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CRES 280 Map 2: The representation of Native Americans in the media as…
CRES 280 Map 2: The representation of Native Americans in the media as "savage" and "violent" has led to alienation, stereotyping, and systematic oppression through the justification white superiority and violence.
A disastrous example of misrepresentation as "violent" leading to justification for more violence is the massacre at wounded knee.
As described by Joel Martin in the book A History Of Native Americans U.S. officials on the Lakota reservation mistakenly considered the Ghost Dance (a section of the new religion created by Wovoka) as militant, and Ghost dancers as crazy. In 1890, as thousands of Lakota Indians on the Pine ridge and Rosebud reservations danced the Ghost dance, authorities became more worried
On Nov. 20th 1890 U.S. President Benjamin Harrison ordered the military into Lakota country after reports of "crazy" dancing Indians who might do damage.
On Dec. 29th 1890 when soldiers were collecting weapons there was a scuffle between two people and a gun went off. A bloodbath resulted. Lakota warriors and U.S. soilders started shooting at each-other and in minutes more than 200 Lakotas had died including 44 women and 18 children (shot in the back 2 miles away from camp site trying to flee.
Lakota life did not stop in 1890, and unfortunately neither did the criminalization of their identity. Wounded Knee is the most famous example of how depictions of Indigenous peoples as "savage" led to the justification of killing innocent people. We are left with the question of why was the dancing seen as militant? and how can practicing a sacred religion be a threat?
I believe that after Lakotas were split to reservations in Feb 1890, the U.S. government thought they would adapt to "American" ways and stop their communal lifestyle. But, once they watched the Lakota in community and still in solidarity they had to use false representations of violence to justify the extermination and genocide of the Lakota peoples.
Wounded Knee is a historical example of how representations of violence justified the genocide of Native Peoples.
James Mooney of the Smithsonian Institution concluded that "there can be no question that the pursuit was simply a massacre, where fleeing women were shot down after resistance , even as they fled to escape."
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Native Americans have a history of being reduced and exploited in films as bloodthirsty warriors and savages. This constant representation shaped (and continues to form) what the dominant "American" public thought of Indigenous peoples. This narrow view has led to further exploitation and justifications for discrimination
In films such as “The Last of The Mohicans (1992),” there is no shortage of Indian warriors. Hollywood has traditionally portrayed Native Americans as tomahawk-wielding savages thirsty for the white man’s blood. they also routinely engage in barbaric practices such as scalping and sexually violating white women.
Black men in America also faced the stereotype of being violent towards white women. In both cases, this often justified lynching, murder, and continued discrimination. White women were seen as holy and pure, so to further diminish these races, they were frequently accused of sexual violence. This shows how racists have long used rape to defend their worst racist violence.
Similarly, in 1939 the movie Stagecoach proved to be the most damaging for Native peoples. It depicted Indigenous people as wild, vicious, and blood thirsty. This movie set the tone for how natives were represented for centuries (which explains that last mohican movie) This movie also had white people in red face, and normalized "tanto speech" which is degrading and misrepresentative of Native Languages.
Much like Native Americans, Black Americans were also dehumanized by the use of Black Face by white people, we see this in films such as The Jazz Singer (1927). Al Jolson plays a man in black face which received praise by critics. Even bugs bunny did blackface. This representation allows false stereotypes to continue and dehumanize communities of color.
The Anti-Defamation league has attempted to change this pervasive stereotype. “While warfare and conflict did exist among Native Americans, the majority of tribes were peaceful and only attacked in self-defense,” the ADL reports. The warrior stereotype is a “shallow” one the ADL asserts, as it “obscures family and community life, spirituality, and the intricacies inherent in every human society.”link to article
The ongoing stereotype of Native Americans as violent and dangerous contributes to negative expectations, interactions, and treatment. This results in indigenous people being incarcerated at higher rates, encountering discrimination and hate crimes, and many other negative impacts. This stereotyped violence also informs non-Indians to fear Native people, which justifies discrimination policy and practices.
The alienation and extermination of Native peoples was justified by the violent and savage stereotypes that were created by white America. These stereotypes continue today and manifest themselves in American sports team logos and mascots.
"Indian" sports mascots were created in an era of accepted racism and bigotry, and sports brands became multi-million dollar franchises.
One of the most popular examples are the Washington R**skins. Not only is the logo a racist depiction, but the name itself is a derogatory ad racist term. Native Americans have been questioning and protesting the logo since the 1960's. Despite constant backlash, Washington owner Daniel Snyder is sure that the name will not change, and NFL commissioner roger Goodell said that he does not expect the name to change. Link to article
Another example is in Cleveland Ohio MLB where "Chief Wahoo is the logo of the Cleveland Indians. Like the Washington football team, the Cleveland Indians received criticism from many different social justice groups but remained popular. In January 2018 it was finally announced that Owner Paul Dolan would no longer place the Chief on uniforms or stadium signs in the following season.
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The movement "We are not your mascots" and the National Congress of American Indians have created substantial change, yet damage has already been done by having these mascots. The INTOLERANCE and HARM created by these "Indian" sports mascots, logos, or symbols, have very real consequences. They perpetuate negative stereotypes and contribute to the disregard for the personhood of Native Peoples.
Most concerning in considering negative stereotypes of Native people, are the alarmingly high rates of hate crimes against Native people. According to Department of Justice analysis, “American Indians are more likely than people of other races to experience violence at the hands of someone of a different race.” The use of mascots and degrading imagery, therefore normalizes violence, and the oppressive treatment of Native people
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Wovoka was the visionary of the Ghost Dance and presented hope for new religion in Indian Country. This new religion also helped Native Religions understand Christianity.
This is supposedly a photo of the Ghost Dance, but it was seen as so sacred that it was not performed for outsiders
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