By Lee Longhorn

Howdy. I think it’s time that I explore some language issues and how being multi-tribal can have its ups and downs.

I have spent most of my life growing up in suburban America. It had its own perks at times. There were times when I realized that my own accent was more “white,” proper and not filled with slang. But, just because you’re “Indian” doesn’t mean that you sound and act like someone else who is American Indian.

“Why don’t you sound Indian?”

It is now time that I express my view and opinion on what I call the “Hollywood accent”. When I was an undergraduate – poor and starving all the time – I tried working at Chick Fil-A. I worked with a girl who was originally from Africa. We talked about our cultures and our homes often and the one thing that intrigued me about her was that she spoke French. [Author’s note: I don’t remember how to spell her name]. Beautiful French at that. I loved listening to her while she rambled on the phone in rapid French that I couldn’t catch a word or two. One day, my co-worker asked me, “Why don’t you sound Indian?” I looked at her puzzled and then it hit me. She wanted me to have that reservation accent that is popularized in Hollywood movies. I smiled at her and broke out in my best impersonation of a northern accent.

I replied with, “You mean, why don’t I tak like dis?” I spoke through my teeth and not moving my lower jaw as much. I don’t know how else to describe it. Some of you may understand it. Others may not, but I’ll do better to find an example.

Just cause you’re Indian doesn’t mean you have to have an accent.

My boss and I like to have fun with the accent. As a matter of fact, I really don’t like it when people talk like that when I know good and well they grew up in the city. I mean, come on, don’t try and change who you are to become something people expect you to be. There’s a local radio host who talks like that on the radio because he covers news from around Indian Country. It sounds comical now.

I’m not against accents on people that are authentic. I love northern accents when they sound like they’re saying “beg” instead of “bag”.

I think that someone, like me, who is not conformed to speak like what thinks an “American Indian” should have their own accent and dialect. Of course, it goes without saying if I did have an accent, I’d like for it to be from New Jersey.

Lee Longhorn is an intern reporter with the Muscogee Nation News.