ZITKALA-SA (GERTRUDE SIMMONS BONNIN)
In between worlds, that is where I landed. I attempted to soar the sky in search of understanding, and when I returned home its flavor was somehow different, my mouth now salty from the journey.
Life, a constant struggle to understand the duality presented to me at birth. I was
"Indian," my mother, our family, our friends, our community, all "Indian." Our grounds, a Dakota reservation, an "Indian" reservation. Delegated land.
Mother called them paleface, brother called them sir, I called them Professor.
We all confronted different realities.
Our obstacles differed as did our perspectives. I longed to know and understand the differences. I desired education both for my own knowledge and the opportunity to share it with my people.
I saw their world, formally presented to me through their institutions. I began
to understand that they, like me, were of value. It then confused me further, after learning of their great melting-pot, why we were treated as scrap, not fit for the stew.