Performers

Mary Romano Marks

This entry in the American Indian Lives series profiles eight talented individuals of Native American ancestry noted for their contributions to the performing arts from the late 1800s to the present. Sonneborn examines performers' lives and work, showing the influence of their culture and heritage on their art and the impact of their ancestry on their careers. Early entertainers, such as Emily Pauline Johnson and Luther Standing Bear, discovered their ethnicity was an asset; later performers, such as Will Rogers and Maria Tallchief, achieved success in spite of their Indian heritage. Striving to offer a balanced and informative portrait, Sonneborn relates how past and current Native American performers, among them, Iron Eyes Cody, Buffy Sainte-Marie, John Trudell, and Graham Greene, have actively resisted or accepted cultural assimilation. Proudly presenting the experiences and diversity of these individuals, "Performers" clearly shows how little has changed for Native American entertainers, particularly in the movie industry. Illustrated with black-and-white contemporary photos. Annotated bibliography.