Customer Reviews

The Death of Raymond Yellow Thunder: And Other True Stories from the Nebraska-Pine Ridge Border Towns (Plains Histories)

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My family moved to Gordon in 1972 a week after Raymond Yellow Thunder's body was discovered in the Borman used car parking lot. My parents had been hired to manage the newly-built Gordon theatre. Those years promulgated unpleasant memories within me, yet I continued to live in Sheridan County for another thirty-one years.

Mr. Magnuson's account of the 130-year relationship between the Lakota and the Nebraska border towns was mesmerizing. A balanced account of the situation from both sides was presented; the accuracy of the information and detailed research was admirable.

The only minor flaw (omission) in the book that I noticed was the information concerning the "Billy Jack" movies of that time. The first Tom Laughlin/Delores Taylor movie, "The Born Losers" was released in 1969,"Billy Jack" was released in 1971,and the third movie of the series was "The Trial of Billy Jack," released in 1974. The way the information was presented was somewhat confusing; some people believe that "Billy Jack" was Laughlin's first "Billy Jack" movie

"The Trial of Billy Jack" played at the Gordon Theatre during February 1975. The Gordon theatre had several full-house nights; but one night the crowd began to chant "Yellow Thunder, Yellow Thunder" when the Blue Elk - Legion scene appeared. A gentleman came out to the theatre lobby, called my father a "white honky" and took a swing at him trying to incite a fight. After that night, my parents decided not to show the film anymore (which may have helped the Chadron Theatre mentioned on p. 221). Packed houses or not, the animosity in the air was not worth the box office revenue. I would have liked to have read this in the book.

"The Death of Raymond Yellow Thunder" provides an accurate depiction of the "traditionalist" versus "progressive" power struggle on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation that continues today. The book also uncovers the existing ignorance that continues to exist in some Sheridan County residents.

Reading this book I was completely sucked into a world that...A. I never knew existed, and B. If I knew about I probably would never have given a second thought.

Magnuson did an amazing job tying together the events of the 19th and 20th centuries...and a really great job keeping me from confusing the dozens and dozens of major players in the book.

He tells a series of hot-button stories in a way that manages to be fair to the facts, people and groups involved while at the same time keeping the reader's interest. More than a few times I kept reading just to see how one story would end up, or what would happen to one of the individuals involved.

THE DEATH OF RAYMOND YELLOW THUNDER AND OTHER TRUE STORIES FROM THE NEBRASKA-PINE RIDGE BORDER TOWNS is a top pick not just for Texas collections, but for any library strong in regional American history in general and border town politics and stories in particular. From the long history of racial unrest in these downs to community efforts to overcome internal violence and strife, THE DEATH OF RAYMOND YELLOW THUNDER is packed with powerful blends of history and cross-cultural conflict and interactions.

I very much enjoyed this book. The author moves us back and forth in time as he describes stories, both broad and personal, of the tensions on the border between Nebraska and South Dakota, and between whites and Native Americans.

The stories, each of them, are engrossing and told with inspiration, humor and panache. Whether you have interest in this part of the country, Native American relations, or simply want to read some fascinating true stories, pick up this book. Highly recommended

Stew Magnuson, through investigative reporting unearths new facts and shines light on a dark and shameful period of history. He works hard to identify and treat fairly the multiple perspectives on the death of Mr. Yellow Thunder, the trial, and later the famous Native American occupation of the Wounded Knee battle ground. He describes the events which began in 1972 and interviews the participants' some 35 years later. By writing in narrative, non-fiction style, much like a novel or short story, he has made a captivating read out of complex material. I was surprised when I couldn't put the book down once I started, finishing 320 pages in a weekend. RH

Disclosure: Magnuson is an acquaintance of mine from his Cambodia days, around 10 years ago, but I've had only peripheral contact with him since.

Sometimes books that are based on extraordinary research throw too much detail at you. This one puts that detail in service of several closely related storylines, spanning two centuries and more. Characters are memorable, scenes are vivid, motivations are complex and realistic.
These are stories of the developing relationship between native Americans and whites, in and around what are now the town of Whiteclay and the Pine Ridge reservation. It's a complicated relationship, and Magnuson brings a satisfying measure of understanding without simplifying it. Recent events and those in the distant past are treated with equal weight as the author brings us back and forth in time.
It's a tribute to the role of history in creating the present, and a convincing answer to those who would propose a fresh start, without reference to the weight of that history. It's something that could be said about any uneasy relationship between peoples--the whole cloth of history is made of many threads, old and new.
These threads are woven together in a way that makes you feel you're in the presence of the people portrayed. You'll feel you've come to know them, as Magnuson clearly did. There are lapses in the momentum, but they are few and easily bridged. Strongly recommended.

I can't say enough good things about this book. I grew up in one of these border towns, and my grandparents were Sheridan County pioneers. Although I was only 15 when Raymond Yellow Thunder was killed, I remember the fear and unrest. Stew Magnuson has written a remarkable book that illuminates a very dark place and time. It has also given me a whole new perspective on a place I once called home. It's a history book that reads like a can't-put-it-down novel.

Quite a lot has been written about the reservations, but very few authors have taken the time to explore the border towns that surround them. Magnuson apparently took the time to go live in Sheridan County, and it shows. He really puts a face on the people who live there. The traders, the bullies, the Oglala activists who take on injustice there. The book is not really written in a point A to Point B chronological structure. That bothered me at first, but as I made my way through it, I began to appreciate this approach.
Most importantly, the book is written in an accessible style. This isn't a dry historical retelling of events. Sometimes you reaaly feel like you are there.
I highly recomend this book.

Sometimes stories simply present themselves. Others need work to flush out. This one needed the work, and Stew Magnuson's exhaustive research brought this largely misrepresented and underreported history to light. Raymond Yellow Thunder serves as a catalyst for a historical review of white/Indian relations in Nebraska and the Sioux reservations. While not told in a strict, chronological fashion, the jumps in time take a moment to get used to, but once that is accomplished, the writing continually draws you in. In all, a well-written, informative and enlightening volume.
In his acknowledgements, the author said he wanted not to write an NY Times bestseller, but a book that people on both sides of the border would read. I hope they do.

I don't normally enjoy reading about depressing circumstances. But reading about American Indians from the Great Plains in The Death of Raymond Yellow Thunder was an exception.

Plenty of interesting, complex characters (including some vaguely remembered from the AIM movement from the 70s), twists to the stories that continue to today, and a match of the spare beauty of the Plains to the book's exposition compelled me to read through the results of failed policies and people.

While talking about Indians on the Plains, this is really a book about all of us. Although not flattering to the human spirit, the stories are fast reading and deeply thought provoking.