A Little Matter of Genocide: Holocaust and Denial in the Americas 1492 to the Present [Paperback]

Ward Churchill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2001

Ward Churchill has achieved an unparalleled reputation as a scholar-activist and analyst of indigenous issues in North America. Here, he explores the history of holocaust and denial in this hemisphere, beginning with the arrival of Columbus and continuing on into the present.

He frames the matter by examining both "revisionist" denial of the nazi-perpatrated Holocaust and the opposing claim of its exclusive "uniqueness," using the full scope of what happened in Europe as a backdrop against which to demonstrate that genocide is precisely what has been-and still is-carried out against the American Indians.

Churchill lays bare the means by which many of these realities have remained hidden, how public understanding of this most monstrous of crimes has been subverted not only by its perpetrators and their beneficiaries but by the institutions and individuals who perceive advantages in the confusion. In particular, he outlines the reasons underlying the United States's 40-year refusal to ratify the Genocide Convention, as well as the implications of the attempt to exempt itself from compliance when it finally offered its "endorsement."

In conclusion, Churchill proposes a more adequate and coherent definition of the crime as a basis for identifying, punishing, and preventing genocidal practices, wherever and whenever they occur.

Ward Churchill (enrolled Keetoowah Cherokee) is Professor of American Indian Studies with the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder. A member of the American Indian Movement since 1972, he has been a leader of the Colorado chapter for the past fifteen years. Among his previous books have been Fantasies of a Master Race, Struggle for the Land, Since Predator Came, and From a Native Son.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ward Churchill has achieved an unparalleled reputation as a scholar-activist and analyst of indigenous issues. He is a Professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder, a leading member of AIM, and the author of numerous books, including A Little Matter of Genocide, Struggle for the Land, and Fantasies of the Master Race.

Product Details

• Paperback: 531 pages
• Publisher: City Lights Publishers (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872863239
• ISBN-13: 978-0872863231
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,481 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incomparable volume., August 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Little Matter of Genocide: Holocaust and Denial in the Americas 1492 to the Present (Paperback)

Funny thing. The earlier reviewer who alleged that Ward Churchill "has changed tribes several times" forgot to mention where, or what tribes he's supposedly claimed. I've got copies of things he's published and interviews he's given all the way back to 1969, and can find no evidence that he's ever identified as anything other than "Cherokee," "Creek/Cherokee" and, for the past few years, "Keetoowah Cherokee" (which is of course a particular Cherokee Band, to which Bill Clinton does NOT belong).

One is certainly entitled to one's opinion of Churchill, but lies are not opinions. They're just lies.

So much for the "issue" of Churchill's ethnicity, as if it had bearing on either the merits of his argument or the eloquence with which he presents it in the first place.

A LITTLE MATTER OF GENOCIDE is a superb book, far more comprehensive and better documented than Stannard's AMERICAN HOLOCAUST (note that the reviewer who complained about inaccurate footnotes offered no examples).

This is probably the best and most important work yet from one Native North America's best and most important writer/scholars.

79 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something you should know that your teacher never taught, August 24, 2000

By 

Russell A. Rohde MD "Owl" (West Covina, California USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Little Matter of Genocide: Holocaust and Denial in the Americas 1492 to the Present (Paperback)

"A Little Matter of Genocide" by Ward Churchill is a scholarly discourse on genocide. It is an extremely well documented historical accounting of targeted racial/ethnic killings from 1492 to the present. Especial emphasis and iteration is placed on the well-nigh complete extermination or genocide of the once populous native North American Indians.

A brief, interesting discussion is provided on the controversial birth status of Christopher Columbus's extraction and arguements favoring Italian (Genoese), Spanish, Portuguese, or even Jewish nationality, etc. Churchill notes there are more than 250 books and articles devoted to and another 300 essays or folios discussing this issue.

Various genocide references are made: Cambodian (Khmer Rouge), Armenian (Turks), Gypsies, Poles and Jews (Nazi) and those occurring in North, Central and South America. Even fetal genocide is mentioned. Churchill refutes, heatedly debates and debunks the prevalent and largely American Jewish assertion that the only true genocide ever to have taken place was the Jewish Holocaust.

A concluding discussion and definition of genocide, actions of the UN General Assembly and some clarifying of definitions and intents of meaning in Articles 1-V111 of the Convention on Prevention and Punishment of Genocide (1948) was very helpful.

The book is ponderous reading: the content is shocking for it departs radically from that which had been taught in school. However, Churchill comes off as having written a masterful account which, once embraced, is difficult to put down until it has been read. The all too few picture and the explanatory footnotes are invaluable. This is a must read for those who profess to be informed.

32 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars eye-opener, January 23, 2001

By 

"irishcowboy" (Southwest U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Little Matter of Genocide: Holocaust and Denial in the Americas 1492 to the Present (Paperback)

I was browsing through the "Native American" section of a nationally owned chain of bookstores around three years ago. This book was on display as a kind of "selection-of-the-month." I recognized the author's name immediately. Holy Hannah! This was the University of Colorado 'radical'author. The same fellow who wrote: "Agents of Repression: The FBIs Secret War Against the Black Panther Party and the American Indian Movement." [I read "Agents" many years ago; afterwards was convinced that the FBI and the CIA were capable of ANYTHING. And I mean ANYTHING]. Besides the display copy, one book was remaining. I pulled it off the shelf and DID NOT so much as look for a price tag until I was paying the cashier.

I couldn't wait to get home and start reading it. The book itself would be a bit overwhelming for someone with little or no knowledge of the subject matter. [In fact, at times I struggled with grasping some of the concepts Churchill was laying down]. But do not let this frighten you. Although VERY "scholarly" regarding the subject matter, this book can be read like a novel...there are plenty of footnotes and brief explanations so as not to alienate the reader.

What you'll be reading is some pretty gruesome stuff in parts...most importantly, you'll be wondering: "WHAT and WHY and HOW could all of these events have occured!?"

That, I think, is the whole idea behind Churchill's book. To get us THINKING and to QUESTION.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this book is that you DON'T have to read it from front-to-back. [But it would make more sense in the long run]. The reader could just pick out a chapter, read it, and historically/chronologically figure it out. Myself?: I've put it in the 'reference' section of my personal collection.

This is without question a book for anyone curious about a 'behind-the-scenes' look into our Western history. A lot of it isn't pretty, but real life isn't.