Spring Break
An open letter to my white LGBT siblings
Michael Faris
Issue date: 6/4/08 Section: Forum
It was the stereotype of the University of Illinois mascot until February 2007. It is the savage Indian of Westerns. It is the sole Indian princess wearing a headdress in Disney World's "It's a Small World."
Who creates these images? Not Native Americans. They are created by universities, movie studios and other institutions owned and controlled by white people.
There is no self-determination for Native Americans when white people portray what a Native American looks and acts like. White people have created a near monopoly on the mainstream representations of people of color.
And your party, asking folks to dress up like caricatures of Native Americans, is perpetuating the historical representations of racist images created and perpetuated by white society.
I am sure that you would say your party is ironic, that you knew these representations were racist, but you did it out of absurdity. I would reply that you are refusing to deal with your white privilege.
I am sure that you would say that this party is okay because some people of color attended and dressed up in this parody of Native American garb. I would reply that this claim ignores that people of color can be implicated in racism against other people of color.
Why, I am sure you would ask, does the sexuality of the host and guests matter?
This is because, in case you missed it, dominant straight culture has for the last century defined what it means to be queer: a deviancy diagnosable as a mental disorder, the eunuch Will and the flamboyant queen Jack, the myths that queers are pedophiles, that bisexuals are just sex-starved sluts, that gay men have innate fashion sense, that trannies are perverts, that lesbians just need to have sex with the right man.
This list could continue. The point is that historically and currently, dominant culture represents and defines the lives of people of color and of queer people. Dominant culture has, in effect, taken away these groups' rights to self-determination.
Who creates these images? Not Native Americans. They are created by universities, movie studios and other institutions owned and controlled by white people.
There is no self-determination for Native Americans when white people portray what a Native American looks and acts like. White people have created a near monopoly on the mainstream representations of people of color.
And your party, asking folks to dress up like caricatures of Native Americans, is perpetuating the historical representations of racist images created and perpetuated by white society.
I am sure that you would say your party is ironic, that you knew these representations were racist, but you did it out of absurdity. I would reply that you are refusing to deal with your white privilege.
I am sure that you would say that this party is okay because some people of color attended and dressed up in this parody of Native American garb. I would reply that this claim ignores that people of color can be implicated in racism against other people of color.
Why, I am sure you would ask, does the sexuality of the host and guests matter?
This is because, in case you missed it, dominant straight culture has for the last century defined what it means to be queer: a deviancy diagnosable as a mental disorder, the eunuch Will and the flamboyant queen Jack, the myths that queers are pedophiles, that bisexuals are just sex-starved sluts, that gay men have innate fashion sense, that trannies are perverts, that lesbians just need to have sex with the right man.
This list could continue. The point is that historically and currently, dominant culture represents and defines the lives of people of color and of queer people. Dominant culture has, in effect, taken away these groups' rights to self-determination.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 31
Tyler
posted 6/04/08 @ 2:41 PM PST
I cannot believe that this letter was allowed to be printed by the barometer
masking hate mail with the premise of fighting rascism is sick...this letter is obviously an attack against the members of this party for no real reason
are cowboys across the nation "outraged" that they have been portrayed during this party? ropes, handguns, cowboy hats. (Continued…)
William
posted 6/04/08 @ 4:18 PM PST
As a gay student I'm completely offended by the barometers lack of integrity and investigative reporting. This paper has demonized an individual student who is native american himself. (Continued…)
Jennifer
posted 6/04/08 @ 8:10 PM PST
I was completely in shock and appalled when I saw this article in the Barometer today.
The person who wrote this article clearly does not have these facts straight. (Continued…)
Douglas
posted 6/04/08 @ 9:18 PM PST
Bravo to the Barometer and to this letter writer for highlighting was so often goes hidden. Everyone marginalized in this society must work together to ensure that everyone else who is marginalized is treated with dignity and respect. (Continued…)
Linnaea
posted 6/04/08 @ 9:25 PM PST
First off I think you should look up exactly who Michael Faris is before you go off and say that he's a homophobic man.
Second of all, it doesn't matter if the people at the party were of Native American descent or not. (Continued…)
James
posted 6/04/08 @ 9:27 PM PST
Take a look at this link...
http://oregonstate.edu/cla/english/faculty/faris
What is Michael Faris, a faculty member at Oregon State University, doing peeping a 19 year old's facebook page and writing a slanderous article about something he merely glimpsed online. (Continued…)
Craig Hawley
posted 6/04/08 @ 9:50 PM PST
OMG get a thicker skin. I am so sick of wimps being offended by everything. Are you serious Cowboys and Indians offends you. Get a life.
I could care less if your letter is full of vitriol. (Continued…)
Craig Hawley
Craig Hawley
posted 6/04/08 @ 10:04 PM PST
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Proud To Be White
Someone finally said it.
How many are actually paying attention to this?
There are African Americans,
Hispanic Americans,
Cuban Americans,
Mexican Americans,
Asian Americans,
Arab Americans,
Native Americans, etc. (Continued…)
Nunley
posted 6/04/08 @ 10:10 PM PST
The thing is, virtually no one would have even known about the party if this column hadn't been printed. Hence, the party is innocuous. Michael obviously has his opinion about it, but this kind of piffle has little or no effect on anybody. (Continued…)
Ryan Larson
posted 6/04/08 @ 10:52 PM PST
You're ridiculous. This party was not meant to be racist at all.
Go get off your ass and get a life.
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