Another Proclamation

(a poem by Sherman Alexie from "War Dances")

When

Lincoln

Delivered

The

Emancipation

Proclamation

Who

Knew

that, one year earlier, in 1862, he'd signed and approved the 

order for the largest public execution in United States history?

Who did they execute? "Mulatto, mixed-bloods, and Indians."

Why did they execute them? "For uprising against the State

and her citizens." Where did they execute them? Mankato,

Minnesota. How did they execute them? Well, Abraham Lin-

coln thought it was good

And

Just

To

Hang

Thirty-eight

Sioux

simultaneously. Yes, in front of a large cheering crowd,

thirty-eight Indians dropped to their deaths. Yes, thirty-eight

necks snapped. But before they died, thirty-eight Indians sang

their death songs. Can you imagine the cacophony of thirty-

eight different death songs? But wait, one Indian was pardoned 

at the last minute, so only thirty-seven Indians had to sing their 

death songs. But, O, O, O, O, can you imagine the cacophony 

of that one survivor's mourning song? If he taught you the 

words, do you think you would sing along?