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Oct 02, 2011

Paul rated it:

I read an edition of this book which lists where the contents of Black Elk's telling of this portion of his life was greatly enhanced emotionally and symbolically by Neihardt. Were I not aware of these changes until after reading it, I would feel cheated and as though this book were a fake. Despite these added notes, however, the book is still fantastic, most of the perversion of the text being whiny, emotional additions and romantic lamentations Neihardt adds in his cultural guilt and ethical More...

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Oct 29, 2011

Joan rated it:

This was my third time reading this book, and every time I come away with something new. I highly recommend this to anyone studying religion. I highly recommend this book to every single American citizen. It should be required reading in public schools. The Lakota people have a vibrant, exciting, living religious tradition, and the fact that Black Elk's story was recorded is a gem and a blessing. Not only is it because of the religious tradition is this book important. It is also important becau More...

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Feb 11, 2009

Amy rated it:

Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice. You lived first, and you are older than all need, older than all prayer. All things belong to you --- the two-leggeds, the four-leggeds, the wings of the air and all green things that live. You have set the powers of the four quarters to cross each other. The good road and the road of difficulties you have made to cross; and where they cross the place is holy. Day in and day out, forever, you are the life o More...

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Sep 29, 2011

karlito rated it:

"Vous avez remarqué que toute chose faite par un indien est dans un cercle. Nos tipis étaient ronds comme des nids d'oiseaux et toujours disposés en cercle. Il en est ainsi parce que le pouvoir de l'Univers agit selon des cercles et que toute chose tend à être ronde. Dans l'ancien temps, lorsque nous étions un peuple fort et heureux, tout notre pouvoir venait du cercle sacré de la nation, et tant qu'il ne fut pas brisé.

Tout ce que fait le pouvoir de l'Univers se fait dans un cercl More...

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Jul 25, 2011

Karen rated it:

Although this work was produced under conditions that make a modern historian cringe (Black Elk to translator to transcriber to editor - decades after the events), it remains a core work for both modern natives and historians alike. Black Elk was one of the most influential natives of his generation and this story, recorded when it was, helped to bridge the gap of knowledge and declining native spirituality across the 'lost generations' of the reservation and boarding school Indians through to t More...

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Jul 08, 2011

Carolyn rated it:

This expands my knowledge of the Native American culture. Black Elk's vision of the sacred tree and the hoop tend to go along with some of my thoughts. However his vision was from a very masculine perspective and had only little reference to the feminine aspects. Black Elk lived in the time of the battle of The Little Big Horn and the slaughter at Wounded Knee. He went to Europe with Buffalo Bill and met Queen Victoria. His experiences with the Ghost Dance were intriguing. The fact that he More...

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Jun 26, 2011

MaryEllen rated it:

I read the Premier Edition, which is wonderfully annotated with historical references and clarifications on the interpretations and additions that are Neihardt's and not in the transcripts of Black Elk's words. I have had this on my "to read" list for years — everything in its time. I read this while in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Black Elk's homeland. It seemed especially powerful to read it in the very hills where he lived and walked, had visions, dreams, and went about the w More...

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Jan 05, 2011

Liz rated it:

At first glance, this is an interesting book, though personally not particularly my favorite topic. But if you look further into the book, there are just too many discrepancies between Black Elk's life and the story that is written. In writing a life-history it is very important to take into consideration the producer (Neihardt) and the process, in order to understand the product. Neihardt sought Black Elk because Neihardt was writing an epic poem, and he needed to talk to an old spiritual le More...

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Nov 01, 2010

Denise rated it:

(from inside flap): Black Elk Speaks is the story of the Lakota visionary and healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863–1950) and his people during the momentous twilight years of the nineteenth century. Black Elk met the distinguished poet, writer, and critic John G. Neihardt (1881–1973) in 1930 on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and chose Neihardt to tell his story. Neihardt understood and conveyed Black Elk’s experiences in this powerful and inspirational message for all humankind.

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Sep 21, 2010

Annii rated it:

I enjoyed this book. I found it kind of difficult when I was reading it to figure out what was actually Black Elk, and what was Neihardt, although the editor had thankfully given little footnotes on the side. While I think this was a powerful book, and very interesting to read, the lack of any true authenticity bothered me quite a lot. I didn't really understand why Neihardt couldn't just tell us what Black Elk said. It was obvious to me that good parts of the book were Black Elk's words filtere More...

