Over the past few days, we have looked at Native American stereotypes in different forms of media. I'm interested to know what you folks think of Ray's character in A Yellow Raft In Blue Water: does she fit into some of these stereotypes? Would you identify her as 'Native American?' In a lot of ways, Ray seems like a normal kid trying to find her way, and doing so pretty much without the help of any of her parents. Still, I feel that there are elements of her Native American heritage that are in play.
I'm also interested with how Christine fits the Native American 'mold.'
For both characters, I'm intrigued how their respective connections to their heritage shape and influence their identity as Americans as well as Native-Americans. What do you guys think?
*Again, remember that in a blog community (or any community, really) it is super important to read and consider what other people are thinking and saying. Please, take the time to read through what your peers say and remember that you can respond to their ideas rather than to my questions. This is especially helpful if you are stuck or can't quite think of what to say.
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ReplyDeleteIn this book, all Ray wants to do is fit in. She sometimes wishes she were other people because of their appearance on the outside. I feel bad for her because she is not accepted by her peers. She is mixed with half black and half Native-American, and people of both these races don't accept her.The people who are Native-American think she is less of a person because her darker shade of skin. They don't like her because she is mixed with black and not full-blooded "Indian".
ReplyDeleteRay's mother Christine, is a lot differnt then her though. As a child, she was a "party animal", and now grown up she is the same way. Ray is constantly having to keep up with her mom because she does't think about consequences. Christine seems as though she does't care about the value of life, especially when she was child. She doesn't value her heritage either, and is the total opposite of her adoring brother, and that's why I believe her and her Aunt Ida don't get along.
I agree with LeaChanel in the fact that Ray being half Native American and half black, doesn't allow her to truly fit in with one culture or the other. Therefore, I wouldn't classify her as a true Native American. Even though her "blood" may contain Native American, her actions do not. SHe doesn't seen to be at all satisfied with living on the reservation,like Aunt Ida does. This might be in fact due to the fact the Aunt Ida is full on Native American and Ray is still trying to decide between two paths of life. On the other hand, with Christine I think it's more obvious that she's trying to avoid the Native American in her from the time that she's a little kid. By her running away with some boy from the reservation completely defied Aunt Ida. I don't know if growing up in America, made her feel like she had to fit into a different mold rather than keeping her heritage as a Native American.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that Christine fits into the Native American stereotype. She does not practice her indian culture like most of the other Indians on the reservation. She also likes to party and have a good time, at least she did when she was younger. Partying is more important to her than respecting her Indidan Culture. However, not practicing her Indian Culture in different ways does not make her "not an Indian"; it is her choice to live however she wants to.
ReplyDeleteChristine does not fit into the Native American stereotype. She does things that are not well respected in her culture, such as party and eventually have a child with a black man. She does not honor her heritage at all, which causes her and Aunt Ida to have conflict.
ReplyDeleteRay is half black and half Native American, and I don't think she fits in with either culture's stereotypes. She is her own person and is trying real hard to find her identity. Christine and Ray are very alike in the fact that neither of them celebrate their heritage.
I disagree with psterling, Christine does fit into a Native American stereotype. However, the steroetype she fits into is not the one of a traditional Indian. The stereotype Christine fits into is that of the drunk Indian. Think back to to the Indian education stories when the 11th grade kid collapsed during the dance and the African american man later asked how much alcohol he had, had that night. It seems that people look at Native Americans and expect them to either be drunk or be extremely traditional.
ReplyDeleteIN THIS BOOK RAY IS A YOUNG GIRL WHO ALL SHE WANTS IS THE BEST FOR HERSELF BUT STRUGGLES ALONG THE WAY ,WITH HER MOM LIVING HER BEHIND AND SHE LIVING WITH NEW PEOPLE BUT SHE EMBRACES HER NATIVE AMERICAN SIDE SOMEHOW BY THE WAY SHE ADMIRES UNCLE LEE AND WANTS TO FOLLOW HIS FOOTSTEPS .
ReplyDeleteBUT FOR HER MOM CHRISTINE SHE DONT EMBRACE IT BECAUSE OF THE WAY SHE ACTS OUTSIDE THE RESERVE N WHEN SHE GETS TO THE RESERVE
I dont think that Ray would be really considered more as a "Native American" her father is black. All the time when i see a mix person i ask my mom are they white or black? because "mix" was not gonna do it for me but my mom told me that "black" dominates. Yeah its weird but Rays been around her mother most of the time meaning that maybe the native american rub more on her. Idk?? its kind of confusing. For Christine she some what fits the Native American mold i only think she fits it because she can speak the language but other then that she acts irresponsible.
