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Review by: Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak, PhD
(International Islamic University Malaysia)
One of the most profound books I read during my undergraduate years at IAIN Ar-Raniry (now Ar-Raniry State Islamic University), Darussalam, Banda Aceh, Indonesia, was ‘Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West’ by Dee Brown (Dorris Alexander Brown). Introduced to me by an American friend named Muhammad Garyson from Delaware, USA, the book opened my eyes to a side of American history often hidden in mainstream narratives. Published in 1970, it quickly became a bestseller and has since been translated into 17 languages, demonstrating its global impact. The Washington Post described it as “shattering,” while The New York Times called it “heartbreaking.” It sold one million hardcover copies and four million paperbacks—a testament to its emotional and historical depth.
The book consists of 19 chapters covering the history of Native Americans, particularly between 1860 and 1890, a period when they were systematically displaced and decimated by white settlers and the U.S. government. Brown draws from documented evidence, historical records, and firsthand accounts to portray the brutal conquest of the American West and the genocide that followed. This is not a romanticized tale of frontier heroism, but a raw, unfiltered account of betrayal, suffering, and resistance.
Brown starts by highlighting the arrival of Europeans in 1492 and swiftly moves into the heart of the Native American plight. His narrative focuses on several tribes such as the Navajo, Santee Dakota, Hunkpapa, Oglala Lakota, Cheyenne, and Apache, and touches upon others like the Arapaho, Kiowa, Comanche, Ute, and Nez Perce. The book details how the Native American people were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands through deceptive treaties, broken promises, and sheer violence.
One of the most tragic aspects revealed in the book is how the tribal leaders were often manipulated into surrendering land through deceitful means. In some cases, white settlers would offer them whisky to intoxicate them, only to have them sign land cessions while under the influence. Upon regaining sobriety, these leaders would realize their lands were gone. The psychological, physical, and cultural trauma inflicted on these communities was immense.
The atrocities didn’t stop at land theft. Native Americans were driven into reservation camps where living conditions were deplorable. Families were separated, children and women were subjected to violence, including sexual assault and mutilation. Some were made to march through blizzards without adequate clothing, leading to death by hypothermia—a method of extermination as cruel as any war crime. Brown documents all of this in vivid, painful detail, making the reader feel the anguish of those who lived through such horror.
When I first read the book in my mid-twenties, I was emotionally overwhelmed. It drastically shifted my perception of Native Americans, whom I had previously seen through the distorted lens of TV and Hollywood movies. Brown’s writing made me feel as if I were right there, sharing in the grief and helplessness of the tribes as they were stripped of their dignity, their homes, and, all too often, their lives.
The story of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee does not end in the 19th century. Its relevance continues today, especially when examining how the United States—and indeed, many modern powers—conduct their foreign and domestic policies. The historical injustices faced by Native Americans echo in the continued marginalization of indigenous communities across the globe. It is a reminder that the foundations of some modern powers were built on the ashes of the oppressed.
In reflecting on U.S. history, it becomes apparent that American policy, both domestic and international, has often been rooted in domination rather than diplomacy. While the average American citizen is likely peace-loving and just, the actions of policymakers tell a different story. From the genocide of Native Americans to military interventions in Iraq, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, a pattern of aggression persists. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, regime changes in Libya and Iraq, and the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan have led to untold civilian deaths and immense suffering.
This tendency toward military intervention and dominance is, in part, reflective of an ideology rooted in Darwinian concepts such as “survival of the fittest.” This notion has long influenced the American approach to global politics—viewing power as something to be maintained through control, not cooperation. The result has been a legacy of war, instability, and destruction, with the United States entangled in conflicts across nearly every continent.
Yet, not all Americans support these aggressive foreign policies. Within the United States, there are numerous anti-war movements and voices calling for peace and justice. These citizens understand that true leadership lies not in domination, but in humility, cooperation, and respect for human rights. Unfortunately, their pleas often fall on deaf ears, overshadowed by the interests of warmongers and political elites.
Brown’s book also serves as a cautionary tale to nations around the world. The story of Native Americans should stand as a universal warning against the suppression and marginalization of minority communities. Countries should strive for inclusive governance, where the rights and voices of minorities are respected, and all citizens share in the national prosperity.
