Fantasies of the Master Race: Literature, Cinema, and the Colonization of American Indians by Ward Churchill is a collection of essays dealing with American media’s contribution toward Native American colonization, genocide, and erasure. Churchill critiques various nonfiction and fictional contemporary works based on their representation of Native American culture and history, interpreting them through the lens of Euro-American propaganda.

Churchill, a divisive figure in academia, does not hold his punches in his criticism of several authors and works. The range of genres and works covered is impressive, and effectively shows how inaccurate and damaging depictions of Native Americans are commonplace in Western media. For example, the essay Hi Ho, Hillerman…(Away) takes a unique perspective on a popular detective novel series set on a Navajo reservation. He places the series within the larger context of American culture, specifically ideals of masculinity and perceived American superiority. By doing so, Churchill shows how even “progressive” depictions of Native Americans still suffer from rhetoric rooted in imperialism and settler-colonialism.

The book’s weakness is in not including more original research and analyses of the same subject throughout history. Most of Churchill’s efforts are focused on dismantling the works of contemporary authors or researchers. His use of a combative tone gives his arguments a sense of ethical superiority, but does not disguise his lack of sources or original ideas. Churchill often makes references to historical events without citing any sources, which weakens his arguments by raising concerns over the validity of his information. Important lessons can be gleaned from these critiques, but Churchill’s combative tone and poor research made the essays feel more like academic bickering rather than an honest discourse about a very important subject.

Overall, Fantasies of the Master Race sharply critiques American media with the goal of exposing how seemingly innocuous portrayals of Native Americans serve as colonial propaganda and continue to harm Native communities today. This book has earned a place amongst many other works on Native rights and self-determination.

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