A century of dishonor is a non fiction book by helen hunt jackson first published in 1881 that chronicled the experiences of native americans in the united states focusing on injustices jackson wrote a century of dishonor in an attempt to change government ideas and policy toward native americans at a time when effects of the 1871 indian appropriations act making the entire native american . The book a century of dishonor by helen hunt jackson who wrote under the pen name h h is considered the first serious study of us federal indian policy by scholars and her intent in writing it was to do for native americans what harriet beecher stowes uncle toms cabin had done for african american slaves. A century of dishonor first published in 1881 and reprinted in numerous editions since helen hunt jacksons a century of dishonor is a classic account. A century of dishonor first published in 1881 and reprinted in numerous editions since helen hunt jacksons a century of dishonor is a classic account