Autobiography of Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, or Black Hawk

"Autobiography of Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, or Black Hawk" by Black Hawk is a powerful autobiography from the early 1800s giving a first hand account of the life and times of the Sauk chief. As readers shift through the pages, they will get a personal look into Black Hawk's life, his nation's customs, and his role in the clashes with European settlers, circling around the Black Hawk War of 1832. Black Hawk lays bare the reasons driving his actions and the events sculpting the tense relationship between Indigenous peoples and the rapidly expanding American settlements. He kicks things off by expressing a desire to set the record straight about his resistance to the takeover of his people's land. He looks back on his childhood in the Sac village, sharing important moments that forged his identity and prepared him to become chief. The text highlights the strength and traditions of the Sauk people when faced with injustices handed down by the American government, setting the scene for an intense story of warfare, survival, and the ability for a culture to bounce back. Black Hawk's words carry a weight of pride and sorrow, seeking to show the courageous spirit of his people and the hard times they faced during a time of great change.