In light of this, I call upon several nations to reflect on their own treatment of minorities:
1. Israel must end its genocidal practices in Palestine. It should cease the killing of civilians, particularly women, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations.
The policy of bombing homes, schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure must stop immediately. The targeting and killing of doctors, healthcare workers, patients, United Nations aid workers, and others violates international law and humanitarian conventions.
Israel should recognize the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. All illegal Israeli settlers must vacate Palestinian territories and return to Israel or, where applicable, to Europe—their place of origin.
Palestine rightfully belongs to the Palestinian people, the original inhabitants of the land. They deserve a sovereign homeland of their own.
True and lasting peace can only be achieved through justice, accountability, and mutual respect.
2. Modern China, which maintains communism primarily through the power structure of the Chinese Communist Party, should end its mass detention of Uyghur Muslims. Since China allows a free market and supports the establishment of private businesses, it should also grant religious freedom and ensure the safety and security of Chinese Muslims and others to practice their faith freely.
The ill-treatment of Tibetans must also come to an end. As a people deeply rooted in spirituality, Tibetans should not be oppressed or intimidated while living in their own land. Tibet should be granted its freedom so that the current Dalai Lama and other Tibetans living in exile may return to their homeland.
In addition to granting freedom to Tibet, modern China—heavily involved in international trade and business—should also stop intimidating Taiwan and instead seek to coexist peacefully as a good neighbor.
3. The Indian Government should not intimidate or terrorize the people living in Kashmir. It is estimated that around 600,000 Indian soldiers are deployed across the region, claiming to suppress the rebellion there. Experts suggest that between 20,000 to 60,000 innocent lives have been lost since the unrest began in the Kashmir Valley. Kashmir is said to be the most militarized zone in the world.
At present, young men and women feel unsafe walking the streets. In many ways, the heavy presence of the Indian army is contributing to severe mental health issues among the youth of Kashmir. It is believed that through demilitarization, life for the locals could return to normal. Furthermore, removing the army could help revive the once-flourishing tourism industry in the region.
Beyond Kashmir, the Indian government should also ensure that Dalits and other indigenous communities are treated as equals. These marginalized groups deserve proper support to uplift their living standards and stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the population.
As a secular nation, India should provide equal opportunities to Muslims and Christians, both in employment and in practising their faith freely. Lastly, India must abolish the age-old caste system, once and for all.
4. The Government of Myanmar should put an immediate end to the genocidal killings of the Rohingya people. Currently, it is estimated that 1.3 million Rohingya refugees are living in Bangladesh, while another 600,000 have sought asylum in Malaysia.
This marks the first time the world is witnessing such a brutal massacre carried out by a Buddhist-majority nation against its minority population. The barbaric killing of innocent Rohingya by the Buddhist-led government stands in stark contradiction to the Buddha’s teachings as outlined in the sutras (canonical scriptures).
From an Islamic standpoint, such oppression is unjustifiable. Islam holds all human life as sacred, regardless of race or religion. The Qur’an clearly states, “Whoever kills a soul…it is as though he had killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind” (Qur’an 5:32). In an ideal Islamic state, minorities are to be protected, not persecuted. Countries should take a cue from multicultural societies like Malaysia, where, despite challenges, religious and ethnic diversity are embraced under the principle of “Unity in Diversity.”
In conclusion, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is not just a history book. It is a call to conscience. I strongly recommend it to students, teachers, historians, sociologists, and anyone with a desire to understand the human cost of colonization, war, and systemic injustice. It is a book that makes you weep for the past, question the present, and hope for a future built on peace, justice, and dignity for all.
Reading Brown’s narrative will not only inform you but will also transform you. It will stir your compassion, strengthen your commitment to justice, and perhaps inspire you to stand with those who are still voiceless, marginalized, or oppressed. In a world full of conflict and division, books like this remain crucial—they remind us of our shared humanity and of the price we all pay when justice is denied.
(These are views of Dr. Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak who is affiliated with the Department of Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Studies at AHAS KIRKHS, IIUM which do not represent Potret Online)
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