Journal #5 - The Theme

One thing that William Apess and Lydia Sigourney had in common was that they both wrote about the plight and mistreatment of Indians, especially by the white man. Since Apess was, in fact, a Native American of the Pequot tribe, he had a very in-depth perspective about the abuse and injustice the Native Americans were experiencing at this time. Sigourney, on the other hand, was not a Native American. However, she advocated for Native American and women rights. Both Apess and Sigourney were devout Christians, which is probably what lead them to believing this treatment of Indians was inhumane. Both Apess’s, “An Indian’s Looking Glass for White Man” and Sigourney’s poem, “Indian Names” expose how cruel and monstrous the white man was to the Native Americans. Furthermore, these two writings exemplify how ignorant the white man was during this time period. One example from Apess’s writing that demonstrates this belief is when he writes, “ If black or red skins or any other skin color is disgraceful to God, it appears that he has disgraced himself a great deal – for he has made fifteen colored people to one white and placed them here upon this earth”. Here Apess expresses, through religion as he often does, that there is, in fact, no superior race in this world. On this note, Apess also addresses the white population by affirming; “…you know as well as I that you are not indebt to a principle beneath a white skin for your religious services but to a colored one”.  During the time period in which Apess wrote, most whites that lived in the United States were Christians. So, by asserting this fact, he is implying that whites are ignorant to the religious beliefs and principles in which they practice. Lydia Sigourney also demonstrates how naïve and ignorant these settlers were towards the Native Americans. In her poem, “Indian Names”, Sigourney basically gives a list of places in the New England colonies that are named after Indian tribes; yet, the Indians are no longer allowed to live there due to the Removal Act of 1830 and the killings of many Native Americans. One quote from her poem that exhibits this fact is when she presents to her readers, “Your Mountains build their monument/Though ye destroy their dust”. Overall, the main theme characterized in these two writings is the white mans ignorance to the Native Americans influence in their lives and surroundings.