ISTM that much of Sam's aversion to native Americans stemmed from his view of the down-and-out (and dirty) "Digger" Indians he came across during his "Roughing It" days.
I have "Indian" blood myself, from 3 of my 4 grandparents, yet for some reason I feel no animosity toward Twain for his prejudice. - B. Clay Shannon

      From: Steve Hoffman <[log in to unmask]>
 To: [log in to unmask] 
 Sent: Friday, December 2, 2016 5:41 AM
 Subject: Re: Injun Joe
   
Perhaps you've already come across this, but I 
recall there was some solid information about the 
real Joe Douglass  in  Shelley Fish Fishkin's 
Lighting Out for the Territory: Reflections on 
Mark Twain and American Culture

-Steve Hoffman, Takoma Park MD



On 12/2/2016 2:14 AM, Jon Kerr wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Curious if anyone knows of any good biographical information (or even good
> fiction) on the real Injun Joe figure, Joe Douglass. I've heard several
> brief accounts of his difficult life and how he may have impacted young Sam
> Clemens. But curious to know more, and hopefully better understand how
> Twain could use such racist images of Native Americans even while clearly
> developing a consciousness about black slaves and America's grim history.
>
> Thanks for any references,
> Jon Kerr
>