Native Americans in Hollywood

[elray]

I think Native American's have it quite possibly the worst of any other race of people in Hollywood. They are never seen, and if/when they are it's always some Cheif Running Bear type shit. Celebrities who are part Native never make mention of it (did you know Cher is half Cherokee?). Mexicans and Indians (from india...not natives) have it pretty bad as well. but i think Native American's take the prize.
http://www.nativecelebs.com have you ever seen half of those people? no. why? because they get no realistic roles in Hollywood. Ashanti is Cherokee Indian, but in Hollywood she's looked at as "black" (which she is also...but i mean, why aren't they emphasizing that she's also half native? they're quick to mention that Christina Aguilera is part Ecuadorian, or that Shakira is part Lebonese, but no one gives a fuck if someone is Native. ASHANTI is a Cherokee name and it's obvious in her looks that she has native blood). Other celebrities who's native blood never/rarely gets mentioned: Jimi Hendrix (half Cherokee), Chaka Khan (Blackfoot tribe), Erykah Badu (once claimed she had native blood), Johnny Cash (Cherokee), Lena Horne, LL Cool J (Cherokee), Loretta Lynn (Cherokee), Tina Turner (Cherokee/Navajo), The Rock (Samoan), Tori Amos (Cherokee), Wayne Newton (Powhatan and Cherokee), Willie Nelson, Anthony Kiedis, Michael Stipe, Tiger Woods, Ananda Lewis, Iyanla Vanzant

[Asiawonda]

just reminded me of an anecdote about Native Americans/Mexicans: when they were putting the Lone Ranger TV Show together in the 40's, the producers went to Mexicans to ask them about "Indian" words. Yeah, they thought Mexicans and Natives were the same. So that's why The Lone Ranger's Indian friend is named "Tonto" which if you know spanish, means idiot. Tonto also calls him "kemo sabe." They asked the Mexicans what an Indian would call a friend, and they said, "Quien no sabe" which translates to "he who knows nothing."

[defone]

Smoke Signals, one of the first Native American movies about Native Americans with actual Native Americans. Much respect. Dances with Wolves was VERY suspect.

[axis]

I dug dances with wolves. you still had the white protagonist gettin with the only "white" indian, but outside of that it seemed to give a contrast to the typical Western's protrayal and all. Last of the Mohicans anyone?

[Hype*]

Dances With Wolves was realistic. If you read the credits there are alot of indian actors and not mexicans...overall the movie told a good story...