The common theme of Apess’ “An Indian’s Looking Glass for the White Man” and Sigourney’s “Indian Names” is more than just the plight of the Native American people. To me, both pieces really harped on the idea that the Native Americans are not the one’s imposing on the white men. The white men are actually imposing and taking away the possessions and lifestyles of the Native Americans.
This new group of Americans that immigrated to the New World, referred to as “whites” by both authors, started by taking land away from Native Americans, who had called United States their home for decades. Lydia Sigourney writes, “That ‘mid the forests where they roamed there rings no hunter’s shout…” and “….their cone-like cabins that clustered o’er the vale, have fled away like withered leaves before the autumn gale.” These words symbolize the loss of hunting grounds for Native Americans, as well as the departure from their native lands, that was caused by the whites moving west.
I really enjoyed William Apess’ “An Indian’s Looking Glass for the White Man.” The idea that the white man is actually the imposter is continued in his work that really asks white settlers of the United States to step back and rethink their treatment of the Native Americans. As a Methodist minister, Apess used many Bible verses to point out that the Bible does not discriminate based on the color skin, so neither should we. He also points out that Jesus, who was a Jew, associated with the Gentiles, who were considered the “lesser class” during that time period. With these ideas in mind, he asks his white readers if they are still ok with continuing to impose on the Native American way of life by depriving them of education and basic social rights, as well as tearing them away from their beloved homelands. Both of these articles are great examples of writing for social reform during this time period.
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