Louis V. Clark III’s new book How to Be an Indian in the 21st Century may be a quick read, but it’s taken him a lifetime to write.
“It’s only 120 pages, it’s a quick memoir of the things that I went through growing up on the reservation, leaving the reservation, the prejudice and racism I encountered in the working world, but it also focuses on the good things that I found in the world, and how I overcame the prejudice,” said Clark.
The book grew out of presentations he did for his for first book of poetry Two Shoes. He did an hour long talk for a Wisconsin Federation of Poets conference.
Louis V. Clark III
“A lady from the federation came up to me and said you should put this talk into book form,” he said.
Clark later sent his manuscript along with a book he had been working on with Packer great Paul Horning to the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. To Clark’s surprise, the press chose his memoir.
“They said that they could hear my voice, said Clark.
“It didn’t take long to write, but the poems were a life-long thing.” Clark says he’s been writing poetry since he was in the sixth grade.
Clark found with family and work demands, writing poetry best fit his schedule.
“It was something I could do quickly. My wife and I had 6 children … it was hard to find time to write,” he said.
Clark hopes his poetry bridges a gap between cultures.
“I’m hoping it makes a social statement that brings us all together as a people, not just white and Indians, but all of us that we’re pretty much all the same … we do have our differences, but when it’s all said and done, people are people,” said Clark.
Clark will hold a poetry reading on Sunday, April 30, 2017 from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM at Titletown Tap Room Building – William Larsen Event Hall (Third Floor), 320 North Broadway Street, Green Bay, WI 54302. The event is part of the UntitledTown Book and Author Festival taking place April 28-30 in Green Bay.
Look for a review of How to Be an Indian in the 21st Century by Louis V. Clark III (Two Shoes) in the April 20, 2017 Kalihwisaks
How to Be an Indian in the 21st Century can be ordered from http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whspress/books/book.asp?book_id=528
