Analysis Of The Book ' A Different Mirror '

With waves of the American population moving westward, government attempted to assimilate, or integrate, Native Americans into American society. Their goal was for Native Americans to live and behave like white Americans, and for them “to cast off their savage habits and become an interesting, civilized, and Christian community” (Doc 9). Children were sent to boarding schools where they were given new clothes and haircuts, and taught English, Christianity, and American ways of life (Doc 13). While many Americans believed this would be good for the Native Americans, it effectively destroyed their culture and identity. By forcing them to learn English, they were unable to communicate the concepts, beliefs, and ideas their languages were based on. Americans did not consider the fact that English could not substitute for Native languages, because they are based on different realities, histories, and cultures (Doc 3). Assimilation turned the lives of Native Americans upside-down, forcing them to give up ideas and beliefs they had been practicing their whole lives, without any say. Slowly, Native American culture and lifestyle faded until it was nearly

     Sure, some of us have this great confidence within ourselves about looking great, but that does not hold true for everyone. I understand the pain or disgust, or even disappointment one feels when they look in the mirror and say, “I wish I could change this or that about myself”. Although this piece is written about the author’s life, it holds meaning and connects with for many people; one only has to dig deep enough to find one. For me, it was to realize what is important in life can change, adapt and that we must explore our inner selves and find our own path in life.

Takaki’s book, A Different Mirror, offers the multicultural history of the United States. This book provides the reader with the American experience of Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Irish Americans, Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, and Jewish Americans. During this time, America demonstrated manifest destiny and the Master Narrative. They were led by the belief of “white purity,” which these ethnic groups threatened. America exhibited supremacy over all of these ethnic groups. Takaki’s work allows me to become aware of the history and the outcomes of manifest destiny and the Master Narrative.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Europeans started to come over to the new world, they discovered a society of Indians that was strikingly different to their own. To understand how different, one must first compare and contrast some of the very important differences between them, such as how the Europeans considered the Indians to be extremely primitive and basic, while, considering themselves civilized. The Europeans considered that they were model societies, and they thought that the Indians society and culture should be changed to be very similar to their own.

John Szarkowski is an American photographer and curator, whose opinions on a photograph’s narrative and direction are highly valued. In his time he analyzed many works of art, and produced many different interpretations, one being the ideals of mirrors and windows.

Throughout history, dominant ideologies have often clashed with other ideologies, causing contradictions. In Chapter 7 of A Different Mirror, Ronald Takaki writes about the contradictions found in ideologies in US history, especially those concerning the Mexicans in Texas and California. In the 1800s, the market revolution ran the country. As new inventions, such as the cotton gin, were introduced, Americans sought to make raw goods faster and cheaper. As a result, they looked for cheap labor and more land. Believing in the Manifest Destiny, they looked westward, where there was an abundance of land. In moving west, the Americans encountered Mexicans that had recently become Americans due to the change in the Mexican-American border. This

For almost as long as European settlers have interacted with the native peoples of the Americas, they have had a notion: what many call ‘assimilation’. To Europeans, assimilation of native peoples meant for their culture, which they believed to be superior, to be accepted over time by the natives. And as they grew more and more European in language, religion, customs, organization, morals, and behavior, they would slowly shed off all of their old culture which the European culture would be replacing. The Europeans believed this process was for the best for the natives and that they would be happier living ‘civilized’ lives as opposed to practicing their own traditions.

Opening a discussion about assimilation reveals a double standard that has been present between native and non-native Americans throughout our nation’s history. From the day they stepped off the boat, white settlers expected Native Americans to change and conform, while they themselves refused to do any changing at all. Before the European settlers arrived in America, the native peoples were the “American Mainstream.” White settlers came into their home, disrupted and destroyed their way of life, disrespected their culture and religion, and then asked them to adopt a European lifestyle. We established a nation in a place where

He tried to remain calm, but a panic was taking hold of Jim at his very core. Susan and her safety played on his mind, regardless of the danger he was currently facing. Jim shook his head back and forth as a means of clearing away the mental fog. He refused to remain trapped in an “inescapable” room of mirrors.

Body three Clothing- In The Encyclopedia of Natives American Tribes it says that shredded cedar bark, deerskin, or rabbit skin were used for clothing. Men wore capes and leggings while women wore long dresses of buckskin. During dances, women wore dresses decorated with beadwork, elk teeth, and ribbons while men wore dancing outfits adorned with feathers and ribbons. The Chinook would wear clothing made from plants. They did not wear leather because it would get ruined from the constant dampness. Men would wear robes and hats made of bear grass or cedar grass. Women would wore knee-length dresses made of grass or cedar bark. During the winters, they covered themselves in fur blankets and robes made out of skins of dogs, muskrats, rabbits, and sheep. The peoples had tattoos on their bodies as

In chapter 2 of the book, A Different Mirror, written by Ronald Takaki, the culture being represented are the Indians. While in chapter 3 of the book, Takkaki mainly discusses the cultures of the African American and English settlers of early America. Furthermore, in chapter 6 of the book, Takkaki explains the culture of the Irish and their migration to the United States. In a relevant lecture, which includes keywords such as: privilege, marginalization, and minoritization. In chapter 2, the material Takkaki discusses shows examples of how the Indians have shaped America into what it is today. In this chapter, Takkaki discusses how the English forced the Indians off their land and killing them in the process. While doing this, the English learned

In the last five to six centuries, Native Americans have somewhat become nonexistent. They have been stripped of their ethnic identity along with their unwanted belongings. The impact of the acculturation are: manners, morals and habits of the European

Between 1790 and 1920 it was a tough time for the Indians. During that period Native Americans were forced to convert to the European-American Culture. Their whole life changed, the way of living, religion, and especially their children’s future. It was wrong of Americans to convert natives into a different society that they saw fit and not letting them express their own culture and treating them as an unworthy society.

Mirrors and glasses are wonderful exponents to reveal the glory of the house and its owners. If they are clean, then it indicates the people in the house take care of things and if they are tarnished, it indicates that the people in the house lack discipline or doesn’t bother about maintaining a neat environment. Unfortunately, not every technique can be used to clean the glass or mirror situated in different places. For instance, the cleaning method for champagne glasses differs from that of a bathroom mirror. This is not understood by many and they end up with unattractive mirrors. Below are some of the methods suitable for cleaning different mirrors and glasses:

Would you ever want to live in a world where you are categorised by your actions and thoughts. Well this is what Tris has to live with. She was born into the Abnegation faction (the selfless) but never felt like she belonged. She is told in her aptitude test that she has traits from Abnegation, Dauntless(the brave), and Erudite(the intelligent). She was divergent. I never truly knew what that meant until the end of this book and I still wonder if I know everything. After reading this book I think is very good and keeps you interested, but I have found some flaws. Although I really enjoyed the book in the beginning, it did not have enough detail and left me confused. The book was also very predictable and was way too long to have the main action only at the end.