What did you think about Lewis, Joe’s father, faking a stereotype to make more money from wealthy recreational hunters?
It is unfortunate that Joe’s father had to subject himself to appeasing to the ignorance and selfishness of these wealthy recreational hunters. It shows that they feel superior to him. This is common for many races and ethnicities, and people of different social and economical backgrounds, that they have to do debase themselves in order to make money or get other privileges. Well, he did what he needed to do for survival. He knew his true self. The wealthy recreational hunters did not. They are no different than people paying an organization to take them on a safari or a camping experience, without regards to the meaning to the experience. They’re just looking for trophies.
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Good for him! He didn’t hurt them in any way, and he had a family to feed.
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This question made me think of the scene in James by Percival Everett when James is giving his children “language lessons.” When asked why they have to learn the lessons, James responds: “White folks expect us to sound a certain way and it can only help if we don’t disappoint them,” I said. “The only ones who suffer when they are made to feel inferior is us. Perhaps I should say ‘when they don’t feel superior.’" So unfortunate as @Tonyia_Robinson noted that Joe’s father had to perpetuate a stereotype to make a living.
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It’s a survival strategy. In a society where police would not even investigate the disappearance of a native 4 year old—completely justified!
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I thought it was a sad commentary on white culture, and I’m ashamed to say I think he’d need to do the same even today.
I do think he took a negative and turned it into a positive for his family. He knew the people who hired him weren’t going to change.
I wondered, too, if the fact that Ruthie was indigenous, made it easier for Lenore to discount the feelings of her real parents-being prejudice and thinking Ruthie could have a better life as a white girl and that the real parents’ lives and feelings were “less than”.
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He was smart. He had a family to raise and he understood the American culture.
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I agree. At the same time, I couldn’t help but think “You go, Joe!” as he carried on. I could picture Joe being deferential, but hopefully having a bit of an inner chuckle whenever he overheard some of the hunters’ discussions.
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Lewis had a family to provide for and was smart to give his customers what they wanted from him as a guide.
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