The Sunday Read: ‘The Native Scholar Who Wasn't’

Long Bright River is a deeply affecting novel that delves into the lives of two sisters, Mickey and Kacey Fitzpatrick, in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. Mickey, a single mother and police officer, searches for her missing sister Kacey, who is struggling with addiction and works as a sex worker. The story unfolds as a mystery-thriller, with a series of murders involving prostitutes, forcing Mickey to confront their troubled childhood and the complexities of their relationship. The novel explores themes of addiction, family dynamics, and the broader social issues of poverty and community policing, offering a gripping and emotionally charged narrative.

In 'Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide', Andrea Smith explores the role of sexual violence in the colonization of Native American communities, highlighting its use as a tool for domination, assimilation, and genocide. The book also discusses broader implications for women of color and outlines strategies for resistance and healing.

Philip J. Deloria's "Playing Indian" explores the complex history of white Americans adopting Native American identities and traditions. The book examines how this practice has been used to both appropriate Native culture and to create a romanticized image of Native Americans. Deloria traces this phenomenon from early colonial encounters to the present day, highlighting its impact on Native communities and the broader American identity. He argues that this appropriation is a persistent and ongoing issue with significant consequences. The book challenges readers to confront the historical and contemporary implications of this cultural appropriation. It encourages a deeper understanding of the complexities of identity and the lasting effects of colonialism.

This book brings together scholars, artists, and activists to investigate the complex relationships between settler colonialism and anti-Blackness. It explores new modes of living and organizing that can lead to liberation for Black and Indigenous communities. The contributors examine relationality, ontologies, and socialities between Black and Native communities, aiming to create alternative futures beyond the constraints of violence and colonialism.

This book makes a compelling argument for the importance of theory in Native studies, addressing concerns about Western epistemology and emphasizing the need for Native people to be recognized as legitimate theorists. It explores how theory can serve as a decolonizing practice, engaging with critical ethnic studies, gender and sexuality studies, and postcolonial studies.