Ramona

In her tireless efforts on behalf of Native Americans Jackson wrote a work of fiction about their plight. She was hoping that this book, Ramona, would have a similar impact on Americans as Uncle Tom's Cabin for the issue of slavery. It is a tragic love story set in early California between the heroine, Ramona, and her Native American lover Alessandro. Based on the true life murder of a Cahuilla Indian named Juan Diego. Published in 1884, this book has never been out of print. Even before her death there were 15,000 copies of the book sold. Ramona also expresses an opposition to American imperialism, and a hope for a more equitable, multicultural America, that was advanced for its time (Phillips, p 261, 2003).

Several popular Hollywood films were made about the story and there is even a Ramona Pageant held yearly in the Southern California town of Hemet (a photo of the Pageant is shown above). This event has been held almost continuously since 1923 and is the longest running outdoor drama in the U.S. A state resolution designated this as the official California State Outdoor play. In further tribute to the popularity of the book, many cities in Southern California use the name Ramona in street names and even freeway names.