In the Spirit of Crazy Horse (book): Difference between revisions

====Date: [[:Category:1951 - 1975|1951 - 1975]] [[:Category:1976 - 1984|1976 - 1984]] [[:Category:1985 - 1995|1985 - 1995]]====

====Region: [[:Category:North America|North America]] [[:Category:|]] [[:Category:|{location3}]]====

====Subject: [[:Category:Political/Economic/Social Opinion|Political/Economic/Social Opinion]] [[:Category:|]] [[:Category:|]]====

====Medium: [[:Category:Literature|Literature]] [[:Category:|]] [[:Category:|]]====

'''Artist:''' US novelist and essayist, Peter Matthiessen (b. 1927 - ); Viking Press; bookstores nationwide; and, Leonard Peltier

'''Dates of Action:''' 1975 through 1990

 

'''Description of Artwork:''' Matthiessen's book, "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse" looks at the plight of the American Indian community by focusing on the case of Leonard Peltier - an American Indian tried and convicted of killing two FBI agents in June of 1975.  Portraying Peltier as a martyr to a cause, Matthiessen's book suggests that he should not be blamed for the events that led to the death of two FBI agents, but rather that it is the fault of the US government.  He claims that for years the US government has been hostile, abusive and unfair to the Native American communities around the country; and, it is exactly this treatment that lead to and instigated the events that transpired. <P>

'''The Incident:''' On June 25, 1975, members of the militant American Indian Movement (AIM) shot and killed FBI agents Jack Coler and Ron Williams on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  Four men were indicted for the murders; one was released, two were acquitted when a jury found that they acted in self-defense, and the fourth, a Chippewa Sioux named Leonard Peltier was convicted of the murders and sentenced to two life sentences in prison.  Essayist and novelist, Peter Matthiessen strongly objected to the conviction of Peltier.  And, the case inspired him to write "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse" in which he tells the story of Peltier, AIM, and the systematic oppression and inequity of Native Americans.  In his book, Matthiessen argues that the killing of Coler and Williams was the result of years of the US government's unfair treatment and persecution of Native Americans, treating the AIM as domestic terrorists.  According to Matthiessen, the death of the two FBI agents was the result of years of abuse inflicted onto the Native Americans.  And, Matthiessen takes particular aim at South Dakota governor at the time William Janklow and FBI agent David Price.  Matthiessen portrayed Janklow as a bigot and a sexual offender (Matthiessen reported, accurately, that the governor had been charged with sexual offences on two separate occasions) and the written criticized Price for his longstanding anti-AIM position.  Objecting strongly to their unfavorable characterization in the book both prominent figures file libel suits against the author, the publisher Viking Press, and booksellers that were stocking the book.  The suits', asking for a total of $44 million in damages, effectively repressed "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse" for eight years and is considered one of the longest, most drawn out and most expensive libel suits in publishing history. <P>

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[[Category:US novelist and essayist, Peter Matthiessen (b. 1927 - ); Viking Press; bookstores nationwide; and, Leonard Peltier]]