“That hand is not the color of yours, but if I prick it, the blood will flow, and I shall feel pain. The blood is of the same color as yours. God made me, and I am a Man.” – Standing Bear
Standing Bear (1829-1908) was the leader of a small group of Poncha people. In 1876, the US government told them to move to Indian Territory in Oklahoma, but the Ponca decided to go back to their traditional land instead. When they arrived, federal troops forced them to leave. The trip was brutal, costing many their lives, including Standing Bear’s wife and daughter. After arriving in Oklahoma, Standing Bear’s son died. They turned back, wanting to bury the body on their land, but the US government caught up and detained them. In court, the government argued that Standing Bear was “neither a citizen, nor a person,” which meant he couldn’t sue. Standing Bear’s lawyers argued the opposite, and when given a chance to speak, Standing Bear spoke the quote above. The judge sided with Standing Bear, allowing him to bury his son and ruling that Native Americans were people under habeas corpus, which is the right to report unlawful detention.
