Is It Racist For A Non Native American To Don A Feathered Headdress?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2821242/Ellie-Goulding-s-Halloween-fancy-dress-sets-race-row-critics-saying-Native-American-costume-no-different-wearing-black-face.html

This just about sums them up, one has to ask, why do they continue to be so offended?

/// 'I never cease to be amazed at how easily people will take offence – and usually this is white, middle-class, Guardian-reading, sandal-wearing, politically correct do-gooders who are offended on someone else’s behalf. ///

/// The row comes just weeks after it was announced that Glastonbury will no longer allow Native American headdresses to be sold at festival outlets, in response to a petition. ///

[DTCwordfan]

Better watch out, there may be some scalps being taken, as a result of this thread...... "Ouch, take that knife away, you are supposed to have handed that in to the cop shop."

[Gromit]

This is cultural inappropriateness AOG, is it offensive?

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200804/r245944_1004351.jpg

[Gromit]

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200804/r245944_1004351.jpg

// THE Australian Veterans Association says a fashion designer has insulted servicemen and women by parading pouting models decked out in war medals on the catwalk at Australian Fashion Week.
Models in the New Zealand designer Kate Sylvester's show, titled "Royally Screwed", appeared yesterday in dishevelled, mock-military garb draped in flags and ribbons, and dripping medals from various war campaigns.

Hanging over bare thighs were the Australian Vietnam Medal, created in 1968 for those who undertook active service in South Vietnam.

Most were worn on the left-hand side of garments, which traditionally denotes the wearer has served in wartime.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/aolsyndicationlas/fashion-weeks-anzac-insult/2008/04/30/1209234910792.html

[sp1814]

AOG

You're asking us as individuals whether we think wearing Native American headdresses is racist.

Personally, I don't think it's racist per se, because I highly doubt that many who wear these costumes actually think about what it means.

However, I would think of it as stupid and old fashioned, in the same way that I would shudder at any of my mates drawing 'slitty eyes', putting in buck teeth and pretending to be Chinese at a fancy dress party..walking around saying "I'm a Chinky Chonky Chinaman".

There are some racial stereotypes that are wince-inducing, and others that aren't...

[sp1814]

I'll give you an example of this...

The current Dolmio advert, with that stereotypical Italian family.

Swap that family out, and make them Jewish (shouting "Oy yeh", whilst advertising the new Lidl range of lox and bagels) and suddenly it will be wince-inducing.

Swap them out again, making them Americans (shouting "Yee ha", whilst advertising the new Aldi range of hotdogs and hamburgers) and suddenly the winces disappear.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// Some more examples of Cultural Inappropriateness which the Daily Mail wrote about rather differently... ///

How can those two examples of improper impersonation be classes as Cultural Inappropriateness?

[sp1814]

...incidentally, before anyone posts something about the Native American in the Village People, please look his details up in Wikipedia to save yourself any embarrassment (this one has come up before a couple of times).

[sp1814]

AOG

Gromit has already pointed out that in Native American culture, head dresses are a symbol that has to be earned as a mark of bravery in battle.

In what way is this different from people wearing war medals that they have not earned.

It seems extremely clear cut to me.

[naomi24]

//Swap that family out, and make them Jewish (shouting "Oy yeh", whilst advertising the new Lidl range of lox and bagels) and suddenly it will be wince-inducing. //

Why? I never found Maureen Lipman's stereotypical Jewish mother wince-inducing - or is she allowed because she is actually Jewish? This treading on eggshells that we're all expected to participate in is a load of nonsense.

[anotheoldgit]

DTCwordfan

/// Better watch out, there may be some scalps being taken, as a result of this thread...... "Ouch, take that knife away, you are supposed to have handed that in to the cop shop." ///

Now that is being racist, almost like associating very large cooking pots with native Africans.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// This is cultural inappropriateness AOG, is it offensive? ///

No, he just looks a ***

[anotheoldgit]

Only three stars awarded for a four letter word by the AB censors.

[Gromit]

// This is cultural inappropriateness AOG, is it offensive? //

// No, he just looks a *** //

You sound offended.

[Gromit]

In tend to think that wearing an headdress wore in fun is not at all offensive. The inappropriateness would only occur if the wearer was trying to pass themselves off as a genuine Red Indian and wasn't one.

Like wise, people wraring medals on uniforms for fancy dress is not offensive. It would become offensive if they were trying to pass themsrlves off as a real veteran.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// Gromit has already pointed out that in Native American culture, head dresses are a symbol that has to be earned as a mark of bravery in battle. ///

How many of those bonnet wearing native Americans where at the Battle of Little Bighorn?

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// You sound offended. ///

One can make a personal remark about a persons dress without being personally offended by it.

[sp1814]

naomi24

Firstly there's a typo in my previous mail. I meant to write "Oy vey", but my MacBook thought better of it.

You wrote:

"Why? I never found Maureen Lipman's stereotypical Jewish mother wince-inducing - or is she allowed because she is actually Jewish?"

Sure...not everyone finds everything offensive.

Loads of people find Mr Humpreys hilarious, and some find him offensive.

Loads of people find Mickey Rooney's portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany's offensive, and lots don't.

I think the answer is to accept that not everyone has your values/outlook, and acknowledge that the polite thing to do is to leave people unattended.

There's nothing that really compels me to wear a Native American headdress to a party, so whatever - I'd go as something else (except of course, I wouldn't because I think fancy dress parties are generally awful).

[Clanad]

Here in the U.S., the issue is currently on low boil since suddenly, the name of a prominent American Professional football Team, The Washington (D.C.) Redskins is raising the ire of the PC crowd. Nearly immediately after the first complaint maybe 5 months ago, many of the Tribal Governments around the country counter-protested the protest, saying they perceived no racial animosity by people using the head dress as a prop. Granted there were others that thought otherwise.

The thing they (and I) would protest is the use of an historical, Tribal Eagle feather headress in, say a comedy skit... totally inappropriate. But that would be difficult since those are closely guarded by Tribal Chairmen or more likely respected 'Medicine Men' (Wichasha Wakan in Lakota language).

By the way, possessing any Eagle feathers, much less a full headdress is a crime with heavy punishment if owned by other than an enrolled Tribal Member.

The other problem is many, many American citizens (myself included) are of Native American descent (mine being Cherokee-Choctaw). Not enough for tribal enrollment, but enough to give more than a passing glance at such discussions...

[sp1814]

AOG

Do you see Gromit's point about Native American head dresses and medals awarded for bravery?

Do you agree with the tone of the MailOnline links regarding the medals?