Let's discuss... Native American racism!
Hi all,
I'm opening up a dialogue about this for fairly selfish reasons- my beta-reader has been going over one of the later chapters of my fanfic and is of the opinion that the racism aspect is potentially overshadowing the story.
There are indeed quite a few references in my story to tensions between Forks and La Push reservation, the tribe elders and their reaction to Bella, the dumb assumptions/jokes people can make that can really get under your skin if you're Native American and a scene in a park in Forks where Jacob gets chewed out by a woman who doesn't understand the tribal healthcare benefits.
Now, clearly, because I researched and wrote it, I didn't consider it OTT- but the whole point of a beta-reader is to see the things that you might be blind to. The problem is neither of us really have any first hand experience of the issue.
So, does anyone want to step up and offer some opinions/experience? Are you a member of a Native American tribe/nation? Are you Caucasian in an area with a reservation? Have you seen any racial tensions in this area? Have you read/had classes telling you about such incidences? Am I sounding like the BBC website when they ask for readers' opinions on news stories of the day?
Main things I discovered:
The Washington Redskins issue is a big deal: www.bluecorncomics.com/redskins.htm
The alcoholism may be a stereotype, but many stereotypes are based in a little truth: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lone_Ranger_and_Tonto_Fistfight_in_Heaven
In the 60s and 70s, race relations between US states and NA reservations were pretty dire: www.lakeviewhs.com/ourpages/auto/2010/5/5/61222270/Ch%2031_1%20Latinos%20and%20Native%20Americans%20Seek%20Equality.pdf (pg 4-6)
Mixed-relationships are contentious: www.native-languages.org/blood.htm
I'm opening up a dialogue about this for fairly selfish reasons- my beta-reader has been going over one of the later chapters of my fanfic and is of the opinion that the racism aspect is potentially overshadowing the story.
There are indeed quite a few references in my story to tensions between Forks and La Push reservation, the tribe elders and their reaction to Bella, the dumb assumptions/jokes people can make that can really get under your skin if you're Native American and a scene in a park in Forks where Jacob gets chewed out by a woman who doesn't understand the tribal healthcare benefits.
Now, clearly, because I researched and wrote it, I didn't consider it OTT- but the whole point of a beta-reader is to see the things that you might be blind to. The problem is neither of us really have any first hand experience of the issue.
So, does anyone want to step up and offer some opinions/experience? Are you a member of a Native American tribe/nation? Are you Caucasian in an area with a reservation? Have you seen any racial tensions in this area? Have you read/had classes telling you about such incidences? Am I sounding like the BBC website when they ask for readers' opinions on news stories of the day?
Main things I discovered:
The Washington Redskins issue is a big deal: www.bluecorncomics.com/redskins.htm
The alcoholism may be a stereotype, but many stereotypes are based in a little truth: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lone_Ranger_and_Tonto_Fistfight_in_Heaven
In the 60s and 70s, race relations between US states and NA reservations were pretty dire: www.lakeviewhs.com/ourpages/auto/2010/5/5/61222270/Ch%2031_1%20Latinos%20and%20Native%20Americans%20Seek%20Equality.pdf (pg 4-6)
Mixed-relationships are contentious: www.native-languages.org/blood.htm