The Long View
A Pulitzer Prize finalist, New York Times bestselling author, and tribal college graduate, Tommy Orange presents his top picks from the 2020 creative writing contest.
Guest Editorials
Student 2020
The Game
“The Warriors versus the Cowgirls, too fantastic to be made up, and the mascots couldn’t be more fitting.”
Díí ’Óólyé, This Is What It Means
“Shí’ee’ ’éí łeezh bee łíbá sílį́į́’ lá. My clothes became adorned with dust and dirt. ’Áko t’óó nízhónígo shí ’éé’ bík’ídíídláád. The Sun ribbons beautifully adorned my clothes.”
a field of insect-i-cides
“beneath umbrellas of drooping purple petals, sticks with triangular heads hold curved handles, thin membranes stretch for tiny legs to back—stroke . . .”
On the Mysterious Power of Language
“In languages, we encapsulate the individual and communal mental and spiritual contemplative efforts of a people—each unique.”
Dreaming Bird of Inter Mountain
“Within this cage, the killing of her spirit was daily from being forced to speak a language that was not her own and to learn of a culture she was not born into.”
The Lost Child
“Unfortunately, it was not long before Samantha learned that the foster home was just as bad, or maybe even worse, than her home with her mother Karen.”
Talking to a Ghost
“When it comes time for you to part ways, you ask if she’ll be alright. Her hollow smile betrays the doubt before she even speaks.”
Cloudburst
“Grandfather would step outside and look up at the pure blue sky, the wrinkles on his face deepening, mimicking the dry cracked earth as he searched for the clouds.”
Where There Is Chaos, There Will Also Be Peace
“It wasn’t just the coma. I couldn’t feel her spirit in the room with us. I knew she was gone, and she wasn’t coming back.”