I am certain that the sight of Confederate monuments in New Orleans being removed by a crane from their undeserving pedestals is both beautiful and historic. I am certain that the sound of the statues scraping those foundations as they are uprooted and carried off sends chills of strange comfort through the veins of onlookers. But in all their dutiful and noble glory, the removal ceremonies have missed a valuable opportunity—to include Natives in the conversation. That’s because injustice against American Indians is still sanctioned by the government and either accepted or ignored by the public. When I saw social media posts about the transcript of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s speech, I was excited to read and hear his words on such a long-awaited occasion. My entire life I have seen rebel flags flying and heard the praises of confederate generals sung—and I grew up in Indiana. So I can only imagine what it must have been like for my Black brothers and sisters of the South to have to encounter day after day, year after year, these colossal reminders that the region’s proudest moments are rooted in their dehumanization and suffering. I felt myself smiling at the thought of racists across the nation throwing tantrums over their “heroes” falling from grace. But two sentences in, a bittersweet notion was already sinking into my stomach.Read More on the Story:
Carolina Castoreno: Confederate Monuments and the ‘Invisible Indians’ (Indian Country Media Network 5/29)
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