Native Americans upset with OutKast
 

This is an article I found.

LOS ANGELES, CA (02.13.04) -- You know when Outkast's Andre 3000 hopped around onstage at the Grammy's in front of a bright-green tepee--his backup dancers (barely) clothed in feathered headbands and matching fringed hot pants--and you thought to yourself, "Ooh, somebody is not going to like this"? Well, somebody didn't like it.

As CBS' coporate boss got chewed out Wednesday in Washington D.C., for airing Janet Jackson's bare right breast during the Super Bowl, the San Francisco-based Native American Cultural Center called for a boycott of the network for airing Outkast's "racist" "Hey Ya!" production number for the Grammys.

"We're not attacking Outkast as artists," the groups chairman Andrew Brother Elk said Wednesday, "They can go out and make fools of themselves if they want to, but we are going to question the commercialization of our symbols."

Specifically, the group is taking issue with the "fake tepee," the headdresses, the braided wigs and the "war paint" as smeared on the faces of the University of Southern California marching band, whose members also took part in the number.

Brother Elk cited the use of feathers, sacred symbols of Native Americans, as a particular abuse. He said he understood if a majority of Grammy viewers missed the distinction.

"If people were wearing yarmulkes and the Hasidic dress and bumping and grinding, we would see that as ridiculous," Brother Elk said.

The group is questioning why under-fire CBS didn't see the routine as "ridiculous" or worse. "Our point is: How could no one...say, 'This is not entertainment, this is racism?" Brother Elk said.

Too many people get offended by too much stuff nowadays...

That Makes No Sense In My Opinion

what would people say if eminem and some white dancers dressed up like black panthers and danced around a cotton bush...

i think native americans have a right to a little respect....

{Peace}

tru dawh natives get mah respect

It's like if those dancers were in hijabs (except more scantily clad). Or nuns outfits (which probably has been done before). Or any other religious/cultural things that are held in high stead by a particular religion or culture.

It's a fucking feather.

I write with them, sue me.

^Er, yes... feathers is what ruffled the Native American, um...feathers.

I don't think society has quite reached that stage yet.

You need to respect their culture. Granted that people are nitpicking things to find something offensive, but perhaps the feather is a very big symbol for the Native American tribes and was misrepresented by the performance.

I mean, Dre was basically acting out a stereotype Native American, so they should have the right to speak up and against it. The same way any black leader would speak up against someone doing a stereotype African American.

people are getting too bitchy these days....fuckers.
I wear one in my hat.

To make it more clear.

It wasn't just the feathers. It was the face paint and the whole dressing up which they see as a poor and offensive parody of their own culture. Hitting on parts which are seen as quite sacred.

I think the point has been made... no one who isn't ignorant is going to agree that it is ok

and anyone who is tired about standing up for human rights and political correctness is just perpetuating the disease of prejudice that plaques man...

you need to go the way of the dodo for the sake of our children

{Peace}

^^^call me ignorant... i'm not saying its okay... but i'm saying that this isn't the first time... i think the whole "outrage" has some underlying reasons in addition too. To be political correct is one thing... to sustain it is damn near impossible.

so dressing up as a native american for halloween could also be offensive, if we're going by these guidelines. It is, in a smaller magnitude, a mockery of their culture being that the intent was all in good fun and not particulary directed to anyone... I have respect for all cultures and beliefs and infact study in said fields... but this is just pushing the envelope... the whole situation is not even actively practiced nowadays. if anyone is familiar with san diego, we have casinos on reservations... one casino promotes a water-show where they have a story about a native american who attempts to seek the spirit of water to allow it to rain because his people and land are in dire need of its sources... this native am. in mock attire and bare feet, goes as far as doing a "rain dance"... now that just screams stereotype, not to mention that this happens every night at 9:00 pm on their own land. to me thats disrespectful... yes i can see how the performance could be offensive to some, but if thats permitted as grounds for racism, than can it be said that white rappers are mocking the one thing that black people can really call their creation? yes this is far fetched and to an extent not plausible, but this is really an excuse for some limelight and 15 mins of fame. i really didn't see anything that could be a direct or personal offense other than generalization or more importantly hasn't been done before... i'm not saying that well if everyone is doing it its okay... no its not okay... and they have every right to be offended, heck if i was them i may have been offended too... BUT my point is you can't pick and chose your battles... if you stand for a cause (in this one misrepresentation of native americans) whole heartedly, at least enough to profess nationally that censorship fucked up and missed another taboo, you should stand high everytime.... even when it doesn't deal with huge conglumorates... how serious can you be taken? fight all your battles

