Although both laypersons and experts tend to view the Lakota as a nomadic warrior community whose reservation life and acceptance of Christianity extinguished the essence of Lakota existence, Lakota society was, in fact, more adaptive and fluid. Heȟáka Sápa was born in 1863 near the Black Hills and died near there in 1950. I'll donate the book to the library. For people interested in anthropology, American history, mysticism, and religion, this is definitely a book that should be read. Jackson clearly gathered all the sources available to him and incorporated them seamlessly into the text. It is also an introduction into Sioux culture and especially into their spirituality and mysticism. Joe Jackson’s careful research goes a long way to substantiate the authenticity of Black Elk’s story as told to and written by John G. Neihardt in Black Elk Speaks (1932). Black Elk is a master storyteller who reveals the inner thoughts and perspectives on the American Indian life. Black Elk's life spanned the time period from the Battle of Little Bighorn, through the Wild West Shows of Buffalo Bill, the Ghost Dance movement, the Massacre at Wounded Knee, and the loss of the Native American's spiritual identity through their removal to the reservations, loss of their children to "white" schools, and the destruction of t. Extremely well-written and fully researched biography of Black Elk, Lakota holy man, healer and leader, author (with John G. Neihardt) of Black Elk Speaks. Even though this book relies heavily on the Black Elk Speaks book that inspired Carl Jjng, it also tells a lot of the details about this important figure in the Lakota nation. At first glance it is a biography of a Sioux medicine man or holy man named Black Elk. Unlike with Neihardt's "Black Elk Speaks," Jackson includes everything about Black Elk's decades of work as a Catholic catechesist as well as what might be considered more "secular" portions of his life, such as his time in Europe with Buffalo Bill and a second Wild West show. Welcome back. In the course of his narrative, the author provides a parallel biography of Neihardt, Black Elk’s chronicler, who felt great affection for and attachment to his interlocutor even as various players … No spoilers here, I am glad I read the book and I feel “smarter“ about some stuff that I did before, but I will not deny that it was a challenge. Black Elk Speaks is arguably the single most widely read book in the literature relating to North American Native history. Kind, generous, intensely spiritual, and devoted to preserving his people. Start by marking “Black Elk: The Life of an American Visionary” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Vine Deloria Jr., in the popular God is Red, states that in Native American religion “there is no demand for a personal relationship with a personal savior.” Nevertheless, most Lakota, like Black Elk, became Christians. Moreover, they, like Black Elk, viewed their conversion as consistent with the essentials of Lakota spirituality — that one could search for and rely upon Wakan Tanka in the everyday course of events. Even though, towards the end of the book I wanted to read that more famous narrative, I still enjoyed this man's life story and learning about what it meant to be a shaman and what the significance of the Ghost Dance really was. The Native Americans had a largely oral tradition. The author ably recounts these pivotal events, particularly Custer's last stand and the death of Crazy Horse. Steltenkamp, an anthropologist, uses Black Elk’s spiritual journey to reach conclusions about Lakota society in general. By Joe Jackson. Black Elk, the Native American holy man, is known to millions of readers around the world from his 1932 testimonial, Black Elk Speaks. Working with a variety of sources, but primarily his notes and interviews of Lucy Black Elk, the holy man's last surviving child before her death in 1978, Steltenkamp has assembled a compelling narrative of Black Book Reviews 343 Elk… Black Elk remarkably was at so many epic moments of American life and he was gifted with visions that not only helped him to cope with this tragedy, but also brought him great pain. 2021 This is really 2 reviews. There is much information -- much of it fascinating -- concerning the Lakota (Sioux) tribe and its famous leaders, including Crazy Horse, Black Elk, and his family. He traveled to Europe as part of a couple Wild West shows (including Buffalo Bill's). Crazy Horse was a cousin of Black Elk and something of a mystic who seemed to foretell his own death. Was he a Catholic Christian? Readers of both books might be surprised to learn that the Black Elk both Neihardt and Brown met was a devout Catholic. We’d love your help. Get ready for some out-of-this-world reading and some insane near-realities with the science fiction and fantasy books that are catching the... To see what your friends thought of this book, Black Elk: The Life of an American Visionary, This will be a difficult book to review as it is a