An Indigenous History of the American People by Dunbar-Ortiz Essay

The book "An Indigenous History of the American People" by Dunbar-Ortiz describes civilization as improvement in the living standards of a people, and the dominating and separating from the natural environment (Dunbar-Ortiz, 2014). In the beginning, humanoids inhibited earth and existed together in set communal groups. The small groups were mainly characterized by hunting and gathering. The humanoids then explored and populated the various parts of the world, consequently, developed improved agricultural techniques. Developed agriculture led to a proliferation of towns and urban settings. Gradually, America evolved into a complex society, having organized norms and way of living, hence regarded as civilized.

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Europeans invaded America at a time when the native people have already settled in most parts of the American continent. The American people were already at a prime stage of civilization from the fact that there was the development of a road network which facilitated trade amongst various parties. The Europeans invaded and colonized a bigger part of America; this impacted on the civilization that was already set up by the indigenous inhabitants. The colonialists cut off the norm and reestablished their way of living in America. Some of the changes brought about by the Europeans include the appropriation of agriculture, whereby there was the introduction of agribusiness, monetization of the land, and the creation of the real estate industry. In general, colonization has a bearing on the civilization of a people, as evidenced by the invasion of the Europeans in America (Dunbar-Ortiz, 2014).

The new civilization thinking as applied by the Europeans was based on some religious roots. The European colonizers introduced beliefs from their ancestral land which had rich ancient cultures. For instance, they were able to bring into America religion based on gaining of profit, this element of religion worked for the European merchants who settled in America. There was an increased instance, whereby, the European colonizers used religion to justify their actions against the Americans they colonized. A particular religious tactic of this civilization thinking was an entity referred to as the civilization army, looted the property of Muslims occupying various American cities, hence became wealthy and received the honor in their native home (Dunbar-Ortiz, 2014). Improvement in the way of living by the Europeans was characterized by exploitation of Americans and displacing them from their land.

Dunbar-Ortiz has worked discredited the notion of the Europeans as powerful by giving for the reasons why America is an economic superpower (Dunbar-Ortiz, 2014). Dunbar-Ortiz says the American forefathers were agriculturalists, and developed the basis of America's capitalism, from the real estate development. The Europeans found the Americans civilized to some extent, but only appropriated their way of living.

Stokely Carmichael

In his literature "Toward Black Liberation," Carmichael perceives civilization to be equality and the absence of discrimination in the society. Civilized society will root for equal rights of both the black and white people. The black people are considered to be a minor ethnic grouping whose social and political say has not been accepted in the American society which is comprised of mainly the white people. There have been huge differences and lack of cohesion between the white and black people throughout the history of America. The white people have been living in more affluent urban settings, whereas the black people have their residence in the shanty settings (Carmichael, 1966).

The white people are seen to be colonizing the black people throughout the history of America. The white people have been dictating the operations of various institutions in America, whereas the black people are considered to be subjects and follow the regulations set. The white people in an attempt to make the black people civilized obtained a small grouping of black individuals and made them live amongst the rest of other middle-class white people. The integrated black people were then forced to behave as per the norm in the white society. The white people attempted to create value from the black individuals by helping them in actualizing their aspirations. For instance, the white people facilitated the development of civil right groups to champion for the rights of the black individuals (Carmichael, 1966). The civil right groups were then integrated into the white groups through the development of coalitions.

As much as the white people decided to help in the liberation of black people, their civilization thinking had a hidden agenda. The white institution has developed strategies to ensure the black groups will always remain dependent on them. The social and political wants of the black people were to be negotiated whenever they conflicted with those of the white people (Carmichael, 1966). Various negotiations were done by the whites to ensure their interests are well implemented over those of the black people.

Carmichael has discredited the white to be superior over the black people, as the black individuals can attend institutions and earn better jobs than the white people (Carmichael, 1966). Therefore, Carmichael has resulted in going back to the black people residence to free them from their exploitation and feeling of powerlessness. For instance, the Northern and Southern parts of America is where the black population is high; hence liberation is more focused here.

References

Carmichael, S. (1966). Toward Black liberation. [Ithaca? N.Y.]: Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

Dunbar-Ortiz, R. (2014). An indigenous peoples' history of the United States (pp. 15-217). Beacon Press.