#stereotyped

The overall image of the "Cherokee" is a false one- of headdresses, tipis, pictures of "sexy Indian women", historical pictures of random Plains tribes, "traditional Cherokee patterns" that are obviously Navajo or West Coast.

When will non-natives (specifically whites) realize that Tsalagi is not a crude tattoo of a skull in a war bonnet? When will they see the three sisters crops, the prayerful hunting traditions, the respect for the Earth and those who will come after you, the family community structure, the boldness, the resilience, the beautiful language, the Green Corn celebrations, the stories, the songs, the dances, the unending respect for each other, your ancestors, your spirituality, and yourself?

We did not wear war bonnets. We wore top knots and feathers, or braids and beads, ribbon shirts, turbans, tear dresses, beautiful jewelry. We did not make totem poles. We made intricate woven baskets, pottery, beadwork lost to time and memory. We did not live in tipis. We lived in thatched roof houses made of wood and mud, and then log cabins, all in planned and fixed community. And again, and again, we are not a "red-skinned" people- we come in a rainbow of skin colors!

We were and are so beautiful. We are still here. We are unique, just like every Indigenous people group across the world is different and beautiful and important. We are Tsalagi.

Please respect us as we are.

Mesmerised you’re staring at the street lights

Looking at my phone, waiting for a notification

Or a text message, I just want a conversation

I just need that, real feedback, please feed my ego

Cause psychologically my family got me feeling feeble”

Raw Lines From The Internet

💌🕊️  //  stereotypcd  asked :  " If  the  zoo  bans  me  for  hollering  at  the  animals  I  will  face  god  and  walk  backwards  into  hell . "

“  oh  my .  ”    well ,   how   else   is  she  to  respond  to  that  sort  of  statement--   without  laughing  at  least .   of  course ,   debbie  might  very  well  be  serious ;  and  while  heaven  and  hell  can  cater  to  themselves ,   she’d  rather  not  have  the  other  get  herself  into  trouble  with  mortal  law .