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Jayson Lee Block 1 Mrs. Knowles English1 9/3/13 Exploratory Essay

My topic is Reparations for Native Americans. I chose this topic not only because I am Native American but I also have a connection with this topic. I feel that Native Americans should have reparations for all the things theyve had to go through in Americas expansion. There for my Native American heritage has made this affect me directly. The way this affected me directly because of the fact many of my people were moved to these horrible plots of land called Reservations. Reservations are desolate, horrid places where darkness consumes everything like the nighttime consumes the day. Now imagine having to wake up everyday thinking you are this way and that everyone hates you, and that youre a minority. You also have to work everyday and be what the world wants you to be. So when preying eyes from the outside world are on you, you have to act like they want you to. Then when they leave you go back to being a part of a culture that is failing to be recognized. This is where my people were forced to go because of the expanding population of Europeans. Many members of my family were denied jobs outside of the Reservation. Many became alcoholics

Lee 2 and they gambled; this was a result of casinos. Casinos have caused very negative affects on Reservations. These casinos are a two way street. They have brought jobs and money to the Native American Reservations as well as gambling and alcoholism. These are some of the things that have oppressed the Native Americans. They also have trouble getting a higher education and are considered to be savage and stupid. Discrimination against Native Americans doesnt only come from just every day people; it is the media largely to help keep the discrimination perpetuated. These things reflect on the Native Americans and make them think thats what they really are and thats how they are supposed to be. Society is always pressing people to look a certain way and be a certain way. Take anorexia for example these people are pressed by the society we live in that they feel that they have to be super thin to be pretty and to fit in, well it is not what you need to fit in. In my research I found Civil Rights.org. Native Americans face the most challenging when it comes to Civil Rights. Tribes that are recognized federally are considered dependent nations. These tribes retain self-government. (The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights). In 1988 in the case Lyng vs. Northwestern Indian Cemetery Protection Association, they were trying to protect their sacred burial ground. The Supreme Court ruled in the favor of a forest service road being built on the burial ground. This burial ground was held sacred to several tribes. The Supreme Court ruled that it did not disregard the Indians First Amendment. More recently in 1994 president Bill Clinton signed a law prohibiting any kind of discrimination against the Native Americans Peyote. This was a victory for the Native American Civil Rights struggles. They still continue to reach equality and freedom in America today. (The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights)

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I want to find a way to stop this discrimination on the Native Americans, and try to see if there is a way to keep them from falling even farther behind in American society today. I am in favor of reparations for the Native Americans so they can advance in this ever changing society. I think there is a way to stop this wide scale discrimination on the indigenous peoples. These things are because of human ignorance and its because of my Native American heritage that I would like to see my people advance and be farther up in the social structure. Another reason that I am so interested in finding more about reparations for the Native American people is because I want to know how I, as a Native American, can help get this whole thing put away and also help Native Americans get what they need in order to succeed.