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Who even says “Indian” to describe Native Americans anymore?

One of my friends who is also native used that word to describe someone from a neighboring tribe and I genuinely thought he was talking about an Indian as in from India. No one says that for Native Americans anymore, at least not around here! It’s not only politically incorrect, but just plain incorrect. It’s outdated. He as a indigenous person should know that. Say indigenous or Native Americans, but don’t call us Indians anymore. It’s more offensive than being called “red” at this point. 😂

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CopperCicada · M

I'm a degenerate racist then.

I met the husband of a woman I worked with out one day. I was interested in his heritage, referred to him as a Native American. He told me to fuck off. "I'm an Indian, sir. I was born an Indian, and have been an Indian my whole life." So I referred to him as an Indian ever since.

I have an online friend who is part Native American. She's multiracial and likes that heritage to be referred to as "indigenous" as her indigenous roots come from Central America. And so I refer to that part of her identity as "indigenous".

So "who even"? I guess me.

PerchingDove · F

@CopperCicada I never said people who say it are racists. I didn't even say anything demeaning about people who do still say "Indian"! I don't understand why you and others get so defensive about this. Grow up.

CopperCicada · M

@PerchingDove In the current social narrative (American at least), it most certainly is "racist" to refer to somebody as an "Indian". And I have no argument with that, because I have no voice in this situation. I have no indigenous heritage. If I were to call somebody an "Indian" and get called out, I'd accept the correction gladly.

But a Native American frames himself as an "Indian"-- 'right. I'll give him that. I call that respect. No politics to it.

Some would say that's the right thing. Respect the man. Identify as he identifies.

Others would say that's equally as racist. I'm just perpetuating the man's colonization.

In truth, I'm not sure to what extent I get to decide that.

PerchingDove · F

@CopperCicada Well, I didn’t say that and the way you did made it seem like you’re all worked up and trying to put words in my mouth. I would never go as far as to say it’s racist to call a Native American an Indian.

Miram · 31-35, F

@CopperCicada

You're not racist. It is just a complex and heavy topic. You're also not being disrespectful at all.

I had someone message me something similar. They have an Algerian friend who calls himself Berber, he doesn't speak Tamazight even.

It took me a while to process whether to consider that bigoted or not ,but then remembered back when grand dad used to tell me " we are all Imazighan, there are just those who know they are and those who don't know..those who remember and those who forgotton" He used to say this about Algerian Arabs.

So I stopped plucking my feathers mentally and decided to accept how he calls himself. As long he is not doing it as slur and it empowers him to believe he is one, there is no harm in that.

Maybe in the future things will change, he will understand the culture of his ancestors better. It is his journey to make.

CopperCicada · M

@Miram My personal view is that we're in a post-civility post-kindness world. Genuine kindness is irrelevant. Participating in social display properly is all that matters anymore.