Johnson on A Strong Race Opinion

Knowing all that I know about feminist rhetorical theory, feminist critical perspective, and race, I would say that Johnson is considered a protofeminist, but I say this lightly, hoping that our class discussion will clear up some of the confusion I have regarding this. In A Strong Race Opinion, Emily Johnson says that "the American book heroine of to-day is vari-colored as to personality and action." (385)  I agree with this statement because it offers a broader description of a typical heroine, if you were to categorize a "heroine".  However, I don't agree that this is an individual that needs categorizing, but as long as the term "hero" is categorized, it can be agreeable. 

Johnson says the author "allows [the heroine] to evolve an individuality ungoverned by nationalisms-- but the outcome of impulse and nature and a general womanishness." (385) I agree with these views in that the author does have full reign of allowing the heroine to evolve on her own or to "read up on his subject, and duplicate it in his own work". (386) 

Reading the rest of this excerpt, it seemed to me that Johnson was less of a protofeminist than I had originally noticed. She describes writing about women in a way that would seem she is against feminism and women choosing their own paths. She says things about this "Indian girl" and I wasn't sure to what exactly she is referring. Johnson says "she is never dignified by being permitted to own a surname... [and] is possessed with a suicidal mania". (387) The distinction between the Indian girl and other types of heroines in literature made it seem like the Indian girl is supposed to be different, less renowned, and less important. This idea made it seem like Johnson was against feminism, by saying that the Indian girl should have this type of treatment when it comes to descriptions of her in literature. I would really like to know the actual answer to whether Cooper and Johnson are considered protofeminists or not.