Where White Men Fear to Tread: The Autobiography of Russell Means

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Paperback: 592 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (November 15, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312147619
ISBN-13: 978-0312147617
Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

"Indian people are dying of sympathy," declares legendary activist Means. "What we want is respect." His unwieldy yet absorbing epic conveys his furious, resourceful activism, intertwined with (and sometimes overshadowed by) his own dramatic, messy life?including heavy drinking, attempts on his life, a stint in prison and several rocky marriages. "Conscientized" by the American Indian Movement at 30, Means helped define Indian rage, leading an occupation of the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs and, in 1973, an armed takeover of Wounded Knee in protest of a corrupt Lakota tribal government. Assisted by historian Wolf, Means tells his story with vernacular frankness, regularly slamming Eurocentrism. While Means's love for his people and his anger at America's historic depredations seem genuine, his conclusion steals some of his thunder (and contradicts his opposition to intermarriage): after finally entering therapy to cope with his anger, he determines that "feelings and relationships" matter far more than race or culture. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Library Journal Next to Wilma Mankiller, Russell Means is the contemporary Native American leader that most non-Native Americans are likely to know. He first came to worldwide media attention during the 1973 siege at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, and has rarely been out of the spotlight since. A leader of the American Indian Movement (AIM), he also made news for filing a lawsuit against the Cleveland Indians to stop the use of the Indians mascot; most recently, Means played in the Disney animated feature film Pocahontas, in which he was the voice of Powhatan. This extremely readable and chatty autobiography gives an insider's eyewitness account of the events of Means's life, allowing non-Native readers some insight into the world of contemporary Native America with all of its strengths and weaknesses. Struggling with alcohol throughout his busy life, Means went into treatment in 1991 and began this book soon after. Highly recommended. [For an interview with Means, see p. 68.]?Lisa A. Mitten, Univ. of Pittsburgh Lib.-?Lisa A. Mitten, Univ. of Pittsburgh Lib.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Where White Men Fear to Tread: The Autobiography of Russell Means