Public Speaking Project

Attention: Below you will find a presentation on Charles Alexander Eastman, who was a Native American Activist. Some highlights of his life are: Ambitions, Accomplishments, and Contribution to Protest. In the very end, you will find a speech he gave before he and others introduced 32 YMCA's for Native Americans. This wraps up my Public Speaking Project, which I presented on April 14, 2008.














Information Technology High School
Ms. Hyde
English 6H
04/8/08
Lourdes Vicuna

After closing his medical practice in St. Paul, Eastman accepted a position as field secretary and organizer for the International Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). He spent the following three years traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada, visiting many Indian tribes in an attempt to create new YMCAs. Eastman established 32 Indian groups of the YMCA. Here he is expressing his views in a speech before an International Convention of YMCAs of North America, he said:

“I sometimes forget my color when I stand before my audiences. And then, I sometimes wish we were color blind; how much easier it would be for us to do Christian work. But never mind; we will do the best we can. It is only through the young men that we can save the Indian race. Children must early learn the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness of giving. The true Indian sets no price upon either his property or his labor. His generosity is limited only by his strength and ability. For there is more happiness in giving, than in receiving. But people don’t see that in an Indian boy. An Anglo will only see what is on the outside, but never the inside. It is these young men that we see here who will show them the true meaning of being humble. Since it is admittedly impossible for the Indian to continue to exist as a separate race, we must use what is at our hands. We must be wise when doing so, and the Young Men’s Christian Association can be made a great power in their behalf if it is rightly managed.”

Sources:
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h3898.html


http://books.google.com/booksid=nUrhXE8jZnYC&pg=PA88&lpg=PA88&dq=22i+sometimes+forget+my+color+when+i+stand+before+audiences22&source+web&ots+MSOV9Ftupc&sig=WgU7npXjv-RGeiwo-unjGuur8&hl+en#PPA88,M1

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&content=historyfacpub

Note:
-Everything in bold is from me, Lourdes Vicuna