Dear Journal,

Today was a day I will surely never forget. What I would give to see Lord North's face when he hears of what we have done! Hundreds of crates of tea, tossed into the harbor -- and by my own hands! And more importantly, the voices of hundreds of colonists heard, ringing in unison, in clear and unequivocal opposition to the injustice we have suffered. I cannot recall ever being so sure that victory is ours for the taking.

Yet, I must confess, I have found myself ruminating for hours about our choice of costume. Why was it, that when I put on my Indian garb, I felt an immediate sense of unbridled potential and ability? There were no laws for me to fear; I was beyond them. And as I ran aboard the ship, hooting and shouting like a true savage, I felt invincible, in such a way as I have never felt before! But as soon as we had safely deserted our demonstration, I felt alien in my costume. No longer was I comfortable with the paint on my face and feathers in my cap. Why, I felt ridiculous! I know I would never wear such eccentric attire under any other circumstance, yet in the thick of our rebellion, I was sure that there was nothing else I would rather wear.

Am I sympathetic to the savages? Surely it is not so. Why, then, do I remain transfixed on the feelings I felt today? It perplexes me greatly. No matter, I am pleased with what we have accomplished this great day. History will certainly grant us a favorable place in its annals.

Questions:
1. This weekend, at a music festival at UC San Diego, I saw several white female students wearing brightly feathered headbands and "Indian" paint on their faces -- a fashion statement that I've seen at a few other festivals as well. In the light of Deloria's study, is this indicative of an enduring tendency to play Indian? For these college students, does donning Indian garb serve to create a sense of rebellion or individualism? What can we take away from the fact that to this day, people, particularly white people, continue to play Indian? Are they even aware of the deeper implications of playing Indian that Deloria enumerated, or has it simply become something fashionable and "cool" to do?
2. Does the ending of Pinky indicate that racial identity is an "all or nothing," pick one or the other issue? If so, then is it really an anti-racist film?
3. Point of clarification: Is it generally accepted by film historians that Jack had an incestuous desire for his mother, or is this Rogin's own theory? Is there a relationship between Jack's ability to get away with something immoral -- i.e. incest -- and his use of blackface?