Indigenous Rising

5371ei:

Am I allowed to wear this tank top with a dream catcher on it or am I being a flaming appropriating racist? Fuck, he’s right behind me isn’t he?  (Dear First Nation People, I love you just as much as everyone else.  Do you really think I spent a shit ton of money on the piece behind me just so I could take a quick picture to piss you off on tumblr?) I just don’t see how clothing makes someone racist.  I get the headdress thing, I get how you’re angry over companies taking Native American influenced art and slapping it on a tshirt and making a profit.  I just don’t see how everyone that buys it is automatically a racist. To them it’s just a piece of clothing.  Instead of calling everyone you see racist or leaving a snide “ugh” under something they post on tumblr , instead take the time to explain to them your beef with companies stealing your heritage and selling it.  The girl at the rave with her brand new headdress daddy bought her doesn’t hate you or your people she’s just ill informed.  Like on this post, I had one guy reblog it with alot of insightful information, and then I had someone else reblog it threatening violence. Which one do you think is more likely to bring someone around to your point of view?

“Soooo according to yet another Napikwan, it’s our job to educate ignant ass motherfuckers because they apparently don’t have internet access and can’t Google cultural appropriation or some shit.”
Do I think it’s your job? No.  I just think it would be more helpful for the people that search these tags just so they can leave a shitty comment on someone’s selfie, should at least post more than “fucking racist” It takes the same amount of time to post fucking racist as it does a link.

Thank you to everyone that is replying, sure a lot of it is angry but I’m learning how people really feel.  I legitimately want to know if you saw me walking down the street in this shirt if you would find it offensive.  I see a lot of heat about people wearing head dresses, and I get the importance behind them and I can see why that offends your sensibilities.  But then I see it taken a step further where someone post about people not allowed to wear moccasins and I think to myself were do you draw the line?

Also I’m a firm believer that white people should be allowed to have dreads. (also I’m not white, okay I’m a part Irish but don’t hold that against me)

Also what about white guy in kimono with pony tail and sword?

Many Native people on tumblr do explain cultural appropriation and how it is problematic. Many Native people on tumblr even have links on their page that gives links to articles written on the subject. Tone policing, which is what you are attempting to do, does not invalidate their feelings nor does it exonerate the appropriator from researching it on their own.

by tone policing people who are offended by cultural appropriation you are justifying ignoring them and continuing to promote racism against them because they aren’t living up to your expectations.

I, for one, am hurt and offended when I see pictures of warbonnets on tshirts because the fashion designers, and the companies that sell their designs, are profiting off of stealing from Native cultures; and they are stereotyping Native cultures, and lumping us all together. We are seen as an emotion to them, “wild”, “savage”, “free”, rather than a race of people. This is dehumanizing. When a race, or group, is seen as subhuman violence and oppression towards that group is inevitable. The shirt you are wearing is disrespectful, exploitative, racist stereotype, and dehumanizing. What is more important: the way people respond to your racist behavior resulting in your hurt feelings or feelings of disapproval, or the entire race you are stereotyping?

(via 5371ei-deactivated20170515)