I totally respect African Americans civil rights, but what about ...?

Question

Native American Indians? They were here first. What happened to their rights? Is it because it happened so long ago that maybe nobody cares? Native Americans have to carry a card to show what % Indian they are! Whats wrong with this picture?They were supressed too!!!!

Answer 1

I am a native and my two brothers have those cards. I will not have one. First of all I was not born on a reservation, and I will not live on one either. Not because I dont like my heritage, but that is only a part of it and they were forced to live there and I was fortunate enough to be free of choice. You are exactly correct it was so long ago, and people that live on the res. never got off for generations and certainly did not benefit from this country as they should have, and the casino nonsense is all that this government gave them and they use my people for that too. But they compensate with a monthly check for each person of each tribe that has a casino. Big Deal. They could not fight in number anymore, and even if they tried to fight it was over. Just like the Jews exactly and yet when they finally landed in a land everyone then tried to kill them off too. But now they cant (Israel became a State) thank God. Otherwise what do you think they were doing to them? The blacks at least have Africa, what do the Native Americans, and the Jews have without threat in numbers? When you are few and yet strong but wise, you will be prey for the aggressor, and especially if you show any resistance. Well we wont kiss butt, but we will make deals and sometimes those have been deals dealt out by fork tongues like all the Indian treaties what a bunch of rubbish. They went back on every deal that was ever written. Gold, Silver, Copper, Fish, and not the Forestry with GW? I tell you what if only? By the by the card is for identification for living on the res, or collecting funds as a tribal member for reasons of government payment. Yes they do have those cards. So who ever is working for a tribe, I am the tribes and I say yes you must have one for those reasons. You wont be picked up or penalized but if you are not registered you wont get funds or living spaces that belonged to us anyway. Genocide was committed on as as well as the Jews, and I definately can relate. The difference as well about the blacks was they were willing to work for the white man, and we were not, and they feared us because we knew every nook and cranny of this big continent, so we were a threat. But also, the whiteman might have dressed up in sheets and killed many but they did not ride in and murder 100's of 1000's and deliberately commit genocide on the blacks ever. But they did it to us and the Jews.

Answer 2

I have to agree with the questioner, with one small difference -- the Native Americans weren't suppressed, they were conquered!

Personally, I think that if everyone were treated with respect regardless of their racial heritage, everyone would cease to worry about civil rights. It may be too late to change what happened in the past, but it is never too late to change how people are treated in the future.

Answer 3

i'm African American and that i actual consider you. It makes genuinely no experience yet it truly is human nature. maximum individuals have genuinely no empathy and are unable to work out previous their own conflict. I stay in Michigan so i did not vote on Prop 8 yet i became dissatisfied after I got here upon out that countless African human beings supported it. regardless of the indisputable fact that i do not consider the individuals who imagine that African human beings are those to blame for its passage. Blacks make up about 10% of California's inhabitants so regardless of if each and every black man or woman had voted for it nonetheless does not have handed. I also locate it unusual that each and each and every man or woman has an opinion about African- human beings vote casting for Prop 8 yet what about the Latinos and Asians who supported it? Have they not struggled in this united states of america as well? yet no man or woman really blames them...

Answer 4

I've worked for a tribe for 5 years and no one 'has to carry a card' to show what % blood they have- they are registered at their tribe and they usually get the card for hunting benefits,health benefits etc... and I haven't dealt with it now, but the girl above me states that you do have to show the card in order to get scholarships. Odd that there is actually people with 'pedigree' cards, so to speak.
My daughter is a member of a tribe. I'm an adopted member (not legally but by a family, actually two families I that I know)
Yes, wrong was done to them and still it's done- I know of an old man who lives in a shack of a home- has oil on his property that the US gov't has control of and he gets paid pennies on their $$$$.
As far as 'god helps those who help themselves' gads. It's kind of hard to get a job when there aren't any available! Ever hear first hand experiences from Indians who were basically ripped out of their homes, were forced to go to boarding schools where they were trained how to sew, hem, be a house keeper, or learn the wonderful, useful trade of making tin cups? When they go back to their tribe (after years of being forced not to speak in their native tongue, forced to learn the good old Christian way [another story I heard was where a girl was raped, she told one of her teachers about it, the teacher woke up the other girls who were sleeping and humiliated that girl in front of everyone- calling her a whore, etc... like it was her fault!]) then they return to their village- where do they fit in? some people did- A LOT didn't. How good was the trade of making tin cups on a reservation where it's miles from nowhere? I know so many horror stories it just makes me sick thinking about it.
It's much easier said than done. I wouldn't even know where to start with the education part. Lots of times the grades are far lower on tribal land than outside the rez. A lot of families have healing that needs to take place- but isn't. Bad cycles continue and continue and continue. But there are also so many good things, too- a lot of wonderful people I know and cherish. And the stories that are told! A lot are so fantastic I love visiting our relatives makes me yearn for them now.
Yes, there are things that are wrong with this picture- I love how the US Gov't mismanages their money- rather than giving it to responsible leaders of tribes.
Sorry I don't really have an answer. If you visit a rez, you will see that people do cope and they have the best sense of humor. Some people are much more active than others when it comes to rights but if you google, I'm sure you will see there's a lot going on.

Answer 5

ok, gonna adress someone else first. Black people did not fight for their rights until after women starting fighting for black rights for them!! Get your history straight!

To answer the question: Yes it does suck that we native americans have to carry this stupid little card around with us, but we don't have to. I threw mine away. I don't need the governments handouts, and this pathetic form of reparations is just that: pathetic. Do you know that we have to prove our heritage to get scholarships for college! It sucks, but people in america don't care, we are such a small minority (in quantity) that we are easily ignored because there are activists for other races and ethnicities in america.

Answer 6

Why even bring up the analogy between African-Americans up? What does one have to do with the other? As far as the Native Americans having cards that show their percentage of native blood they have that is something they put in place to make sure who is entitled to the benefits they receive.

Answer 7

Native Americans did get screwed royally. The blacks got more because there are more and they raised more hell. Alot of people forget about the AIM in the '70s.

Answer 8

Human rights people tried a lot to find out the exact problems but some Government agencies blocked their activity by name it differently!!

Answer 9

poor native americans....but who is gonna listen to them or about them anyways..certainly not the people who can do anything about it!!

i used to want to be a native american =(

Answer 10

Its the responsibility of the oppressed people to bring attention to their plight. Its like the saying the squeaky wheel gets the oil. If your not out there trying to change things then its not going to happen. God helps those who help themselves.