God Is Red: A Native View of Religion

In the first of three Afterwords, Shown Harjo describes how God is Red “enthralled, inspired, and edified Native nationalists” (275) on release. Harjo credits Deloria’s intelligence and activism, buoyed by the way his work has been vindicated by history. Harjo also explains the activist context in which God is Red was published. With so much of the United States focused on the unfolding of the Watergate scandal, “the rest of the world seemed to miss God is Red altogether” (277).

At the same time, many Indigenous activists were risking their lives and freedom in a number of protests which were similarly ignored by the mainstream. Harjo mentions how the shop at the “then-named Custer National Battlefield” (279) was prevented from stocking books by Indigenous authors due to the protests from “Custer buffs” (280). Deloria’s earlier work Custer Died for Your Sins changed this, signifying the gradual changes brought to society by activists. A new recognition of Indigenous beliefs and cultures was slowly sweeping the country.

Harjo credits Hank Adams and other National Indian Youth Council activists as people Deloria trusted in his fight for Indigenous rights.