Journal #13

I have noticed a reoccurring theme of this uphill battle minorities must fight in America. They are in a constant fight to gain there liberties, freedoms, and equality. The short story “The School Days of An Indian Girl”, by Zitkala, shows this struggle in her short story. In essence, she is fighting for the American Dream. She is continually fighting the setbacks of the education system she is in, for example, at the end of the second chapter she says “…shaking my head all the while until I felt the cold blades of the scissors against my neck, and heard them gnaw off one of my thick braids. Then I lost my spirit.” Indians valued there long hair, and as they chopped it off, she relates to losing her spirit. When one loses there spirit, you would get the impression they would give up and throw in the towel, but she does just the opposite and continues to fight. She is fighting for the American Dream of equal opportunity and freedom of liberty. This story represent the battle minorities had to endure throughout American history, and also gives hope to the continual struggle minorities still face even today.