“IF You Aren’t Native Keep Your Hands Off Our Culture” Native American Woman Goes Toe to Toe With Black Twitter And Gets Dragged

When Twitter user, Cheyanne, came across a picture of rapper, Omeretta The Great, dressed in Native American attire she went off, and rightfully so.

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Cheyenne held nothing back:

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Screenshot 20170810 164529She came for a black woman about cultural appropriation and Black Twitter came for her.

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Cheyenne is absolutely right, and it’s disrespectful AF to dress in native attire, especially in costume. Lisa wrote about this very issue last year around halloween (read HERE), and got dragged by black folks talking about “I’m part Indian.” It’s tired AF, and it ain’t cute. Native Americans have suffered enough at the hands of folks who want to take what is theirs. Also, FYI, ain’t noting cute or magical about the REAL Pocahontas. Don’t let the disney fairytale fool you. Read about her short, tragic life HERE.

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What’s also surprising and frustrating is that whenever we get called out for doing the same ish we get mad about (*cough cough* black face ) we get defensive and try to counter with the idea that dressing as native is somehow showing appreciation for the culture. If folks want to appreciate native culture, you should ask a native american how to do so.

Share your thoughts below!

 

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19 Comments

  1. Unapologetic Indigenous says:

    First off they’re are not real native Indians, secondly they’ve slaved us too. And furthermore reservation, was a reserved land , they got by aiding their fellow brothers Asiatic Siberian, is a white man as well. The buffalo soldiers are the reason most was saved. Them Negroes saved your so called native culture. We the Indigenous peoples, will not apologize for your culture being represented by us. Why should we apologize to you guys ? Y’all slaved us too and we fought wars for you people too. Y’all cheated us out of our own land too. All of you owe us. Let’s start with respect first that is due and land, coins, and most of all our identies back.

    1. Well I wanted to add my thoughts on it, but you pretty much summed it up and very respectful too. So I think I’m going to smile and keep scrolling then.

    2. I can tell you have not read the history of the buffalo soldiers.
      American Plains Indians who fought against the soldiers referred to the black cavalry troops as “buffalo soldiers” because of their dark, curly hair, which resembled a buffalo’s coat and because of their fierce nature of fighting. The nickname soon became synonymous with all African-American regiments formed in 1866.
      These African-American regiments spent over 25 years engaged in fighting Native Americans, mapping unexplored lands, and opening the West for settlement. Unfortunately, the Buffalo Soldiers received little recognition for their service on the frontier.
      Sorry, the pretendians are not Indigenous to this continent, maybe in Africa. I’m indigenous & my people are from this continent & I can tell you this, our hair is real, straight & shiny, we don’t need to wear wigs to make a braid. We are the real deal. Nothing on us is fake. We indigenous don’t shop from Amazon, our clothing, moccasins, beadwork or any daily objects we use is from Amazon.
      We are peaceful people, we are not hostile people. Pretendians want to steal & claim another identity but can’t back up their claims or speak of any history, stories, ceremonies, culture, dialects, lineage, connections, artifacts. Etc. of their so called indigenous people.
      Pretendians are some lost souls who have identity crisis going on. I feel sorry for those who lost themselves.

  2. Kea Brown says:

    Maybe she wasn’t “native american” by DNA but did the young lady truly know that to be fact before she assumed she wasn’t. There are black indingenous…I know because I come from them!

    1. exactly… truthfully we are the same ppl blacks and natives. The original Native Americans are dark. Not being funny the darker ones are the originals. Folks need to stop wit the color mess. I believe some of the lighter ones are not who they think they are honestly.

    2. You said you came from them, who is them? If you came from a tribe? What is your tribe? Where are your people? Why don’t you post the pictures of your trbe? What dialect do you speak? What’s your culture? What are the stories of your people? What history do your people have in this continent? Anybody can say they are indigenous, do you know how many tribes there are in this continent? Back up your claim if you say who you are and your people are.

  3. Don’t hate on the Black WOMAN. How do you know if Native American is not in her DNA? It is in mine and I’m as Brown as she is. Now you are assuming. How do you know she does not know the actual history… If any race of people could wear the the Native American the African American should be able to. The Runaway Slaves and the Buffalo Shoulders stood with each other and to this day there are Black Native Americans.

