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News :: Civil & Human Rights |
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Forum attacks persistent issue of Native American stereotypes |
Current rating: 3 |
by Lauren Anzaldo
Email: compassiontothecore (nospam) hotmail.com |
05 Aug 2004
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A community forum entitled "Challenging Stereotypes, Promoting Understanding" will take place at 7 p.m., Wed., Aug. 25, at End of the Line Cafe, 610 East Wright Street, Pensacola. |
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PENSACOLA -- A community forum this month will offer concerned people a chance to talk about stereotypes of Native Americans and how Native and non-Native people can become allies in promoting an accurate portrayal of Native people in our community.
"Challenging Stereotypes, Promoting Understanding" will begin at 7 p.m., Wed., Aug. 25, at End of the Line Cafe, 610 East Wright Street. The forum is being organized by several local social justice activists, including Native American rapper Shadowyze, aka Shawn Enfinger; Linda Lindsey, who helped spearhead protests against Geronimo's Spirits liquor store on Pensacola Beach; and Lauren Anzaldo, who has worked with the American Indian Movement and other indigenous support groups.
To start the event, Shadowyze will present a short film about Native American stereotypes. One common stereotypical image is that of the violent, war-loving savage, propagated by sports mascots such as "redskins," "chiefs" and "braves."
"Using our names, likeness and religious symbols to excite the crowd does not feel like honor or respect," wrote activist and teacher Charlene Teters, a Spokane, in an article posted on the American Indian Movement website (www.aimovement.org). "It is hurtful and confusing to our young people. To reduce the victims of genocide to a mascot is unthinking, at least, and immoral, at worst."
After the film, the floor will be opened for discussion about how to overcome these stereotypes and how non-Native people can effectively support Native Americans locally. Examples of support include assisting with projects that promote Native American culture and protesting racism and stereotyping.
The forum was spurred by fiery online discussions set off after the krewe calling themselves the Mayoki Indians participated in the Fiesta of Five Flags celebration in June. The krewe consists of mostly non-Native American people who dress up in brightly colored, skimpy outfits, feathers and face paint during the weeklong festival commemorating the colonization of Northwest Florida.
"I'm sure that the people doing this [participating in the Mayoki krewe] are doing it out of ignorance more than anything malicious," one man, David Reems, wrote on the website of the Northwest Florida Independent Media Center (http://www.nwfimc.org/feature/display/145/index.php), "but they should know that a lot of people are hurt by these depictions of Native Americans."
For more information about this event, contact Lauren Anzaldo at (850) 417-2766 or compassiontothecore (at) hotmail.com. |
This work is in the public domain. |
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Re: Forum attacks persistent issue of Native American stereotypes |
by I'm glad you're here
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
12 Aug 2004
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This sounds really good. Hopefully the Mayoki "Indians" know about it. Does anyone know if they do? That would be good if all the people that got so mad about it went to this. |
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Re: Forum attacks persistent issue of Native American stereotypes |
by scott
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
25 Aug 2004
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I think that letters were sent out to many of them so I would assume they would know. Whether they care or not is a whole other ball game |
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Re: Forum attacks persistent issue of Native American stereotypes |
by Feshari
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
27 Aug 2004
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None of the Mayoki partiers showed up. Shows you how they truly feel about Native Americans. I'm not surprised.
The forum was excellent! Thanks to all who attended and to the speakers for coming out! |
