Lasting Impact of laws/policies/racism directed towrds Native American Virginians (Monacans)

My Thesis Statement/Argument:

The Racial Integrity Act, the Indian Removal Act, and other laws designed to infringe upon natives’ rights, the erasure of native culture, problems with boarding schools in Virginia, and the lack of rights given to those not considered white greatly impacted the native community. Many of the issues faced by natives today can be attributed to it.

My essay will focus on the lasting impact and legacy of
the Racial Integrity Act and other policies, such as the Indian Removal Act on
the Native Peoples of Virginia. The long history of mistreatment towards and
the disadvantage given to the Native people of Virginia since colonization has
led to continued struggles. I plan to speak on the topics of the Racial Integrity Act, the Indian Removal Act, cultural erasure, infringements on rights, the unrecognition of certain nations, slavery, and finally, inhumane and subpar experiences at schools to support my argument. All of the topics
mentioned above played major roles in the Native American experience today. For
example, many still fear going to school because of stories told to them by
older tribal members. Additionally, the systemic problems related to
disadvantage from acts, policies, and discrimination of the past still play a
large part in the social and economic status of Native Americans. As a result,
other issues now plague the indigenous community, such as suicide and
alcoholism. Using the information I gather from my sources, I hope to make the connection between these problems and issues Natives’ tumultuous past and current issues. 

My paper will be designed to persuade the reader of my stance and opinion on the topic. To persuade the reader and argue my point, I plan to structure my paper into three main sections: attempted erasure of culture, rights, and infringement, and Schooling problems. I will tie each of these sections to current problems that can be attributed to them. I think by explaining the struggles of the past, I can advance my argument effectively. 

I would like each body point to include a strong connection to current issues as well as opposing viewpoints

Here is How I would Like my Essay Formatted:

v 
Introduction​

Ø 
State Thesis​

Ø 
Background Information on the Racial Integrity Act,
Indian Removal Act, Etc.

​

v 
Body Point 1​

Ø 
Attempted/Successful Erasure of Culture​

Ø 
Last names​

Ø 
Marriages​

Ø 
True race of people not being recognized​

Ø 
Separate nations not recognized (Being called
“Indians”)​

​

v 
Body Point 2​

Ø 
Rights/Infringement​

Ø 
Slavery​

Ø 
Lack of citizenship​

Ø 
Basic rights not given​

v 
Body Point 3​

Ø 
Schooling/Continuing legacy of problems​

Ø 
Boarding Schools​

Ø 
Inferior/lack of resources devoted to education
for natives​

Ø 
Continuing problems as a result of this
tumultuous legacy​

​

v 
Conclusion​

Ø 
Restate thesis​

Ø 
Summarize findings that supported the argument

Here is a list of sources I would like included (Feel free to add more):

• Smallwood, Arwin D. “A History of Native American and African Relations from 1502 to 1900.” Negro History Bulletin 62, no. 2/3 (1999): 18–31. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24766678.​

• Cave, Alfred A. “Abuse of Power: Andrew Jackson and the Indian Removal Act of 1830.” The Historian 65, no. 6 (2003): 1330–53. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24452618.​

• Smith, Andrea. “Boarding School Abuses, Human Rights, and Reparations.” Social Justice 31, no. 4 (98) (2004): 89–102. http://www.jstor.org/stable/29768278.​

• ELLINGHAUS, KATHERINE. “Colored: The Indian Nations of Virginia and the 1924 Racial Integrity Act.” In Blood Will Tell: Native Americans and Assimilation Policy, 91–114. University of Nebraska Press, 2017. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1qv5ptw.9.​

• Finley, Laura. “State Crime, Native Americans and COVID-19.” State Crime Journal 10, no. 1 (2021): 45–60. https://doi.org/10.13169/statecrime.10.1.0045.​