The Rhetoric Of The Alcatraz Occupation
Question 4: The Rhetoric of the Alcatraz Occupation (1969-1971)
The occupation of Alcatraz Island (1969-1971) is a watershed in the Red Power movement and marks the beginning of further Indian activism on self-determination and Indian rights. The activists, who claimed the Island on the basis of a Sioux Treaty from 1886, needed credibility and a sovereign position in U.S. society to achieve their goals. Additional, the occupiers used the media to get attention, to reach U.S. society and pressurize the government. Therefore, the American Indians used a special, tactical rhetoric and through the creation and use of proclamations, manifestos, poetry and iconography, they were able to give “vision and voice” (Rader 10) to the occupation. Still
in the beginning, the occupiers used the so-called “Alcatraz Proclamation” as a significant medium to spread their aims and to draw attention on their reclamation plans. Together with the “Occupation Manifesto” and the “Declaration of the Return of Indian Land”, it provides the status of the occupation as a “rhetorical project” (Rader 11). The tactical use of historical and cultural symbols of American Indian relations and hints to important historical events give the documents a historical and legal status, which also establishes moral stands. The activists were able to use the enemies language (of the government) as a tool and the interchange between sarcasm and seriousness as well as humor and determination helped to get enormous media attention. Another major medium used on the island was poetry. It connected traditional tribal and pan-Indian influences with a language of conquest and according to Troy Johnson, it “capture[s] the passion of the movement” (Johnson qtd. in Rader 20). The third and visually most powerful medium of the activists was the iconography, namely the various paintings all over the island. Graffiti was used as land markings, as well as a tool to forget a sense of place (Strange, Loo 247) and to change Alcatraz from a U.S. facility into Native American territory and home. Additional, the paintings have “an enduring capacity to instill pride” (Strange, Loo 256), which of course attacks the symbols of imprisonment and simultaneously support self-confidence. In conclusion, the Indian activists on Alcatraz used proclamations, manifestos, poetry and paintings to get attention and therefore as Rader calls it, “to give vision and voice” (10) to their aims. The rhetorical aspects of the occupation are centered on the use of sarcastic language and the establishment of historical, legal and moral stands. The symbolic aspects support the fact that the whole occupation finally helped as a symbolic act to highlight the general nature of American Indian’s struggle for self-determination (Forbes 24). The use of different mediums and specific rhetoric, which always fluctuates between contrary extremes (seriousness and sarcasm, despair and hope, etc.) together with the visual conspicuousness helped to get enormous media attention and let Alcatraz “remain a strong symbol of Indian Activism, self-determination, and a rallying point for unified Indian political activities” (Johnson 77).
The occupation of Alcatraz Island (1969-1971) is a watershed in the Red Power movement and marks the beginning of further Indian activism on self-determination and Indian rights. The activists, who claimed the Island on the basis of a Sioux Treaty from 1886, needed credibility and a sovereign position in U.S. society to achieve their goals. Additional, the occupiers used the media to get attention, to reach U.S. society and pressurize the government. Therefore, the American Indians used a special, tactical rhetoric and through the creation and use of proclamations, manifestos, poetry and iconography, they were able to give “vision and voice” (Rader 10) to the occupation. Still
in the beginning, the occupiers used the so-called “Alcatraz Proclamation” as a significant medium to spread their aims and to draw attention on their reclamation plans. Together with the “Occupation Manifesto” and the “Declaration of the Return of Indian Land”, it provides the status of the occupation as a “rhetorical project” (Rader 11). The tactical use of historical and cultural symbols of American Indian relations and hints to important historical events give the documents a historical and legal status, which also establishes moral stands. The activists were able to use the enemies language (of the government) as a tool and the interchange between sarcasm and seriousness as well as humor and determination helped to get enormous media attention. Another major medium used on the island was poetry. It connected traditional tribal and pan-Indian influences with a language of conquest and according to Troy Johnson, it “capture[s] the passion of the movement” (Johnson qtd. in Rader 20). The third and visually most powerful medium of the activists was the iconography, namely the various paintings all over the island. Graffiti was used as land markings, as well as a tool to forget a sense of place (Strange, Loo 247) and to change Alcatraz from a U.S. facility into Native American territory and home. Additional, the paintings have “an enduring capacity to instill pride” (Strange, Loo 256), which of course attacks the symbols of imprisonment and simultaneously support self-confidence. In conclusion, the Indian activists on Alcatraz used proclamations, manifestos, poetry and paintings to get attention and therefore as Rader calls it, “to give vision and voice” (10) to their aims. The rhetorical aspects of the occupation are centered on the use of sarcastic language and the establishment of historical, legal and moral stands. The symbolic aspects support the fact that the whole occupation finally helped as a symbolic act to highlight the general nature of American Indian’s struggle for self-determination (Forbes 24). The use of different mediums and specific rhetoric, which always fluctuates between contrary extremes (seriousness and sarcasm, despair and hope, etc.) together with the visual conspicuousness helped to get enormous media attention and let Alcatraz “remain a strong symbol of Indian Activism, self-determination, and a rallying point for unified Indian political activities” (Johnson 77).