They called my children ‘Prairie Niggers’
By Ivan Star Comes Out
Native Sun News Today Columnist
nativesunnews.today
Our eldest daughter, now in her 40s, attended one the state’s public school in Deadwood, just prior to the town got into gaming. There, she endured some totally unfounded stereotypes and vile racial fanaticism by a majority of the non-native student body. She was called “Prairie Nigger” and that, by itself, illuminates the general attitude of non-native children within the state.
We’ve had problems with non-native professional staff there with our own children at that time. My oldest son left and graduated from Pine Ridge High School and my daughter stayed at Oelrichs and graduated. Both of them are now working out of state, one in Minnesota and the other in New York State. They are holding jobs, maintaining their own residences, and paying their taxes and bills.
I guess one could say they are tirelessly striving for that illusive great “American dream.” Ideally, this is purported to be available apply to every American. Realistically, though, it is the opposite. As natives, we have to work extra hard. Where a non-native’s one degree works, we have to have two or more degrees and still not be accorded the same level of happiness.
I am making this point here in the hope that it will effect positive change in good people. Also to help change the negativity that results from the traumatic effects of this highly contemptible racism for natives.
The racial intolerance my children experienced had a lesson in it and they made the best of it. Essentially, racism does exist in nearly all institutions of this “Great Faces, Great Places” state, including education. It is more than a case of implementing rules to further the narrow-minded, as opposed to open-minded, non-native personal prejudices of professionals, paraprofessionals, and employees.
However, as difficult as it was for my children a few years ago, they managed and survived to continue living their young lives. They struggled a bit but eventually they did not let it alter their future as they continue to struggle. Actually, they have become wiser and stronger for it.
Unfortunately, our grandchildren now attend the same state public school in Oelrichs. We can only hope their experience (s) will not be negative and that they will be able to graduate there. The racism has always been present and it will prevail far into the future. Our grandchildren and great grandchildren are next to deal with the strange unfound bigotry.
Anyway, as a “Prairie Niggers,” my parents endured the very same bigotry in their lives but they endured and made sure we would be able to tolerate the racist attitude and behavior. I and my family have become acclimated to this now open angry behavior. As we enter the 21st century, I and the wife are highly experience as we are now in the next to last stages of our lives.
As children, young adults, parents, grandparents, and now great grandparents, we try hard every day to ensure this bigotry does not negatively affect our ensuing generations. The only reason I am airing my family’s “dirty laundry” here is to share. Sharing or talking about such things helps to maintain a healthy attitude toward this unnecessary and unfounded racism towards “people of color.”
In fact talking openly about it is the only way to cope with the pain and anger. Therapists use this method of coping in treating alcoholism, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have used it to cope effectively and positively with racism. Talking and honesty are “God-given” gifts but too many of us fail to use them. Instead, implement a variety of facades from being “tough, to “innocent victims.”
The racism will never go away, but talking about it helps me to cope with it and stay healthy. The other element to overcoming the destructive pain of vile racist acts is to understand why they do what they do. Most of the time, these hate groups do not understand why they do it. Most have troubled childhoods and they either learned to hate from their parents or other far-right racists.
Ivan F. Star Comes Out can be reached at P.O. Box 147, Oglala, South
Dakota, 57764; via phone at 605-867-2448 or via email at
mato_nasula2@outlook.com.
Copyright permission Native Sun News Today
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