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Sep 21, 2009

Matt rated it:

Black Elk’s was an atypical member of the Sioux Nation, due in large part to his youthful visions and eventual emergence as a Sioux Medicine man with prophetic and healing powers. His remarkable experiences provide a deep insight into the Sioux relationship with nature. By the time John Nehring, author of Black Elk Speaks, interviews Black Elk, he is near the end of his life. Black Elk is risking much in revealing the sacred details of his life story to a white man, but feels it necessary in ord More...

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Jun 25, 2009

John rated it:

This is the story of the annihilation of the Lakota Sioux of the Oglala Band as told from the perspective of the holy man/priest, Black Elk. The campaigns waged against the Indians were not so much armed conflicts but raids against villages to destroy tipis and provisions. This tactic denied shelter, viable sustenance and horses -- often more than a thousand horses were simply shot on the spot -- to eliminate any capability to replenish resources. With winter approaching the later in the season More...

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May 17, 2011

Owen rated it:

This is purportedly the life story of Black Elk, as written by John Neihardt. This should have been an incredible tale, weaving history with development and rise of a native holy man, all running through the tragedy of the Native American West. However, Neihardt feels compelled to attempt to spin the story to make the settlers and US Army, and western civilization as a whole, look terrible. You can't get through two pages without a note in the margin saying 'This was added by Neihardt,' or 'T More...

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Jul 18, 2009

Jody rated it:

This was a strangely powerful book for me. Its popularity through the ages indicate that it has been the same for many others, too. I was expecting more information about a form of Native American spirituality and less history. While reading it, though, it felt more like history than spirituality. Also, while reading it, I felt like I couldn't grasp the full value of the visions and the spiritual meaning of them. I didn't understand their meaning or significance. That is obviously some for More...

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Mar 26, 2010

Hans rated it:

Powerful and tragic. The story of a Medicine Man who recieved his first vision at age 9. Native American history is one that we have to still bear with shame for what previous generations of Americans did. The greed for land and gold was stronger than any concern for the value of another human life or civilization. The loss of the Native American culture is one of the truly tragic events in American History. I strongly believe there was so much our American Culture could have benifited from More...

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Dec 30, 2011

emanuel rated it:

Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice. You lived first, and you are older than all need, older than all prayer. All things belong to you --- the two-leggeds, the four-leggeds, the wings of the air and all green things that live. You have set the powers of the four quarters to cross each other. The good road and the road of difficulties you have made to cross; and where they cross the place is holy. Day in and day out, forever, you are the life o More...

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Jan 31, 2010

blake rated it:

A quick read, and pretty interesting from a historical perspective. The most valuable part for me was reading about the different Indians and their roles in the various battles. For instance, I didn't realize the same tribes and warriors were involved in probably the two most famous battles in all of my highschool history book: Little Big Horn and Wounded Knee. I liked hearing it from Black Elk's perspective. Neihardt lends the telling a lyricism that I'm not sure is completely authentic (af More...

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Nov 28, 2008

David rated it:

The story of an Oglala Souix Shaman, Black Elk, cousin of Crazy Horse. He witnessed the battles of Big Horn and Wounded Knee. He tells his story through a translator, to the poet Neihardt.

I read this in High School and again when I worked as the historian for the Pres. Benjamin Harrison Home. Harrison was the Pres. during the Wounded Knee battle and I needed to refresh the story and started an educational program using some quotes from this, Harrison letters, tlelgrams, news paper re More...

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Aug 15, 2010

Greg rated it:

I think Black Elk Speaks would be more interesting after learning more of the traditions, rituals, customs, and history of the Native American tribes. I have learned just enough to be dangerous, and while I found Black Elk’s account of his childhood vision and subsequent life interesting, it wasn’t as compelling as I think it would be with a richer and broader contextual understanding. Nonetheless, it was an interesting foray into the mindset of an acknowledged wise man, a shaman and healer of t More...

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Jun 01, 2009

Ross rated it:

I picked this up because I know it is required reading in a number of college classes studying native americans and religion. Black Elk was a sioux Indian prohet who saw many of the battles of the plains indians from the 1860's through Wounded Knee in the 1890s. The forward to the book described him as possibly the greatest american american prophet. I found the retelling of his visons interesting but enjoyed his perspective on the history of the last days of the plains indians equally as int More...

