Black Elk

In the essay “Black Elk Speaks: The Offering of the Pipe," by shaman Black Elk, this Native American spiritual leader expresses a great deal of humility for a person of his stature. Throughout the essay Black Elk is open about his failings as a leader and makes it clear that he is just a man like others.

One way his humbleness is exposed is by the way in which he introduces his talk with John Neihardt, an oral historian who recorded their discussion.  Black Elk states, “ My friend, I am going to tell you the story of my life…and if it were only the story of my I would not tell it…So many other men have  lived and shall live that story, to be grass upon the hills.”(1). It is obvious that Black Elk does not separate himself from the common man.


Black Elk-- when reviewing his life-- admitted his failures in a very frank and humble way. In this passage Black Elk reflects,  "........................" (2).


Respect for the common man, for nature, and the small role man plays in the scheme of things is indication of the humbleness of this man. When Black Elk tells his story of the Bison God he reveals, "............................" (3.) This certainly speaks to the fact that Black Elk does not consider himself a man who controls nature, but he is a man who is in sync with nature.



In conclusion......