Memories of Childhood

By Zitkala-Sa and Bama

Introduction

The chapter contains two extracts from two different autobiographical episodes from the lives of two
women - Zitkala Sa and Bama. Both are victims of social discriminations. Zitkala Sa is the victim of
racial discrimination whereas Bama is the victim of caste discriminations. In both the extracts, the
writers look back on their childhood and reflect on their relationship with mainstream culture which
illtreated them when they were child.

But both the accounts are not simple narratives of oppression. Rather they reveal how oppression was
resisted by both the narrators in their own ways. Zitkala-Sa and Bama were very young but not so
young that they would not understand the evil scheme of the mainstream culture. The injustice of their
society did not escape their notice also. Their bitter childhood experience sowed the seeds of rebellion
in them earlier on.

Both the accounts are based in two distant cultures. The first is that of Native Americans and the second
is that of the Tamil Dalits. But the commonality that brings them closer is the fact that in both cases,
the mainstream culture marginalized the underprivileged section of that society. This gave rise to the
conflict between the mainstream culture and the marginalized community, which is exquisitely
showcased in ‘Memories of Childhood’.

I. The Cutting of My Long Hair

By Zitkala-Sa

Characters
1. Gertrude Simmons: the narrator of the story
2. Zudewin: a friend of Gertrude Simmons
3. A pale-faced woman: a teacher or a member of staff at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in
Carlisle.

Theme

It highlights the despise, racial discrimination and unhealthy treatment towards the humanity in general
and women in particular.

Introduction
This account relates to an American Indian woman who becomes the victim of racial discrimination.
She is admitted to a school where native Indians do not get respect, honour, dignity and due weightage
in America. She is forced by the whites to follow their traditions and traits. Simmons is dragged out and
tied to a chair to shingle out her long hair. She cries, struggles, kicks, resists, shows reluctance and
she ultimately feels like one of the many animals driven by a herder.

Summary

This extract is a painful revelation of a particular period of the life which the writer had to suffer during
her hostel days. It was the first day of her boarding school situated in the land of apples. The children
were given the task of apple picking in the bitter and biting cold. They were taken to the breakfast hall
and the girl was feeling stressed. She did not know the table manners. She was being watched very
carefully by a strange pale-faced woman. The girl felt very fearful and insulted.

Her friend who could understand some English, told her that the pale strange woman intended to cut
her long hair. Zitkala-Sa learned from her mother that hair would be shingled only for the unskilled
warrior, cowards and mourners. She decided to fight back and got herself hidden in a dim room under
the bed. Everybody looked for her and called her name but eventually caught. Her long hair was cut,
although she resisted a lot. She spent her rest of the life there like a small animal being a part of a herd,
which was driven by a herder.

Main Points

1. Zitkala-sa was a victim of social & cultural oppression by the victors who had overpowered them
by their sheer strength. They were prejudiced towards Native American Culture & women.
2. Zitkala-sa was forced to cut her long hair compulsorily.
3. The cutting of the long hair of Zitkala-sa was a symbol of their oppression.