no hate... just my opinion...

i know a native he said that this was ignorant

ALRIGHT ALRIGHT....let a NATIVE say why this is offensive n not a black kid who thinks he knows us

this is how it goes.....our Culture is still alive in this land(USA)...this is our country....ya feel me..

yes we do diserve respect.....WHITE PPL RUN ALL OVER US DAILY....we dont need our closedt brothers (african americans) start in on us too.....my opinion it was alright....but after reading what this fool ahead of me said....i had to let yall know

i mean...us natives cant even play a decent high school basketball game with out getting 30+ fouls in a single half...lol....us natives get no recognition....for nothing...and ppl think they can jus run all over us like we aint shit....so all ya black folks dont hate on natives....cuz Natives n Blacks need to stick together if we ever get another BUSH.....lmao




P.S. i bet us Native teams can take you black teams...hahaha

we got hops too man...lmao

well i think it was stupid to get ya panties all wodded up i mean shit they ain't racists u just stupid

AND WHAT THE FUCK IS U WIT RAIN DANCES>.....DONT YALL FOOLS KNOW THATS JUS A DANCE THEM STUPID WHITE PPL MADE UP LMAO........Dumb asses lol

aight, I'm native american and i find this extremely discriminating, the "feather" has nothin to do with our culture like "rap" music would with blacks or "scarfs" with indians...
the feather, especially to certain tribes, is like the crucifix, but it is a symbol to our people and the Great Spirit, wat you call God...
All who is religious in here who makes fun of the feather, is, in turn, makin fun of God and that makes you a hypocritical heresy who will burn, that is your fault...
now, when it comes to the fact that they took so many symbols from us, twisted it around wit colors that aren't actually true to reality, that is pure discrimination...
non tha matter, i am not worried about OutKast as being racists as they do this wit all cultures, includin white and black, and i will continure to listen to them, it is music creativity...

But no one cares about the Natives anymore. Outkast got their name back into the limelight. They should be happy.

:laugh:

I cut my own Quills and weather them, and write with them. Is that discrimination. Just wondering...

no, it's not, I can use a crucifix as a way to hold up a Shot Trap and nobody would care, it was the effect that they were trying to portray that was wrong, we wear a number of feathers to show how close we are to the Great Spirit and they had no right to do that since they don't believe in it...

Man, people can argue about natives respect all they want but the thing is people just lookin for ways to make a few bucks off of something they find "offensive". Outkast wasnt even trying to be native american, if you saw the performance they were supposed to be aliens or somethin...but i mean i got no problem if native americans find it disrespectful, im just sayin...people want a perfect world, well thats damn near impossible to do

So no one has a right to use a feather because we don't believe in it??? well thats pretty stupid. did whilst the show think to yourself "hey this fuckermother is mocking my beliefs?"... fuck no. and i bet when you saw the grammys... you were boppin your head to the beat of his performance.

i dunn like outkast, so they need to get arrested for hate crimes...
someone needs to make a law under which they can then be prosecuted!
a Law that covers andy and all aspects of before the law and crap, and any body who thinks what they did was okay...red scare style...

sounds racist to me...

mwhahahahahahaha
oukast=racist

Yep, now those darned Red Indians have got some publicity...they can build a revolution on it. Maybe Marlon Brando will hobble over and join them...could be a useful sandbag equivalent, eh?


