Michelle Williams criticised by Native Americans
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Michelle Williams has been accused of being disrespectful
to Native Americans after dressing up as a Native American
women for the magazine AnOther . NA Journalist
Ruth Hopkins accused Williams of appearing
in "redface" and
Native American Journalists Association stated:
http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/03/14/michelle-williams-redface/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ew%2Fpopwatch+%28Entertainment+Weekly%2FEW.com%27s%3A+PopWatch%29
What do you think? Is Williams' costume an offensive
stereotype of Native Americans, or a legitimate
artistic statemen?
to Native Americans after dressing up as a Native American
women for the magazine AnOther . NA Journalist
Ruth Hopkins accused Williams of appearing
in "redface" and
Native American Journalists Association stated:
In regard to the Michelle Williams photo shoot, anytime a non-native person dresses up as a Native American this leads to problems like:
1. That Native people don’t care about people playing dress up
2. It perpetuates the stereotype that all Native people look like this
3. That Native people do not exist or even comparisons to mythical creatures perpetuates this myth.
http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/03/14/michelle-williams-redface/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ew%2Fpopwatch+%28Entertainment+Weekly%2FEW.com%27s%3A+PopWatch%29
What do you think? Is Williams' costume an offensive
stereotype of Native Americans, or a legitimate
artistic statemen?
0
Comments
Are kids still interested in Cowboys and Indians anymore?
All the small kids I know are more interested in superheroes
or pirates.
As for the outfit: NA commentators have pointed out that
Native American communities in the US are extraordinarily
diverse, so they feel donning a few feathers and necklaces
etc, (often from completely different tribes)
and passing that off as a "Native American" costume
is misrepresenting their people.
For a comparsion, imagine if whenever
people dressed up as "Europeans", they donned Flamenco
hats, Aran Sweaters, kilts and clogs.
To make things worse, Williams made a comment
likening Native Americans to "Munckins" in a
recent interview:
http://www.thenation.com/blog/173292/native-americans-are-not-munchkins-open-letter-michelle-williams
True. I could never understand why Katie got more attention at the time.
She was awful in Dawson's Creek. By the end of the series it was basically Joey's Creek with guest appearances by the others.
That's when a White actor dons make-up to portray
a Native American-similar to "Blackface" and
"Yellowface". The pratice used to be very
common in Westerns, but now it's disapproved
of, because it stops NA actors getting work.
The only place where I saw 'redface' mentioned was in the EW Pop Watch article saying she donned redface, I didnt recall it asking viewers their opinions on red face or to gauge 'how much red face she donned'.
Anyway, it's an American Indian thing (or the more politically correct term Native American), not a British one. I"m not sure how some of you can comment on what is or what is not appropriate. I'd say the same to to white Americans. If these groups say they are offended, then believe them. You don't have to feel the same.
btw, my mothers side is from the Fort Peck reservation in eastern Montana and I am half Assinaboine and Sioux. Her side of the family still lives there as does she.
I personally am not offended by this. Not every Native American is.
I agree with this. It has been lately said a few times, that donning a costume which has cultural or some other significance to a minority group, it would be best not to wear that costume or whatever it is. Didn't No Doubt get tons of backlash for a music video just recently? And Victorias Secret as well?
Yes, I think Gwen as well as Victorias Secret were criticized too. I didn't want to sound condescending or anything. I mean, I would never personally try to know what it is like being Black or to tell them they shouldn't take something personally lol.
I think this is simply a new era in these sensitive issues and we have to try to put ourselves in their place and see their point. What was once done years ago is looked upon differently. I wonder had Cher done her 'Half Breed' video now would it be criticized? She does claim some American Indian heritage from her mothers side though. dunno. Looking at it again, I do not think it would be warmly accepted..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NZbkuPi2_Y
There is another issue brewing and that is with the American football team name of Washington Redskins and cries of them asking for it to be changed. And yes, they've had it for decades (the name), but still, American Indian groups do feel negativity towards the term 'redskins' . I guess that is akin to using 'chinaman' 'yellow' or others..
Per wiki on 'redskin':
I wanted to explain when I said "I was not offended, not all Native Amerians are". Personally, I was born and raised in California, never ever lived in Montana and always lived a well off middle class existence. My mother was brought to California from Montana just before I was born as my father (from California) was in the Air Force stationed in Montana at the time. I never really grew up with that strong tie to the land so that is partly why I am not offended. My mother also did not instill a lot of cultural awareness with me. To her, getting off the reservation was a good thing, So I simply just do not have the same reaction to this as someone tied to that life does. She moved back there a few years ago as her ties were far stronger after all these years.