Native American Native American StereotypesStereotypes

American LiteratureAmerican Literature

Perhaps no culture has been more misrepresented Perhaps no culture has been more misrepresented and stereotyped than the Native American culture. and stereotyped than the Native American culture. When we think of Native Americans, the term When we think of Native Americans, the term Indian Indian comes to mind as well as an image of a comes to mind as well as an image of a warrior on horseback, with a feathered headdress warrior on horseback, with a feathered headdress flowing in the wind. In reality, Native Americans flowing in the wind. In reality, Native Americans and their cultures are just as diverse as all other and their cultures are just as diverse as all other cultures.cultures.

Common StereotypesCommon Stereotypes

Here are some facts to help dispel common Here are some facts to help dispel common stereotypes: stereotypes:

Native Americans speak different languages Native Americans speak different languages and have uniquely different culturesand have uniquely different cultures

More than 2000 different languages, cultures, and value More than 2000 different languages, cultures, and value systems existed within the Native American tribes systems existed within the Native American tribes before the settlers arivedbefore the settlers arived

Native Americans have been stereotyped since Native Americans have been stereotyped since the first immigrantsthe first immigrants

Early settlers wrote about Native Americans as one, not Early settlers wrote about Native Americans as one, not a diverse groupa diverse group

Early settlers saw Native Americans as primitive and Early settlers saw Native Americans as primitive and savage due to cultural differencessavage due to cultural differences

Early settlers tried to convert Native Americans to Early settlers tried to convert Native Americans to Anglo culture and Christianity. When this failed, they Anglo culture and Christianity. When this failed, they deemed them as a barrier to civilizationdeemed them as a barrier to civilization

Early American writers developed a frontier Early American writers developed a frontier writing formula that depicted Native writing formula that depicted Native Americans as “savages” in order to justify Americans as “savages” in order to justify their elimination from their native lands, a their elimination from their native lands, a sacrifice to Western expansion.sacrifice to Western expansion.

Literature during this time is loaded with stories of Literature during this time is loaded with stories of Native Americans burning, looting, raping, and scalping Native Americans burning, looting, raping, and scalping the pioneers who were pursuing "manifest destiny."the pioneers who were pursuing "manifest destiny."

Actual and exaggerated stories of atrocities by Native Actual and exaggerated stories of atrocities by Native Americans upon white settlers (with no mention of the Americans upon white settlers (with no mention of the reverse) established a strong hatred of them as the reverse) established a strong hatred of them as the impediment to the advancement of white civilization in impediment to the advancement of white civilization in the west.the west.

Early LiteratureEarly Literature

American media continues to perpetuate American media continues to perpetuate

Native American stereotypes.Native American stereotypes. Tonto (which suspiciously means "stupid" in Spanish), Tonto (which suspiciously means "stupid" in Spanish),

the Lone Ranger's "faithful" Indian companion, was one the Lone Ranger's "faithful" Indian companion, was one of early TV's favorite characters on the show The Lone of early TV's favorite characters on the show The Lone Ranger.Ranger.

Westerns, which still air today, portray Native Westerns, which still air today, portray Native Americans as flat, interchangeable characters without Americans as flat, interchangeable characters without depth.depth.

Media StereotypesMedia Stereotypes

Media Stereotypes Cont’dMedia Stereotypes Cont’d

The noble, stoic stereotype of the Native American. Not The noble, stoic stereotype of the Native American. Not all Native Americans fit this description, just as not all all Native Americans fit this description, just as not all Americans fit the idea of a Southerner.Americans fit the idea of a Southerner.

The “warrior.” Mascots perpetuate this stereotype. The “warrior.” Mascots perpetuate this stereotype. Native Americans never were and are not the Native Americans never were and are not the bloodthirsty savages early settlers portrayed them to be.bloodthirsty savages early settlers portrayed them to be.

When is the last time you saw a Native American as a When is the last time you saw a Native American as a positive, dynamic character in a major movie or T.V. positive, dynamic character in a major movie or T.V. show?show?