Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto

Deloria laments that Indigenous Americans have been stereotyped as “granite-faced grunting redskin[s]” by much of white society (146). He points out that humor has always been an integral part of Indigenous culture. He writes that Native people have historically used humor, especially teasing, to bond and strengthen social connections. In the modern era, many also make jokes to cope with difficult situations.

Most of this chapter contains examples of “Indian humor,” common topics that people joke about, and anecdotes from Deloria’s own life. He characterizes Native humor as dry and ironic. Jokes about some topics, such as Columbus and Custer, can be found in a wide range of tribal groups around the country. These jokes are used as bonding moments between people from very different tribes. As Deloria writes,

All tribes, even those thousands of miles from Montana, feel a sense of accomplishment when thinking of Custer. Custer binds together implacable foes because he represented the Ugly American of the last century and he got what was coming to him (148).

The book’s title itself comes from a Custer joke, specifically a bumper sticker originally printed to criticize the National Council of Churches that was later adopted as a more general slogan with a multitude of meanings.