"Group to Discuss Black Elk Speaks"
 
On Thursday, June 24th,2004 Columbus Public Library Discussion Group will be reviewing "Black Elk Speaks". The whole title is: “Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglalla Sioux” as told through John G. Neihardt (Flaming Rainbow). An interesting point I’d like to make is that in 1932 the original title read “as told to” John G. Neihardt. The change to the form now appearing on the title page was made at the author’s request.

First published over 70 years ago, Black Elk Speaks is one of the greatest of all books about the life of the American Indian. This is the life story of Lakota visionary and healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863-1950) and his people during the momentous, twilight years of the nineteenth century. Black Elk grew up in a time when white settlers were invading the Lakota’s homeland, decimating buffalo herds and threatening to extinguish the Lakota’s way of life. Black Elk and other Lakota’s fought back, a dogged resistance that resulted in a remarkable victory at the Little Bighorn and an unspeakable tragedy at Wounded Knee.

Josette Kluck, Columbus High School English teacher, will be conducting the discussion. The Group is very fortunate to have someone with Mrs. Kluck’s credentials be the moderator for this Nebraska classic. She has worked extensively with the Annenberg Grant, which was awarded to infuse the arts into Columbus High Schools curriculum. Josette has her Master’s Degree in American Literature. So, please join us for “Black Elk Speaks” on Thursday June 24th,2004 at 7:00 pm at Columbus Public Library.