Reznet

Talk show reveals particular racism

By Dalton Walker

She described all Native Americans as disgusting, disrespectful savages.

The anger and hatred could be felt in her voice. And she didn’t stop there. She fired more derogatory words towards three Native Americans nearby.

These are the same words that are heard frequently throughout Indian Country but this time it had a disturbing twist - the words came from a Native American.

Tanya is half Native and half white. She recently appeared on “The Tyra Banks Show.” The show’s topic dealt with people who have hatred for their own race.

Yes, she does hate her race. She repeatedly said she wished she wasn’t Native and she would erase her Native blood if she could. She also said she buys lighter cosmetics in effort to hide her darker skin.

Her reasons were because of past experiences that involved other Natives. She said her father died in a car accident caused by a drunk driver who was Native. Another incident involved her sister at a bar. She said her sister was bitten on the arm by a Native woman who claimed she looked at her funny.

Tyra Banks had Tanya evaluate three other Natives: one male and two females who, at the time, did not know who was saying these words.

Tanya called one of the women a “typical reservation lady” and assumed she was a “trashy thief” who drank at night. She said the man was “scary,” and she feared he would rape her. She then called the other woman “the first beautiful Indian woman I’ve seen,” then added that she looked like she harmed people and took advantage of men.

When Tanya was finally revealed to the three other Natives, they looked shocked and one quickly asked who raised her.

Tanya explained that in her community she witnessed physical abuse and alcoholism.

Tanya’s residence or tribe was not revealed. Other ethnicities were represented on the show. The Tyra Banks Web site has more information, including video and pictures.

In the audience was Michael Eric Dyson, a University of Pennsylvania professor and author of “Debating Race.” He explained race relation issues pretty thoroughly on each matter.

He recommended Tanya not punish or degrade her people, but turn her anger into love as a tactic to combat ignorance.

I wish it was that easy.

Tanya definitely has issues with Natives. I hope the show helped change her stereotypes of her own people.

Whatever the case may be, it was disturbing to hear such a tirade. It was something you wouldn’t want to hear, at least not coming from one of our own.

Dalton Walker, Red Lake Anishinabe, is a reporter at the Argus Leader newspaper in Sioux Falls, S.D. Walker is a graduate of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and the American Indian Journalism Institute. A longtime reznet staff writer and a Chips Quinn Scholar, Walker had reporting internships at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis and The New York Times.

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