Caleb's Crossing in The Book of Judgement

Just finished reading “Caleb’s Crossing” by Geraldine Brooks which promotes itself as a fictional narrative on the life of Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck wh in 1665 became the first Native American to graduate from Harvard University.

To be honest the book itself is more the story of Bethia Mayfield who forms the voice and main protagonist, and is actually quite a interesting read into women’s rights in a puritanical new world.

It’s worth a read.

Anyway, jumping of from that I’ve just spent some time learning about Cheeshahteaumuck and the Wampanoag of the island Noepe (Martha’s Vineyard) and the Christianisation of natives people, the theft of land and liberty and the subsequent rebellion on the mainland lead by Metacom (The First Indian War) which lead to the cessation of the English attempts at force integration upon the natives in favour of simply wiping them out.

A heritage we have kept up well into the modern day and a sin we still seem reticent to talk about.