Trump has used the name of Pocahontas to describe Senator Warren.
I believe that he purposely used the name of Pocahontas in a derogatory manner. As an insult it is stunningly ignorant, vengeful, disrespectful, and most of all abusive.
This is an example of blatant discrimination against the Indigenous people of our great country... who can also vote!
The Native American population have had a long history of being abused. Not only by white mans' guns but also by white mans' slang.
Pine Ridge, for example, is a reservation located in South Dakota. By all accounts it is described as a Third World country. Many of the Native Americans who live there suffer from severe poverty- with no running water and no stove for cooking. They rely solely on frozen and low quality food which causes diabetes and heart attacks at an alarming rate.
The average life span in Pine Ridge is 48 for men and 52 for women. They have a 90% unemployment rate and suffer from 80% alcoholism.
One in four babies are born with alcohol fetal syndrome and teenagers are committing suicide at a rate of once a month.
The average household income is $5000 a year. (So when we say that "Indians" don't pay taxes keep in mind there are no taxes to pay at $5000 a year).
Common folklore points out that Native Americans are rich because of gambling casinos. What folklore doesn't mention is that the majority of reservations are 100s of miles away from any town center so building one won't work.
On the other hand, it was kind of white society to give them gambling especially since we introduced them to alcohol took their land, killed their women, children and left few men standing.
I guess gambling was the next logical step. Tobacco, casinos and alcohol...great for society.
Keeps communities safe and crime free.
Keeps communities safe and crime free.
Not.
It is from this environment that the majority of Native children are born. These young girls and boys have few role models to call their own. Their people have been desimated, and their oral storytelling tradition irreparably damaged. Stories about the lives of their Native hero's and have been lost along the way.
Unrecorded.
Pocahontas holds a special place in the hearts Native People. ..and she has a really cool story.
Pocahantas was born 1595 and died 1617. At 18 she met a man named Thomas Rolfe who was a very rich tobacco farmer living in Jamestown Virginia.
She could have been traded to him or taken forcibly but whatever the case Thomas made her his wife. Up to this point an interracial marriage between a white man and a Native American woman had never been legally sanctioned.
A historic first.
The tobacco industry was at its infancy in the 1700's and her husband was called to the British Court to hash out trade routes and finances.
Pocahontas agreed to come to London as the first Native American women received by the British court. Once there she became a curiosity. This visit was her opportunity to educate the most influencial court in the world on the ways of her people.
In the picture below you can see Pocahontas as she was dressed for the English court.
A historic first.
Unfortunately, like millions of Native peoples killed by white mans diseases she did not have the resistance to fight infection. She died in 1617 at 22 years of age in Gravesend Kent England.
This brave woman (of a rare and mixed marriage) embarked on a courageous journey sailing hundred of miles to share her culture with the world.
She is kick-ass!
Pocahontas was the first woman and Native American to be commemorated on a five cent stamp .1907.
Major historic first !
This is why Native girl and non native and girls everywhere are inspired by her achievements.
Pocahontas the real Pocahontas is not just a black haired beauty in skimpy cowhide with breats spilling out. She is not just a Disney character. She is not a white man's sexual fantasy of what a Native Woman represents.
She is however a role model for Native and Non-native woman everywhere.
Degradation of this sacred figure is messed up.
And to call any woman Pocahantas as a public insult is so not cool ....Donald.
Senator Warren can own this one with pride. Clearly both women are kick-ass.
(A statue of Pocahontas stands at Historic Jamestowne, in Jamestown,Virginia. Pocahontas may be the most famous Native American in history. She helped to make peace between Native Americans and the English colonists of Jamestown, Virginia).
A historic first.
