John Rollin Ridge: the Native American Novelist Like No Other

John Rollin Ridge, also known as Yellow Bird, was the first Native American to publish a novel. His 1854 work, 'The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murrieta,' tells the story of a Mexican folk hero who avenges his family's murder by racist settlers in California. Ridge, a Cherokee, shared similarities with Murrieta, having witnessed his family's murder and later becoming an outlaw. Despite his novel's anti-racist message, Ridge held controversial beliefs, including the superiority of the Cherokee over other tribes and owning slaves. His complex legacy remains largely unknown.

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