For many years, Native Americans have been viewed as “jokes” or “laughing stocks”. Believe it or not, we (Mainstream America) have helped contribute to the evolution of stereotypes and assumptions that there are about Native Americans. The terms people think are funny and harmless are, in actuality, very offensive to some Native Americans. For example, many Native Americans refer to the derogatory sayings and terms as “Indian Fakelore”. I’m sure you’re familiar with them. Have you ever called someone an ‘Indian giver’? Take a minute to think about your purpose of using that expression. You might have said it to offend someone, right? Well, why does ‘Indian’ have to be included in the phrase to create the overall offense? Why, when we think
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Michael Dorris passionately expressed his thoughts on the misrepresentation of Native Americans through his article, ‘Why I’m Not Thankful for Thanksgiving’. Not only are the terms and assumptions about Native Americans offensive, but most of them are entirely wrong. Dorris gave a broad idea as to why he isn’t thankful for Thanksgiving, saying it is one of the holiday’s that the most Indian stereotypes develop from. He goes on to say, “Considering virtually none of the standard fare surrounding either Halloween or Thanksgiving contains an ounce of authenticity, historical accuracy, or cross cultural perception, why is it so apparently ingrained?” (Dorris). This suggests that what we’ve been taught about the history behind Thanksgiving is inexact. If we have been so easily guided about a holiday, just imagine how we’ve been shaped to look at Native …show more content…
Mainstream America has made us believe that Native Americans are simpleminded, when in fact, many of them are very articulate. You can’t pick and chose a couple of bad decisions or mistakes to define a whole race. For instance, Chief Seattle (a Native American from the 18th century) wrote a heartfelt speech about his love and appreciation of the land. He explains how differently Native Americans view the Earth versus Mainstream America, “There is no quiet place in the white man’s cities. No place to hear the unfurling of leaves in spring, or the rustle of an insect’s wings. The clatter only seems to insult the ears. And what is there to life if a man cannot hear the lonely cry of the whippoorwill or the arguments of the frogs around a pond at night? I am a red man and do not understand. The Indian prefers the soft sound of the wind darting over the face of a pond, and the smell of the wind itself, cleansed by rain or scented with the pine cone.” (Chief Seattle). This excerpt alone is more than enough to prove that there are many Native Americans that are well past ‘stupid’. To compose such a descriptive speech about the beauty of the nature of Earth you have to be very observant and aware. Stupidity is obviously not a dominant trait in the Native American
Michael Dorris passionately expressed his thoughts on the misrepresentation of Native Americans through his article, ‘Why I’m Not Thankful for Thanksgiving’. Not only are the terms and assumptions about Native Americans offensive, but most of them are entirely wrong. Dorris gave a broad idea as to why he isn’t thankful for Thanksgiving, saying it is one of the holiday’s that the most Indian stereotypes develop from. He goes on to say, “Considering virtually none of the standard fare surrounding either Halloween or Thanksgiving contains an ounce of authenticity, historical accuracy, or cross cultural perception, why is it so apparently ingrained?” (Dorris). This suggests that what we’ve been taught about the history behind Thanksgiving is inexact. If we have been so easily guided about a holiday, just imagine how we’ve been shaped to look at Native …show more content…
Mainstream America has made us believe that Native Americans are simpleminded, when in fact, many of them are very articulate. You can’t pick and chose a couple of bad decisions or mistakes to define a whole race. For instance, Chief Seattle (a Native American from the 18th century) wrote a heartfelt speech about his love and appreciation of the land. He explains how differently Native Americans view the Earth versus Mainstream America, “There is no quiet place in the white man’s cities. No place to hear the unfurling of leaves in spring, or the rustle of an insect’s wings. The clatter only seems to insult the ears. And what is there to life if a man cannot hear the lonely cry of the whippoorwill or the arguments of the frogs around a pond at night? I am a red man and do not understand. The Indian prefers the soft sound of the wind darting over the face of a pond, and the smell of the wind itself, cleansed by rain or scented with the pine cone.” (Chief Seattle). This excerpt alone is more than enough to prove that there are many Native Americans that are well past ‘stupid’. To compose such a descriptive speech about the beauty of the nature of Earth you have to be very observant and aware. Stupidity is obviously not a dominant trait in the Native American