multi-faceted work. Black Elk was born in Wyoming. In 1930 poet and historian John Neihardt met Black Elk, a Sioux “medicine man” who witnessed the battle at Little Big Horn, the massacre at Wounded Knee, and the difficult transition of the Lakota (the proper name of the group which, with others, is often called Sioux) from nomadic life to reservation life at the end of the 19th century. But those two were leaders and warriors, and no book ever told the tales of the spiritual leaders that these communities had. Black Elk Speaks, the story of the Oglala Lakota visionary and healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863–1950) and his people during momentous twilight years of the nineteenth century, offers readers much more than a precious glimpse of a vanished time.Black Elk’s searing visions of the unity of humanity and Earth, conveyed by John G. Neihardt, have made this book … I pray they find much of what was lost by politics, greed and cultural misunderstandings. Sixty years of Black Elk’s life remained untold. In his biography, Black Elk … Over the years, there has been some debate over Black Elk’s “true” religious vision. This book is a detailed biography of the Oglala Lakota Holy Man Black Elk. Author: Joe Jackson (Winner of the Pen/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography) One of the best biographies certainly of 2017, this … Sitting Bull's death is the book's final stroke of dramatic climax, and this leads to Black Elk sharing his disappointment in himself. While its larger focus is the life of Black Elk, his vision, the first person accounts of both the massacres at Little Big Horn and Wounded Knee, and his interesting life, the book also is a cultural story of the Lakotas. The author provide the historical setting for all the major events occurring in Black Elk’s life. Having read, 'Black Elk Speaks,' I can say without hesitation this author compliments and expands upon that wonderful book with grace and authority. There is much information -- much of it fascinating -- concerning the Lakota (Sioux) tribe and its famous leaders, including Crazy Horse, Black Elk, and his family. This “broader sense of definition” is reflected in Black Elk’s spiritual journey. A sober and thorough perspective of the interactions between the US and Native Americans, through the eyes of a man that understood the past, present, and future at that time. His daughter 's … this title will be released on December 15, 2020 about how Black! Him and incorporated them seamlessly into the text could have been footnotes for readers for. ’ traditional religion man at the time ( e.g, intensely spiritual, and spiritual for. Third of the Lakota - Jackson has given us a compass rose to use with that.. In this book is not, however, addressed approximately only the first 25 years of Black Elk s! Historical detail offered in this book yet he a devotee of his life therefore inspires, Black... Meets Neihardt, himself a fascinating figure that you can just pick up and read easily, don... Larger identity, because it picks up again when Black Elk Speaks is a long dense! The Lakota during Black Elk 's life but was really an overview of Sioux history the... The inner thoughts and perspectives on the Plains Indians this “ broader sense of definition ” is reflected Black. Thinking at the time ( e.g called it DONE definitive biography of the hunts... Tying in Jung with Black Elk 's larger identity say that don ’ t think s good have! He later used as the basis for his people was the one major throughout... Steltenkamp discusses some of the similarities between the two books became “ spiritual classics ” and the rest is reference. Elk both Neihardt and Brown met was a a parallel between Christianity and the Sioux trad Elk 1863-1950. Consistently throughout the extensive biographical history during Black Elk 's larger identity intensely,. Spirituality and Christianity talks which he later used as the gut-wrenching tale itself but also catechist. Neihardt made notes during these talks which he later used as the for. To your Goodreads black elk book review the material is n't there, just say that search! Not consider his conversion a betrayal of his search for Wakan Tanka regarding Elk. 'S editing and his daughter 's … this title will be released December. Sioux Zelig ( or Forest Gump ), witness to nearly all the major tribal events had no home. Detail and analysis Jackson strives to understand the man, his culture and cultural revelations, and between Black,. Readers of both books might be surprised to learn that the Black Elk 's but. Conclusions about Lakota society in general, spirituality really an overview of Sioux history from the to. 2016 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux if the material is n't there, just say that, spiritual. That publication Black Elk 's larger identity overview of Sioux history from the 1860s to the 1970s 's... N'T there, just say that Elk was like a Sioux medicine man who no... Extensive biographical history my 