Time for Some Self-Reflection

                Thus far in this class, I’ve struggled with a few things. First and foremost, the idea that I truly know nothing about this culture. I’ve seen enough PBS specials to know the base minimum about, say, Chinese culture. I can consciously recognize that they are more than Kung Fu movies and crowded cities. Their history is vast and long. But I could pretty well generalize it if I was put on the spot on some strange game show. I can say the same of France, England, Ireland, Germany, and Spain. But then there are the Natives. I knew nothing of the American Indian Movement or occupy Alcatraz or the Wounded Knee incident or even the fact that there is a whole museum in D.C. dedicated to Natives. And I was oblivious to their culture, or rather, their many different cultures: fry bread or hair or humor or rez cars that only go in reverse or a billion other things I’m not yet privy to. Heck, if I think about it, I probably know more about the Aztecs and the Mayans than I do of contemporary Native Americans.

                More than all of this, though, is one bit I cannot seem to comprehend. Call me naïve, call me ignorant, call me blond. But I simply do not understand where these negatives stereotypes of Natives are being portrayed and prolonged. I don’t mean on boxes of butter or caps of sports fans. I mean on a daily basis. Are there people just sitting around with a Bud in their fists bad-mouthing Natives? How is this group of people even coming up in conversation?

                Yes, I grew up in a small town. But that never made me blind towards the bad things said behind backs. I heard people gash the gay kids in school. I saw the compact riot against the African American kids. The football team was no stranger to Asian jokes, despite the Asian on the team. So how am I missing the hateful perpetuation of bad Native stereotypes? I never once assumed Natives didn’t have a sense of humor. I never assumed them to be “noble creatures” or drunken, abusive savages. They’re just…people. No better or worse than anyone else purely because of their genetics. Of all that I struggle with in this class, this tops it.

                If you can give me an insightful response, I will surely welcome it.