Anti-Racism II

CU Boulder

Week 1 Discussion Prompt #1

[Oppressive Structures Reflect on and discuss the ways in which communities in your country suffer under oppressive structures that have historically conditioned conceptions of race, such [as] Settler Colonialism in the United States.]

 Week 1 Discussion Prompt #1: Oppressive Structures

During a previous on-line course through Coursera [Racial and Cultural Diversity in Life and History, The University of Illinois], I invested a good bit of time looking into the American Indians of the West; or Native Americans, if you will; or the US Indigenous Peoples, if you prefer; or the term I’ve come to appreciate that is often used in Canada: The First Nations Peoples. I centered my research and thinking for a required paper on these folks.

I’ve been attentive to the Vids in Week 1 and have been able to fill in some gaps since then regarding Settler Colonialism. I’ve also reached for my battered copy of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee for another read-through. I’ll probably watch Dances with Wolves again as well. But I can’t help but continue to focus particularly on the Cheyenne (Northern and Southern); the various Sioux Nations—especially the Lakota and Ogallala; the Arapaho; and more locally to Southern Colorado, the Utes.

The systematic subjugation of entire native nations by continuing federal, territorial, state and private means of harassment; warfare to the point of genocide; relocation; land-grabbing; allocation of greatly reduced lands—in territory, in water and life-sustaining animals, in various desirable plants and trees, in natural beauty and general appeal— those lands generously called reservations—is nothing short of criminal. Add to that the extensive lying and manipulative subterfuge at all levels of government to the advantage of migrating white settlers, trappers, and miners; plus the continuing mismanagement and neglect of these peoples up to and including today. Such a travesty of ethical and honorable behavior and justice is shameful and cringeworthy. And I believe we as White people are correct to ascribe to a sense of ancestral guilt and responsibility. The whole business makes me ashamed and angry.