Written for middle and high school students, this short Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell biography for kids also includes
•A vocabulary builder
•Ten thought-provoking review questions
This uplifting story of the Native American senator is an ideal resource for
•Book reports
•Homeschooling
Students, teachers and parents will also find the subject matter and easy-to-read and understand style appropriate for
•Literacy programs
•Reading comprehension
Who is this famous American Indian Senator?
When Ben Nighthorse Campbell was born in 1933, his family was falling apart. His mother was struggling with tuberculosis. Also called TB, it is a terrible disease that affects the lungs and breathing system. Ben’s father was wrestling with alcoholism, and could not hold a job.
Ben’s mother was in and out of the sanatorium, a special hospital where she went for treatment. For a while, Ben and his older sister lived there in a special wing of the building. Even though they lived in the same building, he wasn’t actually allowed to be with her. Separated by glass doors and windows, they could only speak to each other at certain times.
At age five, Ben’s mother told him to get ready for a trip. They drove to Sacramento, California and stopped at a huge building. The St. Patrick’s Home was an orphanage. This was a hard time for Ben. He was picked on by the older boys and felt so all alone.
After a few years, his mother and father got back together and brought Ben home. But Ben’s father’s drinking continued to destroy the family. Ben found his dad drunk or asleep on the streets. He even found him in a fight, an ice pick stuck in his head.
The family problems ate at Ben’s mind. Why was his mother sick? Why did his father get drunk? Was it his fault?
Ben’s school work suffered. He couldn’t pay attention. He pretended to be sick when he didn’t want to go to school. School was a waste of time.
Fed up with school and his family, Ben and some friends ran away from home. Taking along guns and supplies, they were going to live off the land. But when they ran out of supplies, they returned home and went back to school.
Ben and his friends continued to get into trouble. They would get drunk and start fights. The cops caught Ben and a friend stealing gas. After spending two weeks in the juvenile detention center, Ben knew he had to change his life.
But what could he do?
Ben dropped out of school in his senior year and joined the Air Force.
While he was stationed in Korea in the 1950s, Ben began practicing the sport of judo. For almost a year, he studied judo with a Korean expert who lived near the military base.
Judo provided Ben with something he had always lacked. It gave him a sense of purpose and discipline. It forced him to rely on himself and deal with difficult situations.
After his discharge from the Air Force, Ben went back to school. He had completed his GED in the military. After earning a B average at the community college in San Jose, California, he entered San Jose State University the next year. He immediately joined the judo team and earned a fourth-degree black belt by the time he graduated. He continued on to earn his master’s degree.
Ben stayed with his judo. For the next four years he practiced in Japan. He won 48 tournaments and lost only 2. He was selected as one of the four members of the U.S. judo team and competed in the 1964 International Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Due to a seriously injured knee, he did not get to compete for the gold medal.
Wanting to return to his roots, Ben traveled to Montana, where his Cheyenne ancestors lived. As a matter of chance, Ben attended a meeting with another Native American politician. After the meeting, he was encouraged to run for public office.
And he won!
Purchase this e-book about to learn more about how Senator Nighthorse Campbell rose above his difficult childhood to become one of the few Native American United
•A vocabulary builder
•Ten thought-provoking review questions
This uplifting story of the Native American senator is an ideal resource for
•Book reports
•Homeschooling
Students, teachers and parents will also find the subject matter and easy-to-read and understand style appropriate for
•Literacy programs
•Reading comprehension
Who is this famous American Indian Senator?
When Ben Nighthorse Campbell was born in 1933, his family was falling apart. His mother was struggling with tuberculosis. Also called TB, it is a terrible disease that affects the lungs and breathing system. Ben’s father was wrestling with alcoholism, and could not hold a job.
Ben’s mother was in and out of the sanatorium, a special hospital where she went for treatment. For a while, Ben and his older sister lived there in a special wing of the building. Even though they lived in the same building, he wasn’t actually allowed to be with her. Separated by glass doors and windows, they could only speak to each other at certain times.
At age five, Ben’s mother told him to get ready for a trip. They drove to Sacramento, California and stopped at a huge building. The St. Patrick’s Home was an orphanage. This was a hard time for Ben. He was picked on by the older boys and felt so all alone.
After a few years, his mother and father got back together and brought Ben home. But Ben’s father’s drinking continued to destroy the family. Ben found his dad drunk or asleep on the streets. He even found him in a fight, an ice pick stuck in his head.
The family problems ate at Ben’s mind. Why was his mother sick? Why did his father get drunk? Was it his fault?
Ben’s school work suffered. He couldn’t pay attention. He pretended to be sick when he didn’t want to go to school. School was a waste of time.
Fed up with school and his family, Ben and some friends ran away from home. Taking along guns and supplies, they were going to live off the land. But when they ran out of supplies, they returned home and went back to school.
Ben and his friends continued to get into trouble. They would get drunk and start fights. The cops caught Ben and a friend stealing gas. After spending two weeks in the juvenile detention center, Ben knew he had to change his life.
But what could he do?
Ben dropped out of school in his senior year and joined the Air Force.
While he was stationed in Korea in the 1950s, Ben began practicing the sport of judo. For almost a year, he studied judo with a Korean expert who lived near the military base.
Judo provided Ben with something he had always lacked. It gave him a sense of purpose and discipline. It forced him to rely on himself and deal with difficult situations.
After his discharge from the Air Force, Ben went back to school. He had completed his GED in the military. After earning a B average at the community college in San Jose, California, he entered San Jose State University the next year. He immediately joined the judo team and earned a fourth-degree black belt by the time he graduated. He continued on to earn his master’s degree.
Ben stayed with his judo. For the next four years he practiced in Japan. He won 48 tournaments and lost only 2. He was selected as one of the four members of the U.S. judo team and competed in the 1964 International Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Due to a seriously injured knee, he did not get to compete for the gold medal.
Wanting to return to his roots, Ben traveled to Montana, where his Cheyenne ancestors lived. As a matter of chance, Ben attended a meeting with another Native American politician. After the meeting, he was encouraged to run for public office.
And he won!
Purchase this e-book about to learn more about how Senator Nighthorse Campbell rose above his difficult childhood to become one of the few Native American United
