Indianz.Com > News > James Giago Davies: Grandstanding for the white man’s money
Iyeska Journal
Grandstanding for the white man’s money
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Managing Editor, Native Sun News Today
Most people did not use logic or reason to arrive at their ideas.
So you can’t use logic or reason to talk them out of them. We are not talking about mouth breathing idiots here, but successful people, with mainstream platforms that influence others, and these people often filter their focus through a prism of issue-addled preconceptions that makes them churn out idiot product.
Recently, a filmmaker, W. Kamau Bell, who presents programming entitled United Shades of America for CNN, produced a nauseatingly schlock documentary about the Black Hills, and the efforts of tribes to get the land back. He featured Chase Iron Eyes, a convicted felon, and Nick Tilsen, a grandstanding activist who has inexplicably won the regard of lots of naïve liberals with tens of million to squander.
Because Bell is himself an activist, he is like the hammer that sees everything as a nail, he can only process struggles for social justice through the lens of an activist. He completely disregards all other aspects of the struggle and the history, even when these non-activist aspects are essential to developing even a rudimentary understanding of the issue. Bell did interview tribal chairmen. He interviewed Mario Gonzalez, the man whose 11th Hour injunction on behalf of his Oglala tribe stopped the pay out of the June 1980 judgment. None of this was included in the documentary, because who are these people who actually make the real history, who have the skill, the training, the knowledge, the contacts, the track record, who are they to think their impact equals that of Chase Iron Eyes and Nick Tilsen, who combined have accomplished exactly NOTHING in getting back Native lands, let alone getting back the Black Hills, and don’t even understand the history and struggle of those who have fought this battle since Ralph Case back in the 1920’s. Bust out the Kardashian sisters and get them activating on behalf of land back.#UnitedShades starts NOW!
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) August 15, 2022
Let’s get #LandBack trending! pic.twitter.com/hqHxtz53id
NATIVE SUN NEWS TODAY
Support Native media!
Read the rest of the story on Native Sun News Today: Iyeska Journal: Grandstanding for the white man’s money
Contact James Giago Davies at skindiesel@msn.com
Note: Copyright permission Native Sun News Today
Search
Filed Under
Tags
More Headlines
‘Nothing’s changed. Nothing’s gotten better’: President Trump’s nominee takes on Indian health
Native America Calling: A Mohawk chef on TV and a Native foods cookbook
Cronkite News: Arizona governor promises $7 million for NAGPRA work
Indian Country still on high alert over President Trump’s freeze on federal funding
Native America Calling: Federal funds under fire from President Donald Trump
Native America Calling: Balancing economic safety and development for payday loan businesses on tribal land
‘A step in the wrong direction’: President Trump’s funding freeze shakes up Indian Country
Native America Calling: From road access to ICE immigration raids, tribes are asserting sovereignty
President Trump’s ‘love’ for Lumbee Tribe only goes so far in fight for federal recognition
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week (January 27, 2025)
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation reaches trust settlement with United States
Native America Calling: Native American representation in television news
Native America Calling: Native youth building the foundation for future leadership
Republicans forced to defend record on Indian issues at start of new Congress
Native America Calling: How it started, how it’s going with Donald Trump
More Headlines
Native America Calling: A Mohawk chef on TV and a Native foods cookbook
Cronkite News: Arizona governor promises $7 million for NAGPRA work
Indian Country still on high alert over President Trump’s freeze on federal funding
Native America Calling: Federal funds under fire from President Donald Trump
Native America Calling: Balancing economic safety and development for payday loan businesses on tribal land
‘A step in the wrong direction’: President Trump’s funding freeze shakes up Indian Country
Native America Calling: From road access to ICE immigration raids, tribes are asserting sovereignty
President Trump’s ‘love’ for Lumbee Tribe only goes so far in fight for federal recognition
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week (January 27, 2025)
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation reaches trust settlement with United States
Native America Calling: Native American representation in television news
Native America Calling: Native youth building the foundation for future leadership
Republicans forced to defend record on Indian issues at start of new Congress
Native America Calling: How it started, how it’s going with Donald Trump
More Headlines