The amazing thing to me is how literally hundreds of people could have seen this Outkast 'performance' in rehearsal and no one thought to say: this is offensive. Or by the laughter from the 'stars' in the audience who were watching-- captured live on TV. ouch!! This just shows how ignorant people are about Native Americans. Had it been any other group, the outcry would be fierce. As it is, we're so accustomed to seeing racism about Native Americans we don't even question it much.
For example, how many people see little kids at Halloween wearing feather and paint and think its ok? To Native Americans, these are sacred symbols, not costumes or products. Eagle feathers symbolize the sun, a giver of life. The whoop yell that Outkast dancers pantomimed was used to deride older Indian people who grew up in the 1950s. Yes, our grandparents were really cruel sometimes. That is satire? c'mon! Think how it must feel to see that on TV if you're a 70 year old woman who has been spit on for being Indian. Think how it must feel if she were to read some of these comments say 'oh, its no big deal just get over it.'
Racism is sly and subtle and it twines itself through the best of us. I say hooray for the brave souls who are organizing the boycott and standing up to commercial bullies like TV networks and record companies-- Rosa Parks must be smiling somewhere.
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2004-02-11 03:01 am (UTC)For example, how many people see little kids at Halloween wearing feather and paint and think its ok?
To Native Americans, these are sacred symbols, not costumes or products. Eagle feathers symbolize the sun, a giver of life. The whoop yell that Outkast dancers pantomimed was used to deride older Indian people who grew up in the 1950s. Yes, our grandparents were really cruel sometimes. That is satire? c'mon! Think how it must feel to see that on TV if you're a 70 year old woman who has been spit on for being Indian. Think how it must feel if she were to read some of these comments say 'oh, its no big deal just get over it.'
Racism is sly and subtle and it twines itself through the best of us. I say hooray for the brave souls who are organizing the boycott and standing up to commercial bullies like TV networks and record companies-- Rosa Parks must be smiling somewhere.