“Drunken Indians”

Drunk Indians - No StereotypesSadly, negative stereotypes about American Indians as a whole continue to persist in western culture. Any stereotype can be hurtful and harmful. When used in regard to American Indians, stereotypes also reflect ignorance. What most people know about American Indians, they learned on TV and it is inaccurate or romanticized.

Because this is so important, we are reposting below a story that was run by Indian Country Today Media Network Staff. We hope the story will help to raise awareness and encourage everyone to think twice and examine your motives before stating what ultimately are demeaning thoughts and remarks. Even if intended to support a setting of humor, they cause harm to others.

‘Drunk Indians’ Joke Lands ‘Mike & Molly’ in Hot Water

ICTMN Staff
March 05, 2013

American Indians were blindsided by a quip on a recent episode of the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly. At one point in the show, Rondi Reed, the actress who plays Ruth, mother of Mike (Billy Gardell) and mother-in-law to Molly (Melissa McCarthy), said “Arizona? Why would I go to Arizona? It’s nothing but a furnace full of drunk Indians.”

Many Natives in Arizona, which is home to 21 federally recognized tribes, are failing to see the humor.

“It’s offensive, it’s derogatory, it’s deplorable,” Erny Zah, communications director for the President and Vice President of the Navajo Nation, told ABCNews.com. “Ignorance is one thing, but this must have passed through a lot of eyes before it appeared on a network show.”

Zah told an Associated Press reporter that it’s “easy to make fun of” people who struggle with alcoholism, but “the disease itself isn’t funny, the coming home late at night, possibly beating on family members, the absence of family members, the fear it instills in a lot of children.”

The Native American Journalists’ Association (NAJA) said in a statement at NAJA.com that “This comment shows blatant disregard for the original inhabitants of this land and perpetuates antiquated stereotypes of Native Americans.”

Both Zah and NAJA said that an apology is in order — “but it can’t fix the damage done,” Zah added.

“To me, it’s not funny making fun of a minority group,” NAJA President Rhonda LeValdo told the AP. “Are we supposed to be the entertainment for mainstream?”

Both the Associated Press and ABCNews.com solicited comment from CBS, but were declined.

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/03/05/drunk-indians-joke-lands-mike-molly-hot-water-148020

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2 Comments

  1. Posted January 3, 2015 at 1:37 pm | Permalink

    I m surprised at nothing the media does…they have no spiritual awareness.

  2. Posted January 12, 2015 at 4:03 am | Permalink

    I never did like "mike and molly" This doesn't surprise me though. Sad sad sad that they would think this is okay.

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