#blackndn

Casting call for BlackNDN / Black Native / Afro-Indigenous men and women / all ages.

E-mail to: [email protected]

Name: Phone Number:

E-mail:

Location (City, Reservation, Community)

Tribal Affilitation / Clan (Optional)

PHoto (Headshot, cellphone photo of your face is fine, no filters, no hats, no sunglasses, no friends or animals in the photos)

SUBJECT LINE: FIRST AND LAST NAME - TELEVISION SERIES

"Let's Talk About Anti-Blackness in Reservation Dogs" by Fandom Nymphs

First thing is first, do not harass this person. Any anti-blackness in the comments will be reported and you will be blocked.

I finished reading The Marrow Thieves, which features four indigenous female characters. Only one of them (Rose) passes The Aila Test. Two are raped and two are killed.

Rose is also black/Native and is the hero’s love interest, who describes her in beautiful and romantic ways all throughout the book.

#MMIW and #BLM 

“ But, of course, it’s not merely that another AAA blockbuster did digital red and blackface.

 The problem is this kind of low-key racialized aggression doesn’t end with the act itself. This casting means a Black, Native (or, god forbid, a Black Native actor) didn’t get to play an actual Black Native role (and since Rockstar likes lesser known actors, a potential breakthrough role for them). 

They didn’t get to offer any feedback or help guide the role away from the regressive stereotypes present in the game, like Michael Greyeyes (Plains Cree) was afforded with 2006’s Prey. By not casting an Indigenous actor in the role, there was no real challenge to the racism in Houser’s story or characters, and that means that challenge has to come from us, from journalists, critics, gamers. 

Dr. Joshua Sweet (Phil Morris) from Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) (dir. Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise)

National Aboriginal Day is on June 21st. If it doesn’t coincide with another event (I remember a few years back that it did with BlackOut, but was worked around), I think we should celebrate. If you’re Aboriginal / Indigenous, upload your selfies, post art, talk about Aboriginal characters that you know and love, talk about books and films made by and for Indigenous people. We are still here but we are individually unique and have our own experiences and stories to tell. 

Use #HappyAboriginalDay and spread the word.

EDIT: The date for BlackOut is June 6th. We’re in the clear!

SECOND EDIT: 

This post has gained a lot of attention over the last couple of days! Thank you to everybody who has shared and reblogged it. I want to take a moment to address a question that keeps popping up: if you are indigenous/aboriginal, you can participate if you choose to! This is not limited just to Native American / First Nations people. If you are Ainu, Maori, Saami, native Hawaiian, etc, feel free to participate! It’s great opportunity for us to represent ourselves, our cultures, our lives, our heroes, and celebrate both our differences and similarities.