As a black man who is also of Cherokee descent, I know that Native Americans come in many different complexions. Like many people of color, a history of colonization, rape, and interracial unions has resulted in Native Americans ranging in hue, from as dark as I am to as light as Elizabeth Warren. Therefore, in last Thursday’s debate I found Senator Scott Brown’s assertion that Warren “clearly is not” an American Indian to be both ridiculous and offensive. Just exactly how does one identify an American Indian?
Second, Brown’s insinuation that being a person of color is “an advantage” flies in the face of social-science data. Native Americans are particularly disadvantaged in the United States.
Comments
Listen Mr. Associate Professor, Affirmative action is an advantage enjoyed by minorities. Lieawatha Warren has been vetted by real (as opposed to associate) genealogist and found to be distinctly non-minority.
I am writing to air my disgust at Scott Brown’s focus on Elizabeth Warren’s racial heritage in the campaign for the U.S. Senate. Like Warren, I have Cherokee ancestry, but no official documents ‘proving’ my Indian blood. Guess why? My ancestors were busy trying to hide their identities for fear of discrimination. Yet Scott Brown claims the ability and authority to deny people like Elizabeth Warren and me our family history based on the fairness of our skin (“as you can see, she’s not” Indian, he said of Warren). In the year 2012, in the state of Massachusetts, this odious race-based campaigning has no place. Scott Brown should be ashamed.
As a fellow hyphenated American I couldn’t agree more. If Ms. Warren used vague claims of Native American heritage to further her career that is between her and her employer. How dare Scott Brown challenge her heritage based on the color of her skin. The man is clearly a racist.
Warren said that her high cheek bones are because of her heritage. Could that be how one identifies as a Native American?
I was embarassed for Scott Brown when he made that statement, and very disappointed at his ignorance. This line of attack has shown me that he is not the decent, regular guy that he purports to be.