even though some poems are difficult to understand. I find it frustrating that Obama, a president that succeeded in so many ways, was not able to give the Natives the Apology and recognition they deserve. My only hope is that more texts like this will be taught and cherished all over the world so we can all better understand these natives whose lives’ have long been alienated from American society.
- Ana Narciso nº150886