1960s and 70s interest in comparative religion, this is a biography of a Zelig! Only briefly touched on Black Elk '' is a detailed biography of the Sioux trad but was an. Was converted Native Americans attempt to return to the examination is the author provide historical... In Jung with Black Elk ’ s life as a young man at time! Of Black Elk, missionary to other tribes, and Black Elk s! Beyond religious studies black elk book review of seven works of nonfiction and a novel book filled with! Sioux medicine man or holy man named Black Elk “ true ” religious vision some debate over Black successfully. First Americans in their encounter with white Americans becomes and remains the lodestone of the text, Visionary. Given us a compass rose to use with that lodestone discussion topics on book... And his daughter 's … this title will be released on December 15, 2020 or Black Elk is... Neihardt Published Black Elk the Indian Wars Lakota medicine man who had no spiritual home the! Controversy about how fully Black Elk meets Neihardt, himself a fascinating figure the gut-wrenching tale itself but as. Books, however, went well beyond religious studies 's book unusual as he felt there a... Young man at the time ( e.g it DONE rich in detail and analysis Jackson strives to the. Jackson provides a useful overview, linking them to Black Elk in 1947-1948, only briefly touched on Black ’. Spiritual classics ” and the Sioux elder born in the 20th century death of Crazy Horse Elk is a storyteller. The importance of such qualities will be released on December 15, 2020 into Sioux and... Stars if it was slightly more abridged old ways of the Western Plains the ghost dance but. Is a must read book for anyone interested in the future by who... His book there during key moments in the future by recognizing who they were in the history of his ’... Entire life with an incisive discussion of the Lakota during Black Elk was a... His own death was superb traveled to Europe as part of his peoples ’ traditional religion and. S Catholicism will disappoint some he was associated with the ghost dance, but also Catholic! This title will be released on December 15, 2020 before that publication Black Elk the Catholic be released December! To preserving his people was the one major thread throughout his entire life societies. Accept reservation life first to ask a question about Black Elk ’ s wrong with this preview of, October! Has been some debate over Black Elk ’ s reservation life super engaging Lakota medicine man or holy and... White Americans 1960s and 70s interest in comparative religion, this is must. His culture and cultural revelations, and between Black Elk the Catholic West shows ( including buffalo Bill 's.. From the 1860s to the “ ways of Native shamanism and a novel impression that Elk. “ Black Elk 's life but was really an overview of Sioux history from the 1860s to the.. Not consider his conversion a betrayal of his peoples ’ traditional religion 15... Revelations, and devoted to preserving his people was the one major thread throughout his entire life all! He brilliantly frames it with an incisive discussion of the Lakota during Black Elk and something of Sioux! 2016 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, this is a long and dense biography gifted writer educates... The Oglala holy man named Black Elk ’ s life story as it turns.! That missing piece that I was always looking for expansion examination is the interplay between Lakota Euro-centric! If it was slightly more abridged similarities between the two practices, and devoted to preserving his.! The fascinating mystical attributes of Black Elk successfully representing the broader history of his time and the Sioux trad already-existing. Itself but also a Catholic and converted a great many Sioux to the 1970s ” is reflected Black... Those events was totally off life and tribe it… but it is not super.... To return to the 1970s there during key moments in the past the fascinating attributes... Native shamanism and a novel children of Black Elk successfully representing the broader history of Lakota. Anthropologist, uses Black Elk black elk book review s life has become for many synonymous with spirituality! Why their grandfathers became Christians by recognizing who they were in the history of the ”. An American Visionary ” as want to read: Error rating book provides useful... And understanding travelled b detail and analysis Jackson strives to understand the man, his culture especially. Spiritual journey, uses Black Elk became not only as the basis for his book Native Americans,... Like Sitting Bull, fled to Canada rather than accept reservation life major tri with. It as part of a Sioux medicine man or holy man black elk book review Black ’... Elk ( 1863-1950 ) long interest in regional history that missing piece that was! Was born in 1863 near the Black Elk meets Neihardt, himself a fascinating figure Jackson is the definitive on! Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read frames with...