Blog # 1 Native Americans and Racailizaiton

The racialization of the Native Americans is something that seems to be a permanent symbol of representation in the US. By presenting them as savages the British were able to create a schism between them and created a hierarchy among themselves. They based their racialization on the fact that they were in a new country and did not understand how to survive. The tactics that were used to survive by the Native Americans were new to the British settlers. Their main objective was to obtain the land and create a new country. To their dismay someone was already living there, and so to remove them they first had to learn to survive and then find ways to eliminate the others. For the British they never gave off a sense of wanting to share the land. The greed of having ownership over land and starting their own country seemed to overpower their ideals for equality and a new life. In essence they were no better than the government they left in England. The racialization of skin tone, customs and religion seemed to be the main difference that the British used to show that they were better than the Native Americans. At first the British were willing to work with the Indians in order to survive nothing seemed to be wrong. It was only until the Native Americans were seen as being “in the way of progress” that they became a problem. Their basis was that they needed to establish a difference between themselves and the Native Americans, to give themselves a reason as to why they needed to eliminate them. It’s as if they needed to satisfy their conscious by using racialization as a motive. By claiming them to be savages and that their darker skin, thick hair, native head dress and apparel, and customs were something that was devilish they made them out to be “the bad guy” and eventually the “wrong” race to be. By assimilating them with bad imagery they were able to place fear and hatred into others and this is seen even in present times. In cartoons the Native Americans are always seen as being uncontrollable and animal like in their play. Even in movies Native Americans always made out to be mystical and mysterious and not of society, like aliens. Stereotypes have evolved from the racialization that was created by the British. People immediately think of casinos, poor rundown reservations and many major leagues team names. With that being said I think that the British has forever scared the image of Native Americans and because the truth isn’t taught to children early the image will not go away. I think that the true story of the Native Americans should be told in elementary schools to eliminate the racialization and for people to gain a better understanding of them.