Introduction
I chose Logan L. “Indian Citizenship Bill Passed the Senate” article. I used the following words to search for the article: Indian Citizenship, American Indian Citizenship Bill, Indian Oppression, and Indian Bureau. I had difficulty understanding some of the articles because they used archaic language, incoherent spelling, and grammatical structures that did not resemble modern ones. Adapting to these variations required a considerable amount of time and effort. Nevertheless, I found the content of the papers fascinating, and the quality of the images and text also struck me.
Discussion
The background information on the Tomahawk newspaper provides important context that could affect the interpretation of the article. The Tomahawk was an official organ of the Minnesota Ojibwe and aimed to provide fair and impartial reporting to the Indian community. The newspaper’s objective was to provide justice and fair dealing to every Indian who wished to become a decent citizen. This mission statement would have influenced the paper’s editorial stance, likely favoring the Indian community’s struggle for equal rights.
The selected news article covers the approval of legislation that confers complete citizenship rights to all individuals of Indian descent who were born within the geographical boundaries of the United States. The article highlights the long-standing struggle of the Indian community for equal rights, including the right to be free from oppression by the Indian Bureau. The author expects that the new legislation would end the age of “wardship” and “subjection” by Indian Bureau personnel (Logan, 1924). This bill is considered the first step toward the final abolition of the Indian Bureau. It is the result of the earnest effort of conscientious individuals who have been protesting the Bureau’s administration of the affairs of American Indians. The article ends on a hopeful note, expressing the belief that this bill would enable American Indians to take their rightful place in the body politic of the United States. The article is a clear indication of the positive impact that advocacy efforts can have on social change.
Conclusion
This article highlighted the knowledge that the bill was released to ensure that all rights and freedoms of citizens of Indian descent were respected. I also drew from this paper that Indian Bureau officials were violating the rights of American Indians. The lesson learned about newspapers in the 1920s and 1930s is that they were instrumental in disseminating news and information to the public, especially those living in remote areas. Newspapers of this time were typically small and locally focused, with content that catered to specific demographics or regions. The other headlines and ads that caught my eye were for local events and businesses, such as advertisements for the White Earth Fair and a local hardware store. These ads and headlines provided a glimpse into the community’s daily life at that time.
Reference
Logan, L. (1924). Indian citizenship bill passes senate. The Tomahawk, 1. Web.