  4. I am with her on the cultural appropriation of Native peoples. I have to ask though, should we not be purchasing their authentic products (ie earrings, clothing, bowls, baskets)? Are those just for ppl within their community to purchase? Asking for a friend.

  5. Sunsh9ne76 says:

    I agree with Cheyanne. I am African American. Right is right and wrong is wrong! How would a black person feel if if a Native American, Caucasian, Hispanic, ANYONE made Harriet Tubman look like a stripper? We would react and ask questions later, if at all.
    Real talk: Do unto others…

  6. I too agree with Cheyenne and am appalled by the likeness of the comments here and on Twitter that resemble the language used by white people when cultural appropriation of black culture is the topic. The appropriation that happens here is that the “costume” this rapper is wearing is not authentic Native American attire. If she were actually native and disrespecting her own culture then that is absolutely her choice but if she’s not native then it is appropriation of the more severe variety because of the over sexualized images of natives she’s portraying. If it’s not ok when it’s done to us, then it’s not ok when it’s done by us. Period.

  7. Terri Thomas says:

    I just can’t sympathize with Cheyenne, because the true native Americans were black. The “Native Americans” of today are of Mongol (and most likely white) ancestry; hell, there are even white people claiming to be Native Americans. I just think it’s ironic that “Native Americans” cry about white people stealing their land when they stole the true Native Americans’ identity. Although, most of them really don’t know.

    1. Sources for the real native Americans being black please.

    2. If y’all were the true indigenous people from this continent, why don’t any of you blk folks speak any tribe’s dialects, you don’t have stories, history, artifacts, our music, flutes, foods, etc. Where are your so called indigenous people today? The costumes y’all be wearing from Amazon is not authentic, ours are and we have straight real hair, we don’t wear wigs to braid our hair.
      Y’all hate yourselves that much that y’all want to steal our identity but don’t have a clue of our cultures our dialects, nothing of indigenous. We are civilized, peaceful people. Big difference between the blks & the indigenous ppl. We’re not hostile people, you don’t see us on the news every day always committing crimes. You are not us but we’re flattered that so many blks want to be us.
      Zebras can’t change their stripes just like y’all blk folks can’t change who y’all are.

  8. Terri Thomas says:

    That “black Pocahontas” is probably more native American than Cheyenne.

  9. I’m labeled as African American and so is my grandmother. But in actuality, she is full blooded black foot Indian! This girl need to be quiet and get educated before she opens her mouth again.

  10. I hope this poor ignorant girl now does her research to find who she and we really are and stop paying so much attention to what society and her parents have told her smh??‍♂️

  11. Eric Johnson says:

    Wow. 1st off… what the girl is wearing in the picture above in 2019 is not offensive. She is dressed and covered. There is nothing sexual, abusive, derogatory, etc. in those photos above. 2nd, African American’s and true Native Americans have a lot in common in 2019. Both have lost much of their culture, identity, religion, land, etc. Both should bond together as their history on this land is intertwined. Now, those whom have paid to be on Dawes Rolls, have no ethnic color, can trace your roots to other countries past the early 1800s… shut up, you have no dog in this debate. Today, I go by African American. However, I know my early 1800s family genealogy / history includes 2 African slaves, at least 1 white plantation owner, and all the rest of the 32 4th grandparents are listed as people of color. Both my grandmothers stated that they were native. However, neither of their families were ever listed on Dawes Rolls. Don’t be distracted by side issues, we all need to move forward toward peaceful progress, living in harmony, and maintaining a more natural balance and order.

  12. If your not native leave it alone. Trying to look it is not living it. There is too much fake out there. Come to a pow wow. Visit a reservation. Read history.

  13. Here in 2023, I agree with both Eric Johnson and Greg. Indigenous peoples and indigenous cultures much like what we call black culture and blackness are always up for grabs…commercially…by others. It is foolish to pretend there is no hypocrisy or a double standard in participating in any form of over-commercialization the harms rather than benefits those who are being marginalized.

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