How come we seem to have more sympathy for the American Indians getting a raw deal, yet blacks.....?

Question

or African Americans, we're just like, people will say, Just stop whining and get over it! Why is that? Don't some American Indians live off the government, and have major issues with substance abuse and poverty? Why more sympathy for one culture, and less for another?

Answer 1

I'm a Native American and I do not see it like that at all. Actually I see it in the other direction, the blacks get the attention and Natives get the crappy land and dirty blankets.

Regardless, both races have been crapped on by the white man in hte past. However, today if a person isn't crippled by self pity and held down by backward thought. They can advance and be as good as anyone with ouot Government hand outs.

Answer 2

Some reservations are poor as dirt and some families live in practically a third world type situation. Some old people live there alone in little shacks with no insulation, little food and little heat in the winter. And no way out of that. And people just don't give a damn and act like it doesn't exist or happen, but none of us would want our own grandparents living like that. And a lot of people are still very racist.

So you call that sympathy?


There are still things that need to be done for blacks, but America's racial focus has become very black and white...yet I don't see Native people, Asians, Middle Eastern folks, and anyone else even saying "hey, what about us...?" It seems most others are forgotten now that whites and blacks are the focus, and btw...some whites are poor and have problems and some blacks are rich and do well...I think the poor of ALL peoples need to be helped out more.

Answer 3

Black for the most part are far more outspoken while Indians accept it and live there lives as their culture has taught. Indians are deeper into the spiritual side and try not to provoke. It's true some have problems, but I tThey are truly a beautiful people whom we could probabply learn alot from as to taking only from the land what we need and allowing it to heal itself for future generations. hink it is partly because they haven't spoken out much and were all but forgotten.

Although I don't agree with the whole slavery thing I can't stand it when some blacks still blame us for what happened generations ago. I nor anyone else living now had any control over what our forefathers did back then. But somehow we are responsible? I don't mean disrespect but if slavery had never happened most of you would probably still be in Africa and most likely in a worse situation.

Answer 4

Have you ever lived within a two week span? I have had people appologize for what their folks did to my people. I asked, 'Was it within the last two weeks that they did this?' 'No.' 'then it is no longer important.'
The thing is I do not know of any people/race or whatever who hasn't terrorized and enslaved somebody or been on the recieving end.
Government Indians? That's really harsh and unfair. I have many relatives who do not take a dime from handouts but who pay their taxes. Lots of people make temporarily ugly choices. We don't have to compound that.
I'm offended by the tribes punishment and the blacks punishment in museums of propetuating the torture and terrorism. In reality when I see these displays of anger I am again terrorized and feel its an ugly reminder of when we did not agree and do not want my children or elders to see that or feel that terror. I perfer the triumps of my ansestors like creating an alphabet, writing books, performing ceremonies, dance fans and lovely costumes that they wore and we made from scratch.
Once we had a show that was every year... It's name was the Trail of Tears Annual Art Show. It was so horrifying and depressing no one could remain in the museum more than 5 minutes. I never entered that show again. I will not add to suffering for fame or blackmail or even whining. I'd rather celebrate you might want to be my friend and know of me.

Answer 5

Indians can't say I want to go back to where you have taken me .And American black people have more the same as white people .Lack of education is partly due to Lack of parenting ! How can we except speaking very poor English and expect to receive the employment , Whaz ya need ? And from personally dealing with many cultures , black people stand out with the Someone owes me . Receive employment then doesn't feel the work is their responsibility .Professional Black people have to fight to get the respect from their own , they are told " Don't forget your black " By black people ! There is no single poor race in USA . But any race will move out of a poor neighborhood when they can . I've heard " You too good to be in the hood now ? You think you all that cause you got that education ? "

Answer 6

First of all, the American Indians were here first. Second of all we put them on reservations, and took most of them out of their natural surroundings in doing so, causing most of them to have the problems they now have, third of all the American Indians haven't been given near the breaks that African Americans have been given. You don't see the NAACP going into places of employment raising cain because an American Indian hasn't been hired, but you let the same company not hire an African American over any other race and the NAACP is all over it. I don't have sympathy for anyone (African American, White, Hispanic) that refuses to let the past go. Yes we bought literally African Americans and used them as slaves, we bought them however from their own people. Does anyone honestly believe that they would have a better life back in Africa? Why should we continue to be punished for something that our forefathers did over 100yrs ago. Not all slaves were abused, and even after they were released from slavery not all of them left. None of them chose to go back to Africa. American Indians were never given any option other than to go to a reservation. So yes I have sympathy for the American Indians, because we literally stole their land from them.

Answer 7

I'm not speaking for my Native American brothers and sisters, but...there is no sympathy. We're just getting back a very small percentage of our heritage. You think about this for a second or two. Before the first Non-Native American arrived on this side of the world, we praticed our native rituals, had our own governments and tribes. We respected our boundries and shared with other tribes and yes there was waring going on too.
The thing is that everything in this land was used for a puropse and was scared.
When the explorers and those fleeing there prospective countries wanting to live their lives in freedom came over. They started imposing their "laws" and "beliefs" on the Native Americans. Fast talking tribes out of rich soil for "firewater". Until the settlers came over the "firewater" never existed to the Native Americans. Our bodies were never made to handle it. That's why you see alot of Native alcoholics.
When the goverment was formed we posed a problem to their plan. So we were put on reservations. They made men, women, and children walk hundreds of miles to relocate to unknown lifeless plots of land. And took their rich soil in the name of the U.S.A.
Even in the latter years the Bureau of Indian Affairs took children away from their families and made them go to schools far away from their families. My grandparents were part of that era. They never could tell us why. They just said a man from BIA came and took them away.
At these schools they were whipped and scholded if they talked their native language or tried to carry on some of their native traditions.
Now within the past 20 years or so...the government has finally seen that they ****** up. And offer Native Americans a small portion of their dignity back.
Blacks were brought over on boats. They can go back to Africa any time they want to! We've been taking care of everyone! Not just blacks. Everyone!
There's no sympathy! Believe me...there never has been.

Answer 8

Well, even though blacks were brought as slaves, they thrived compared to the indians who died from disease. In a way, blacks have been better treated. They were slaves, but in the 1860's they got their freedom. For several decades after that the US government was still making and breaking contracts with the indians to steal their land. Blacks, as slaves and free people, were part of white society but indians were pushed to the margins and forced out of governmental administration for much longer.

Answer 9

I believe it is because of the current situation as well as the past situation. Native Americans had their land taken and their population decimated and taken advantage of. Today, they have very poor-quality land to use and are restricted to living off this land if they want money from the feds. Blacks are more a part of mainstream society, and the ones that are here don't have the same kind of claim to the land that NA's do. Also, blacks are more populous and well-off in general it seems. They are not limited to living in one specific area to get gov't assistance, so it gives the appearance that they have more opportunity and potential to make more of themselves.

Answer 10

because the indians were the original inhabitants and we took lands, lives, identities, families and many other things from them. the black revolution started in the 60's and goes on today. the indians are fairly new to the political scene so you're hearing more right now but it's the same thing. they are the johnny come latelies is all.