First published 2019
Wilma Mankiller opens her story as both a personal memoir and a tribute to Cherokee heritage. The former Cherokee Nation Chief traces her path from childhood through her rise to tribal leadership, weaving her individual experiences with the broader narrative of her people's struggles and triumphs. Her account unfolds during the emergence of the American Indian civil rights movement, positioning her life within this pivotal historical moment. Mankiller describes her efforts to reclaim and protect Native American traditions that she views as foundational to the country's identity. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient updates her story through the 2000 edition, covering developments in both her personal circumstances and the Cherokee Nation's political battles after 1994. Her narrative serves as both autobiography and cultural preservation, documenting one woman's leadership while honoring centuries of Cherokee history and values.
Genres: 20th-century, cultural-heritage, autobiography, biography-memoir, 21st-century, native-american, activism, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: autobiography, coming-of-age, leadership
Setting: Cherokee Nation
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
315 pages · Kindle Edition · St. Martin's Griffin