ReplyDeleteI think that Ray has a hard time trying to fit in with her peers because she is native-American and Black. She is worried about appearance and being excluded. She's having a hard time because she's not accepted by both sides and had a hard time trying to overcome her struggles.
ReplyDeleteI must agree with LeaChanel in that Ray just wants to fit in. But she is not accepted by her peers, for the fact that she is mixed and not a full blood indian. I feel bad for Ray, because all anyone wants to do in this world is fit in, especially at her age. Kids, as well as adults can be very cruel when it comes to whether or not someone is accepted in society. Although Ray is not a full blooded indian, I would characterize her as one. Only because its not about what you do, or how it comes across, whether people accept it or not, Ray is an Indian just for the fact that she has it in her blood. Ray is really trying hard to find her identity, and thats not easy to do when no one will accept her as who she is. I give her a lot of credit for not throwin in the towel and quiting. Because going through what she goes through everyday takes a lot of courage.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with LeaChanel on this certain topic. Ray is constantly trying to find her true indentity but she gets confused. People are constantly judging her appearance so she feels she does not belong. When she goes to the reservation, her cousin and other children tease her and make fun of her darker appearance. She is more native american than black to me. She knows the language which plays a part and she is somehow use to the customs. Her mother on the other hand i believe is trying to run away from her customs. She seems to dislike it for some reason and is constanlty trying to run away from the reservation. She acts more childish than her own teenage daughter, who apparently can take care of herself better than her mother can. She pretty much has more tolerance towards her traditions than her mother.
ReplyDeleteI think that Ray is having a tough time finding where she fits in becuase she is mixed. Obviously the Native American's at the reservation do not accept her and she has not tried with the African-American. In my opinion she does not have an identity herself and becaus eof that she does not fit into the "stereotypes".
ReplyDeleteAs for Christine I do not believe she fits any of the steriotypes for Native Americans because she does not follow their traditions.
I do not think either one of these characters fit into the sterotype that they are suppose to be. I feel that Ray is very confused and desperatley searching for her identity. For example when Tom tried giving her that medallion, Ray did not feel like she was part of that type of culture at all. Also, Christine does not fit into that sterotype, but that is only because she does not look back from where she came from and follow any type of tradition or culture.
ReplyDeleteI wouold identify Ray as a Native American. Just because she doesn't do everything an indian does doesn't mean she doesn't have aspects of that in her life. I also believe she doesn't have much of a chance to live like they do or have the chance to learn. All that she's worried about now is staying with her mom and trying to fit in along the way. However in this way of life she is partially fulfilling her Native culture because indians themselves often wish they could blend in and be accepted by society.
ReplyDeleteChristine seems to just do as she pleases all the time. The fact that she's supposed to be a responsible adult raising a child has no effect over the choices she makes. The only major thing she is doing that is known to be associated with indians is to drink.
I think ray in the book sometimes trys to hide her Native american background because like people have been saying she wants to fit in, so she sometimes trys to cover it up. I think there are alot of pressure that ray has to deal with like being mixed, not being full indian. And also what people feel about her when they see her. So she may at times feel like she doesnt fit in so this is why ray is still trying to find her identity.
ReplyDeleteI feel in a way that Ray hides from what she is, or she is just really confused with the knowledge of her culture?... People are always stero typing in the world and we jsut have to find a way to deal with it. i also do feel that Ray is under alot of pressure by her family, knowing that her moms brother represented there heritage very well as well as her grandmother. Ray i do not think grew up with her mom pushing the issue just because she never really did it when she was younger, so in a way Ray never had a role model to look up to. So i think she should just look up some things maybe study a bit more and with age it might come easier?..
ReplyDeleteI dont think that Ray practice her culture very much. She is kind of hiding who she really is. The reason being is because she trys to fit in and she thinks that if people know what she really is they wont except her for who she is.
ReplyDeleteI honestly think that christine does fit some "stereotypes" of being a native american in that she drinks, and party's. These are good stereotypes of being an indian. I think a lot of people that have responded to this post have stereotypes and her practicing her native american culture mixed up.
ReplyDeleteYet ray i feel doesn't fit the stereotypes, and doesn't fit in with the people on the reservation because she is mixed.
she does fit some of the sterotypes but doesnt fit in with everybody else as well as she would like. she doesnt practice her culture to the full extent. she has a hard time fitting in with other people because she is mixed. i would identify her as a native american because of her background. christine was a lot different than ray when she was her age.
ReplyDelete