The Iroquois; or, the bright side of Indian character

"The Iroquois; or, the bright side of Indian character" by Anna C. (Anna Cummings) Johnson is a 19th-century discussion that explores the personality and society of the Iroquois people, designed to get rid of common unfair thoughts and false ideas of Native Americans common in writing and culture then. The book puts importance on the Iroquois's family connections, social rules, and form of government, presenting them as a well mannered group with detailed traditions instead of the savage images often shown. The beginning of the book sets up a giving of respect to important people who have helped Native Americans, showing a serious way of thinking when approaching Indian history. The writer understands the common lack of knowledge and unfairness that surrounds the Iroquois and works to fix these misunderstandings with specific analysis and personal thoughts from her time spent with Indian groups. She criticizes old stories that show the Iroquois poorly and tries to highlight their good qualities, social systems, and the unfair treatment faced by them from settlers, asking for a more detailed understanding of their personality and way of life.