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Oct 31, 2011

Robyn rated it:

The life of Black Elk was filled with more tragic events than any one person should have had to endure; when I read, I like to put myself in the scene. I try to smell the wind, taste the food, feel the same fears and excitements as each character. I did not like the way I felt when Black Elk was only 17 years old, wondering if he had gone crazy. Speaking of the battle of Wounded Knee, this is what Black Elk stated: "When I saw this, I wish that I had died, too ..." Imagine being this m More...

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Oct 14, 2011

Conrad rated it:

"Black Elk Speaks" is different from most other books I have read about the Native American cultures with perhaps the exception of Kent Nerburn's "Neither Wolf Nor Dog" insofar as it address the religious aspect of tribal life. One of the things that really stood out to me while I was reading of his 'Great Vision' was its similarity in so many ways to the Apostle John's vision that he saw on the Isle of Patmos (which became the Book of Revelation). While each is different i More...

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Jan 01, 2011

Jill rated it:

This book was really hard for me. I struggle with Native American monologue/dialogue because I feel like the vocabulary is very simple and consequently extremely repetitive. Also the songs/poetry are very repetetive. This can grow old quickly. At the same time, I think plenty of beautiful things can be done and told without much vocabulary. I think the Native American's history is an essential and shameful part of American history and should be told. I struggled through this book, short as More...

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Feb 17, 2009

Phillip rated it:

"Black Elk Speaks" Is an enthralling look at the last American Indian Wars through they eyes of a participant. Through his narrative we see the end of the tribal way of life as bit by bit it became hampered by American expansionism. Black Elk’s is more than the story of a warrior. He was more importantly a medicine man and he includes in his narrative several of his spiritual visions; visions as poetic, vivid, and mystifying as some to be founnd in the Bible. This is the sort of b More...

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Apr 18, 2010

Dan rated it:

I'm not sure why it's "by" John G. Neihardt when it is an edited transcription of the words of Black Elk himself. However, it's a wonderful read. There's a more direct translation around, but this is the one I've read so far. The version I read has notations by Native American scholar Raymond J. DeMallie, which is helpful and insightful towards weeding out Neihardt's alterations of Black Elk's profound story and message. I love this book as a testament of faith and it is awesome as More...

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Sep 03, 2010

Corbin rated it:

Considering the format (transcribed interviews), this book is impressive in its eloquence and depth of feeling. It is part life story and part life perspective. If you are interested in the history surrounding Little Big Horn and Wounded Knee, Custer, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull--this is of obvious interest to you. I personally found the book to be uneven. The good parts were great, but the rest was tedious, indulgent, and sad (in a hopeless and depressing way). It only works as a sort of More...

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Dec 17, 2009

Brandon rated it:

wha? i read this in a class where the blond/blue eyed professor thought he was native american.

4 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 16, 2010

O. rated it:

The voice,language, spirituality of one of the last generation of pre-white-overrunning the continent-born born north American medicine men. Recounted by his friend, one of the first Americn anthropologists, while they were still romanticizing and focusing on the differences in-culture. Some lame historical and hyperbolic shite, but voice, authenticity and messages seem to shine through the bs. A classic and valuable text, but also a much usurped by romantic whites to erase the living native A More...

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May 14, 2011

Molly rated it:

Good for Americans to read- more spirituality-based than I anticipated, but alot of food for thought. This makes for good discussion in historiography-circles, especially, since the whole thing is kind of fourth-hand information, tens of years later. But the whole notion of historical memory has raised alot of questions in recent books, so nothing's new. This is also a good introduction to the story of the Lakota, Pine Ridge, Wounded Knee, the Ghost Dance, and more, for people without whose t More...

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Nov 17, 2011

Matthew rated it:

This book is a narrative given in May 1931 to Professor John Neihardt by the legendary Black Elk, telling some of his life story and more importantly, his “Great Vision for men.” Black Elk lived from 1863-1950. As stated in the introduction, this telling was no small matter, but rather considered sacred knowledge. Black Elk did not speak with just any inquirer and was seemingly able to discern whether a person was a worthy vessel for his knowledge. During their first meeting he says the followin More...

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