why do so many white people think they are native american if there great great whatever is native american? PLEASE no racism stuff this is geared at white people complaining about how usa treats native americans. oh fyi I happen to have a full blooded grandfather who is native american, black foot. the other 90% is irish.
2007-03-05 10:24:30 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I meant why do white people with a hint of native american blood in thier viens think they are native americans?
2007-03-05 10:46:49 · update #1
Most white people in America are decendants of several nationalities. America has very few true 100% "white" people.
Edit: As for your clarification of not meaning blood lines but that they actually ARE native americans, this is just stupid white trash who want to feel special and different. It has nothing to do with "white guilt" as others have stated (notice these posters weren't white people). They do this for the same reason others claim they are decendants of witches and inherited psychic powers then go around wearing medieval garb. It's because they are fruitcakes!
2007-03-05 10:31:09 · answer #1 · answered by Nationalist 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You have a good point. For example, sure, one of my great great great grandparents(plus or minus a few greats) was deported with the Cherokee along the Trail of Tears. Some of my other ancestors were sold into slavery. At best, I might say I'm of mixed heritage, but what does that really mean? The colour of your ancestors means very little. The question is how do you live now? If your skin is light and you live like a white person, then the ethnicity of the odd ancestor here or there is pretty much irrelevant. Having a native ancestor means nothing if you aren't actively engaged in exploring native culture today, which means going to the rez and meeting the people and seeing how they live today. It means examining whether or not you are involved in the struggle of the people against very real oppression that the government is still dumping on them. It also means going a little crazy and maybe even shocking some of your neighbors by not doing the typical white suburban thing to do. Maybe it means getting up before dawn to scatter some corn pollen. Maybe it means building a hogan or a sweatlodge in the backyard. You are only as native as you stand with your brothers and sisters to walk the red road as it is...not as you grandiosely fantasize it was long ago. Your ancestors will only thank you once for that dream catcher you so poorly constructed; but they will live through you to the extent that you stand with the people and support your tribe.
As for your comment about white people who complain about how the US treats Native Americans, anyone who cares about justice should complain when they see wrong-doing. Anyone who cares about their neighbors, and we are all neighbors, should complain when they see their neighbors hard-pressed by oppression. Final thought: If your grandfather was a full-blooded Blackfoot, then doesn't that actually make you 25% Blackfoot? What have you done to honor the people today?
2007-03-07 05:53:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Who says USA treats Native Americans in a certain way. I am American Indian/Cherokee and Blackfoot plus Scots/Irish. I could have gone to college under the umbrella of being an Indian, but, I didn't want to look for all the proof. My dad did a family history and we came from all over. I think one of us is part smurf.
2007-03-05 10:30:02 · answer #3 · answered by dtwladyhawk 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wannabes are far too many...
I don't claim to be anything other what and I am, I would look idiotic to do otherwise. We all have to live as who we were born to be, whether some people like that or not, just the way it is. I was not born into or raised within the culture, so I don't claim to be L/Dakota, I don't take it any farther then just including it with all the rest of my heritage if I am rambling it off to someone (ok and having some curiosity about it), though I'm glad it's there to include. Heck, I don't think I'm MOSTLY anything...
100% Mutt, equal percent human, that is me. : )
2007-03-06 09:34:22 · answer #4 · answered by Indigo 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Our whole nation feels guilty about the genocide of Native Americans. Claiming Indian blood makes them feel like somehow their great grandparents did not participate in the slaughter. It's a way to push the guilt off on others and try to ignore the reality of what happened.
2007-03-05 10:31:53 · answer #5 · answered by Buffy Summers 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I don't know...it's just embarrassing. I had an uncle like that, he decided that our family was....guess?....that's right!!!! Cherokee!
He grew his hair long and wore Native jewelry. He had a screw loose.
I swear every low life white person swears their Cherokee. I have to hold back the laughter on almost a daily basis since I moved to Texas.
2007-03-05 10:48:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
im not native american ,, im caucasian american, direct descendant of irish immigrants and dont' give a rats behind about who was on this land before that ... native american or otherwise cause whoever it was wasnt smart enough or ambitious enough to bring this country into the 21st century without the help of smart white boys so put that in your pipe and smoke it chief.
2007-03-05 10:27:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
There are the scholarships and other perks that come with having native American roots.
2007-03-05 10:30:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
Because they broght over rats. Rats get into everything. They destoy and eat anything in there way.
2007-03-05 10:28:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's a way for them to feel less guilty about what whites have done in the past, even though they shouldn't feel guilty at all.
2007-03-05 10:54:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