The Vanishing Race (eBook)

Joseph Kossuth Dixon (1856–1926) was a photographer, filmmaker, and writer known for his rhetoric of Native American life and culture during the early 20th century. While Dixon's work claimed to aim at preserving the heritage and history of America's indigenous populations, his narrative often reflected the prevailing colonial mindset of the period. His book, 'The Vanishing Race' (1913), delved into the lives, traditions, and struggles of Native American tribes during a time when their ways of life were undergoing rapid transformation due to resettlement policies and assimilation pressures. Dixon's style combined ethnographic detail with a romanticized and at times paternalistic view of Native Americans, mirroring the 'vanishing Indian' trope that was common in the literature of the era. Though criticized for perpetuating stereotypes, his work provides a complex and controversial portrayal of Native American societies. Dixon's contributions remain a contentious subject within the realms of anthropology and historical literature, offering insights into the cultural attitudes of his time while also being scrutinized for their lack of cultural sensitivity by contemporary standards.