Ending Native American Stereotypes

Change comes from truths about the past and revelations

The public’s perceptions and beliefs about Native Americans was generated, in large part, from a sad and tragic history, political actions, Evangelical Christianity, and various media sources for centuries. Television was one venue in which stereotypes were delivered to the public. In the 1960’s there were three major TV networks; CBS, NBC, and ABC. The major fare was variety shows like the Ed Sullivan, the Sunday creature feature, westerns and war movies. Series like Gun Smoke, the Wonderful World of Disney, or sit coms like Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best were family orientated.

The depiction of Native Americans

Native Americans were portrayed as marauding bands of savages roaming the territories and attacking farmsteads and those heading West in wagon trains, with a trail of bodies and burned buildings left behind. Bare chested wearing buckskin pants or loin cloths, warriors bore down on settlers with whooping screeches, quivers of arrows on their backs and bows waving, faces marked with war paint. They were often seen with scalps hanging from their waists or waving tomahawks. The Calvary always tracked and killed the ‘savages’, with thankful citizens applauding their saviors as heroes.

Common phrases included “the only good injun is a dead injun”, “brown skinned heathens”, “murdering savages ”, and similar dialogue by all white casts. Actors playing the role of Indians…