"Ceremony" and "There, There" Comparison

One of the main topics dissected in the Prologue of There, There, is the assimilation of Native Americans into predominantly white cities, where their Indian culture was usually diluted and discriminated against. There, There, examines the long-term effects on the current and future generations after the initial decimation of the Native American population, especially of those who lived in the cities. This group often harbored engrained identity conflicts. The white society shamed this group for their ancestral and cultural background, while the surviving tribes targeted these 'assimilated' Native Americans as traitors. They had no place or group of people to identify with, but led functional lives amongst an enemy. This constant blaming and isolating of subgroups are what deteriorates the Native culture further, and it is detrimental to the survival of the culture in the new white society.

The Ceremony also focuses on how the identities of the Native Americans were effected by the war with the Europeans. Rather than display the usual narrative of how the white came over and established systems and followed through in the genocide of an entire population, Ceremony demonstrates the mashup of two civilizations and cultures that is created in the aftermath. The lives of the next generations adapt to this new culture as the memories of war fade, but racist stigmas and systems remain. The surviving Native Americans attempted to balance these two customs while navigating racism.
Ceremony has a heavy focus on the importance of storytelling to preserve the Native culture. Whenever traditions are forgotten, there are serious consequences. The character Tayo is an example of a post-war generation who must contend with the parts of himself that identify with white society and others that remain loyal to his indigenous people. The stories passed onto subsequent generations must adapt to reflect their current situation, so that the core of the Indian culture is relevant and the intentions of the stories are still upheld. The older tribesmen push the original traditions onto their people, but the power behind these traditions are lost when it is used blindly. Therefore, the usual rituals of the Native Americans do not hold the same protections for those who interact with white society. The changing world is the biggest threat to Native Americans, and evolution is the single most important component of the long-term survival of a population. Ceremony argues that upholding traditions and cultures while allowing them to adapt to the current world and reflect the opinions of those who rely on them will be the cornerstone of a strong group, who aren't ashamed or conflicted with their identities.