Colonizers in Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson Abigail Joy Sommer College

Written in 1884, the novel, Ramona, by Helen Hunt Jackson tells the story of a Native American orphan living in Southern California following the Mexican-American War. Because of this unique narrative and glimpse into the hardship and discrimination faced by Native Americans, this novel sheds light onto the unsavory side of California history while drawing readers into the story and appealing to their emotions. While this information is valuable to everyone and should be made readily available, this novel may be especially helpful in teaching high school or college students about the struggles faced by Native people and their descendants. While people are quick to praise California history in light of the famous Gold Rush and the uniquely Californian identity developed as a result, often times the dark reality of colonization and the erasure of Native American culture is simply glossed over or even ignored. However, as responsible students and historians, people have a moral and intellectual obligation to critically examine all aspects of history, even the ones which do not portray colonizers favorably. Ramona, by Helen Hunt Jackson does just this by illuminating the unique struggles and discrimination faced by individuals of...