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Why so many white Americans claim to be native? (lemmy.zip)

submitted 1 day ago by choihanna@lemmy.zip to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

50 comments fedilink hide all child comments

For some reason when I'm talking to an American from the North East and the fact that I'm mixed comes up they always say they aren't white they're actually native because his grandpa once mentioned something about a Cherokee ancestor.

It's always Cherokee, no other tribe but that one. And it's always the whitest looking person ever, straight up 6ft tall blue eyed and blond guy.

I get it, I'm mostly white too, Spanish and Slavic. But even tho I'm not mostly native American I still look native enough that people think I'm Asian.

But when your ancestry has been so diluted over the generations... You're not native. It's not just that you don't look native, it's also that you don't even participate in the culture.

Dude you're just a farm boy from Philadelphia you're probably more Amish than Cherokee, if that supposed ancestor is even real at all and not just some random claim by some of your ancestors to have a "right over these lands".

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[–] pineapple@lemmy.ml 10 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I dont even think you skin colour or genetics should have anything to do with your it. People should be identified by there personal connection with culture.

For example if white colored person was brought up in a native american tribe they should still be considered a native american.

Race has no logical basis and anyone who consideres themselves native because they have whatever% genetics is racist. Thats my take at least.

[–] evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The problem is many many native children were intentionally separated from their culture. Lots of people who would otherwise be able to speak a different language, engage in other cultural practices, etc, are unable to because of actions by the government.

Then you also have really messy cases like the descendents of people enslaved by certain tribes, who should be able to be members of the tribe, but aren't able to.

[–] pineapple@lemmy.ml 1 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

This is more related to why decolonialism is important, not why genetics/race should matter.

[–] choihanna@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Genetics do play a role and trying to pretend otherwise is disingenuous. I am visually not white, even if I don't have a connection to my Andean heritage my looks are still impacted by them.

If someone asks me why I look like I do what do you expect me to tell them?

[–] pineapple@lemmy.ml 1 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

Of course genetics play a role, I'm not saying racism isn't real. But genetics shouldn't play a role.

Why you look like you do is irrelivent. Them asking you that shows they have a flawed perspective of identity.

And this is an idealist take that is not reflective of the real world. I dont know how to talk to people or respond to a question like that in reality.

[–] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

For example if white colored person was brought up in a native american tribe they should still be considered a native american.

Not for the bigots though!