Darkthorn’s Blog

How is racism shown in Montana 1948?

Racism is an underlying force in the novel Montana 1948, by Larry Watson. It is an attitude that motivates people, by which they justify their actions. Certain people, such as Julian, Frank and Wes, are very racist. So is the general community of Montana.

In the community of Montana, racism is blatantly obvious. Daisy McAuley , as an example of the local women, refers to the Indian women as “squaws.” This is a kind of racist terminology, which includes terms such as “black gin”, “nigger”, “redskin”, implying racial inferiority. Daisy knows that Frank Hayden has raped Indian women, but she doesn’t much care. Because the community is prejudiced against the Indians, people ignore what is going on between Frank and the women. The general feeling is that the Indians are ignorant , so how could they know what a doctor is supposed to do when examining them? Bentrock is “really in 1948 still a frontier town in many respects.” In other words, the European invaders have pushed the indigenous landowners into the reservations – people generally accept that this is the way things should be.

Racism is shown as a function of ignorance and misunderstanding, Julian Hayden providing a prime example. His two story “dude ranch” is a symbol of his opinions. He believes that he is more clever than the Indians just because he is white. The Europeans have conquered the West because of their brute force and guns, not necessarily because of their knowledge or intelligence! This does not stop Julian’s racist way of thinking. He refers to the Sioux as “red meat” and denigrates them – ultimately, just objects to be used by his son, Frank. Details used by the author to highlight Julian’s boorish, crude nature include his references to bodily functions and his frequent use of foul language.
The Hayden sons represent two different degrees of racism as the powerful family ‘progresses’. The younger generation has the advantages of education and wealth, causing them to modify their expressions of racism. Frank, the villain, is an opportunist, using the prejudice of the community to support his own evil ends. He abuses his position of trust as a doctor. He knows that the community will take his word rather than an Indian woman’s. Frank relies on the bias in the legal system (institutionalised racism) to save his slimy white arse.

Wes “probably thought he was free of prejudice (against Indians)”. However, the reader notices his more subtle expressions of prejudice. He prevents David from wearing a gift of moccasins, because he believes that they would make his son “as flat-footed and lazy as an Indian.” David knows that his father believes that Indians “with only a few exceptions were ignorant, lazy, superstitious, and irresponsible.” Wes respects Ollie Young Bear, “an example of what an Indian could be.” …in this, Larry Watson nicely observes how the exception can be made to prove the rule. Watson shows the unfairness of the education system towards Ronnie Tall Bear who seems to be equally capable as Ollie, because Ronnie is judged to be “good enough for the army, but not for college”.

Gloria and Gail, the wives of the Hayden sons, are the only two white people in the novel free from prejudice against indigenous people. This may have been because they come from different states and have moved into Montana. David shares his mother’s ideals, seeing only Right and Wrong, not European and Indian. Through these characters, and also through Marie Little Soldier and Ronnie Tall Bear, the novel presents images of hope, moving forward towards social justice.

The novel shows a community that is changing and people in conflict over the issue of racism. The reader, like David Hayden, becomes sceptical of human nature, history and the law, because the novel has dramatised racism in many forms.

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