I found this article on the BBC Americas page, and was blown away that I hadn’t heard a thing about it from our local media. Maybe because I was out of touch with technology for three whole days, I could have just missed it. The article discussed a recent vote held within the Cherokee Nation on whether or not to extend the rights and privileges of Nation membership to the descendants of Black slaves owned by members of the Nation. Needless to say a resounding NO! was heard in the Nation’s community. A 76.6% of voters denied access to tribal registration, and the turnout to vote no eclipsed the last constitutional ratification vote held by the Nation. Should membership privileges be extended, then the descendants would be eligible to apply for the federal funds, housing allowances, and medical benefits. Either way I found quite interesting the juxtaposition of the use of western democracy to enact the denial of rights/benefits to a minority, previously enslaved population. It seems that unfortunately the treatment of native populations and forced assimilation to western tradition was finally successful; the mistakes of the USA have come round to being repeated, imitated, and acceptable. It really doesn’t pay to be Black in America; every culture with any leg up seems quite content to deny opportunity to those who helped put them there. How interesting that education, health care, and housing still seem so hard to come by.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6416735.stm
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2 comments:
To say that "It really doesn’t pay to be Black in America" is quite unsettling.
I understand why the statement was made, but I think to make the statement, especially when African Americans have made so many advances in our society, is unreasonable.
I've attached several links to the advancements, and status African Americans have in our society. They are not as down trodden or repressed as they once were. And, through the civil rights movements, and being empowered, have made so many contributions to our nation and world.
Indians are just now making very very small advances. They have the largest poverty rates amongst all races, the worst healthcare, highest infant mortality rates, highest alcoholic rates amongst adults, literacy rates are the lowest, and have no where near the percentages of African Americans in business ownership, fortune 500 positions held, or positions of political representation - across the board!
Though it may not seem right to you that slaves are not allowed to claim heritage, they are trying to do just as African Americans have done in the past - establish who they are, prove that they are valid human beings, and establish their right to claim their heritage.
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=February&x=20070206172244berehellek0.3748896
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=January&x=20070118134228hmnietsua0.228985
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=February&x=20070214153821xlrennef0.7142298
http://usinfo.state.gov/scv/Archive/2005/Aug/15-851612.html
I understand the the Native American population is still waaaay behind the power curve. I am very sensitive to the fact the the Native population has been terribly abused in the 'development' of our country. i supposed it just caught me off-guard to see that instead of following traditional values that the ideals of such an oppressive majority culture have been adopted in what i hope would be an opportunity to advance together. and really it isn't all that great to be black in america, regardless of the many, many advancements made. the culture and community is not as down trodden as before, but please believe that the major "come-up" of the culture still lies far away on the horizon.
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