Soapbox Discourse: Tribal Historiography, Indian-White Relations, and Southeastern New England Powwows

On 20 April 1936, the Narragansett runner Ellison “Tarzan” Brown collapsed as he crossed the finish line winning the fortieth annual Boston Marathon. But for the runner and the indigenous community from which he hailed, the marathon meant much more than a race and victory and fame. Success in this renowned contest portended a pathway out of obscurity for a people who had, for more than fifty years, sought to proclaim the continuance of their collective indigenous identity in the wake of a forced detribalization by the state of Rhode Island. This article illuminates what Brown’s victory meant to and did for a small and mostly forgotten indigenous community. More specifically, it is about how Brown and other Narragansett parlayed the runner’s physical accomplishments into meaningful, community-wide social, economic, and political advancements.

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"My Heart Jumps Happy When I . . . Hear That Music": Powwow Singing and Indian Identities in Eastern North Carolina

Ellis¹

2013

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Soapbox Discourse: Tribal Historiography, Indian-White Relations, and Southeastern New England Powwows

Cited by 4 publications

References 2 publications

Monuments and Sexual Politics in New England Indian Country

Monuments and Sexual Politics in New England Indian Country

Running for a Nation: The Remarkable Story of Ellison “Tarzan” Brown

"My Heart Jumps Happy When I . . . Hear That Music": Powwow Singing and Indian Identities in Eastern North Carolina

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