Bravo for the Marshallese: Regaining Control in a Post-Nuclear, Post-Colonial World

by Holly M. Barker

This case study describes the role an applied anthropologist takes to help Marshallese communities understand the impact of radiation exposure on the environment and themselves, and addresses problems stemming from the U.S. nuclear weapons testing program conducted in the Marshall Islands from 1946-1958. The author demonstrates how the U.S. Government limits its responsibilities for dealing with the problems it created in the Marshall Islands. Through archival, life history, and ethnographic research, the author constructs a compelling history of the testing program from a Marshallese perspective. For more than five decades, the Marshallese have experienced the effects of the weapons testing program on their health and their environment. This book amplifies the voice of the Marshallese who share their knowledge about illnesses, premature deaths, and exile from their homelands. The author uses linguistic analysis to show how the Marshallese developed a unique radiation language to discuss problems related to their radiation exposure - problems that never existed before the testing program. Drawing on her own experiences working with the Government of the Marshall Islands, the author emphasizes the role of an applied anthropologist in influencing policy, and empowering community leaders to seek meaningful remedies.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, History

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2003

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a class, but I am so glad that I read it because I learned so much.

I never knew about the United States’ testing of nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands and the devastation that caused. This book was extremely thorough in describing the history of before, during, and after the testing.

My only critique is that some parts were a bit repetitive and seemed very similar to other parts of the book, which is why I deducted a star.

However, the combination of photographs, historical evidence, interviews with Marshallese people, and other vessels of information were very powerful.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are not many resources available specifically discussing the impact of nuclear testing on the Marshallese. For this reason, I am rating this 5 stars as an excellent resource on this topic.

[Chloe Pennington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super helpful and informative to understanding the context and background of my Marshallese students.

[Ezra Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eye-opening read that I found intriguing from beginning to end. Before reading this I had never heard of the Bravo Tests and I knew nothing about the Marshall Islands other than the fact that they existed. This was simply... unbelievable. Though it is not outside of the realm of possibility that the US government could fuck up so bad (we do it constantly), this is still just... SO much damage was done. Horrifying. Horrifying, and so, so important.

[JBedient · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the U.S. did to the Marshallese is as unfathomable as the Holocaust. Though this book is primarily a downer, I think every human should read it. Nuff said.

[Millicent Ashby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was hard to read at times. There were parts that I just shook my head. The things the U.S. has done while trying to colonialize another culture is another dark piece to our history.

[Noor Kaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was emotionally heavy
what a sick world we live in