A Fight in the Wind



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From the very beginning of Joy Harjo’s memoir, entitled Crazy Brave, the book explores and covers many problems of domestic abuse, not only in her own life but then again as a nation. Throughout Joy’s life she is repeatedly abused by several men and points out others as well in same situations that knowingly accept the abuse from the abusers. So why do these women acknowledge and accept such behavior, are they weak and or is violent a main player?

Some examples that Joy Harjo starts her memoir right off with, is by showing us that her mother is married to an abusive alcoholic man. Her mother seems weak and helpless to the abuse but then gains the strength and courage to end it in a divorce. However, when her mother marries again, she falls back into the trap of an abusive husband. At first they don’t realize it, but under his layer of kindness and caring was a hidden darkness that surfaces its way out and literally belts the anger upon her younger sister. (pgs. 58-59) It is here where her mother’s eyes are open and can see the abuse, but decides to stay with him. However, the reason is not because she is weak, but in fear of the violence that might follow from her newly married husband if she trying to leave him. “He said he would kill her and her children (and) no one would ever know.” (pg. 59)

This in turn points out that the woman were not weak but terrorized with fear of the unknown that could happen. When feeling safe of leaving the man when no violence would follow or if protected they were strong in doing so. Just as when her mother divorced her first husband.  However during the period there was really no one that could provide such comfort to many native women. Joy Harjo states, “There were no safe houses or domestic shelters then, especially for native women.” (pg. 158) Making the women accept and stay with the abusive man.