47 pages • 1 hour read
Deborah A. MirandaBad Indians: A Tribal Memoir
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2012A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Bad Indians by Deborah A. Miranda intricately merges historical documentation with personal memoir to recount the devastating impact of Spanish missionization on California’s Indigenous populations, including her Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen ancestors. The narrative spans from the late 18th century to the present, highlighting systemic brutality, cultural erasure, and the enduring legacy of colonial violence. Sensitive topics include child rape, traumatic violence, and abuse.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Bad Indians by Deborah A. Miranda offers a poignant fusion of memoir, history, and poetry, vividly portraying the impact of colonization on California's Native peoples. Reviewers laud its emotional depth and scholarly rigor, though some note its fragmented structure can be challenging. Despite this, it remains a powerful, necessary read, rendering silenced voices with compelling clarity.
Who Should Read Bad Indians?
Readers who appreciate Bad Indians by Deborah A. Miranda are often engaged with Native American history, feminist perspectives, and memoirs that intertwine personal narrative with cultural critique. Fans of Leslie Marmon Silko's Storyteller or Louise Erdrich's The Round House will find Miranda's blend of autobiography and historical documentation resonant.