re: #33 wheat-dogg

Americans have romanticized Native Americans to a large extent, while completely misunderstanding Native culture and European colonists’ responsibility in nearly wiping them out. It’s part of the “noble savage” notion originating in 17th century Europe — that “primitive” peoples were somehow more pure and innocent than the “civilized” peoples of Europe.

Also, the Native people were never enslaved by whites, AFAIK, so there would be no disgrace in admitting Native heritage.

In a racist’s hierarchy, Native Americans are “better” than African-Americans. So, having some Native ancestry would not be as embarrassing as admitting African heritage, because of the whole slavery thing. (I suppose. I don’t claim to be an expert in the BS that is white supremacy.) You have to remember that white supremacists believe there is a hierarchy of races, with blacks at the bottom. I’m not sure if the “noble savage” trope ever included Africans kidnapped from their homelands.

It’s also worth noting that most people claiming Native ancestry probably have none at all. Often, it’s a family legend passed without question from one generation to the next. Elizabeth Warren is just one notable example.

oh yes, native americans most assuredly were enslaved by whites. the problem is that it turned out they died rather quickly when compelled to work 12 hours a day in a boiling sun working on cotton, tobacco, sugar cane. Black people became the slave of choice because after surviving a trip across the Atlantic, chained to a ship deck, genetics pretty much killed off any weak ones. And black skin and a brutally humid home climate also worked in their favor for life under a boiling sun.