You're not seeing it within the context of things.

It's not about a singualar reference. Like 'writing with a quill'. Actually, it's amusing how one takes it to that context. I mean...what the feck?

Secondly, the reason they feel the need to make the fuss can be explained by how society works today. It is needed. Political correctness to an extent is needed. I'm not politically correct as such. But i understand what it is, and why it is needed.

I think angellicar explained a lot in her post. Though it is what it is. And it was more out of ignorance. Nonetheless, it isn't really right. It shows seemingly systematically their ways have in many wayhs been bastardised. Mainly by others (er, 'the man'...).

me? a female? nope, do not pass go, do not collect any sence of political correctness :thumbup:

as for tha ignorance and tha post about every "feather use" as a discrimination, i was talkin about as a banded headdress, i mean I personally could care less wat they do, i've already explained it to be thier musical creativity, something I have no need to attack verbally, i do it myself, i don't believe in Jesus but i talk about him all tha time and his crucifixion, don't I? I did even in this thread, i just feel like it's a good idea to use in a song like they use such other things in their performances...

as for liking the performance, i did, and i have and always will like Outkast music, they keep my head boppin wit those creative beats and their mix of underground and industry material lyrics, i have no hate for them or their music...

I hope I cleared some stuff here and will pass the mic on...

^Heh. Sorry, yer name just sounds a bit feminine. As i'm sure mine might to some 80 year old Chinese-Mongolian village peasant.

Okay, so what you're saying is you don't mind people doing all that. But people have the right, and SHOULD protest against it. If yes, i agree. If no...elaborate. My head feels quite hollow at the moment.

no need to elaborate, your on point, if a person does not feel it right, he SHOULD protest against it, i just could care less...

my name supposed to be:

angellical as in "like an angel"
and R for "Revised" or "Remixed" whichever sounds better...
i wanna change it though but don't know how...

Oh, well fair enough. Just had to dig a bit into your post. I appreciate what you're saying. Not totally agree with it, but nonetheless appreciate.

And ask someone in the Q/A forum to change your name.

I understand were there coming from and i see both the pro an con of the matter. it deals with how far are nation/world has slipped as far as what is and isnt exceptable.. You have to understand those are things native americans take very seriously and find offencive.

barly clothed women dressed up in feathers to help promote sex appeal and sell records with a teepee in the background is offenive to native americans.. and i understand completly.. i might be part native american, half but im not really sure...

They more than likly feel it takes away from there image as being a more moral orintied culture. I think they deserve that respect, look at how much theyve already sufferd through.. Native americans have had (i feel) more fucked things happen to them than almost any other culture, unless you count Women as there own culture. due to the fact this was THERE land.. and they have almost died out completly...

^^^ yea i agree!! very pointless post!!!

^ Thread = owned

im friends with alot of native americans and they didnt care about it. :huh:

its probabley those same people that bitch about the redskins, and indians.

even thought alot native americans i know are fans of those teams,

thats just fuckin stupid!!!!!!!!!

That kind of thing is called 'bastardisation', or something like that...

...it does go past the mere act. Onto more serious and indepth issues. Ones which have been dug deep beneath 'society' and 'the system'...i guess BY the system.

The point i get does not involve concentrating on the incident alone. For that in itself is, as many have said, relatively little. Get yer hoes out...and turn up some of the soil.

outkast got talent.....

bombs over baghdad....dopeness

tha leader makes me laff........tha tall 1...wots his name??

yo it's just a fucking theme!!!
get that into your heads!!!!!
yo missy for instance does videos with girls dressing up like people from the east indies, cause it's a theme. No one ever complained about that.
outkast was trying to put some creativity into their dance routine, so they dressed up like that. The exaggerated native warrior outfit has always been a cool, kind of sexy, they use stuff like that in strip clubs, along with school girl outfits, and cowboy outfits.
Hey wait a second, cowboy outfits are being used in a lot of things, and cowboys were some of the peops who colonized america, that's a part of american heritage.