Since when did "Pocahontas" become a racist slur?

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Her main claim to being part Cherokee was based on family stories passed down over the past few generations. There is at least one document from more than a century ago identifying her great-great-grandmother (I think) as being Cherokee.

What she did not do was maintain a tribal affiliation, but I don't know that she claimed any tribal affiliation. I used to have a neighbor who was 1/32 Cherokee who did maintain her tribal affiliation.

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The fact that the word "Pochahantas" was never, cant ever, and likely will never, be considered a racial slur in the way that "k*e" or the "N word" is is irrelevant. It depends upon the context.

It could be a racial slur in a context.

If I (White guy) have a fender bender with you, and you happened to be of Dominican descent, and when I am telling my side of the story to the traffic cop, and I say "I was drivin' down the friggin road mindin' my own business, and then Sammy Sosa here cuts me the hell off..." then in that context the name "Sammy Sosa" becomes a racial slur. That's a common New York thing calling folks by the name of the most famous person in the world of their ethnic group.

The only Native American woman most Americans have ever heard of is Pochohantas. So in some contexts the name "Pochohantas" could definitely be racist.

Trump makes a habit of calling Warren by that name to slam her as individual for trading on (supposedily unreal) native American ancestry. So you could argue that he isn't slamming a real Indian. But he choose this moment to let his current petty legislative squabble with warren leak out like a Freudian slip. So it was very impolitic (for a number of reasons). So parsing whether its racist, or he was just being so incompetent that he caused himself to just look racist seems like splitting hairs to me.

No one is suggesting the either the name Pochohantas or the name Sammy Sosa should be censored.

The current chief of the Cherokee Nation is Bill John Baker and he is only 1/32 Cherokee.

Whether Warren is or isn't N.A. isn't relevant in this case IMO because Trump is operating under the premise that she isn't N.A. So he's calling (what he believes to be) a white woman "Pocahontas" because, in his opinion, she lied about being N.A. His intent is pretty clear here, and I think any claims of racism on his part is really stretching it.

A lot of people hate Trump and feel he's a racist, so when incidents like this come up, confirmation bias takes over in a lot of cases.

The name its-self is not a slur but when used mockingly like Trump used it, then it kind of is, I wouldn't say it is on the same level as calling someone the N word but yeah I don't think trump was using it to appropriately reference the native american historical figure by that name he was using it to mock someone. Also he sarcastically praised them, at least that is what it looked like to me 'oh wow you're really important people, you were even here before any of us.' said in a condescending tone of voice.

It didn't seem like trump was being very respectful of those native american veterans at all.

Also native american is a race/ethnicity...unless you subscribe to the philosophy that race/ethnicity don't exist at all, which I myself am not really on board with.

Trump loves to denigrate people he despises by giving him such names.

It isn't at all Presidential, but I guess the voters in the last election didn't want a President who actually acts Presidential. That applies to both Trump supporters and Clinton supporters.

sorry, European here, not well educated on this particular matter - just read wikipedia, where it sounded like native american is very much considered a race (however that term is defined).

so.. I don't get OP's statement. Anyone care to explain, please?

As I understand it there are 3 races to put it crudely, White, Black, and Yellow. It is possible that I am a clueless old man and that as with the definition of racism the definition of race has been expanded probably for political agenda purposes.

Yes Native American can certainly be an identity. Native American is one of few "politically correct" terms I favor because it is less inaccurate then the old term "Indian"

Could be just a matter of time the way things are going.

The term "K-Word" has not replaced "k*e".
As a Jew I'm offended. Must be proof of Christian latent anti-Jewish feelings. (sarcasm)

Getting more serious as a person who was called "k*e" often when bullied and whose synagogue was often vandalized back on Jewish religious days in the 60's and '70's before these things were reported in the news, I hope the "K-Word" never replaces "k*e" when the use of the term is being described.

Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 28 Nov 2017, 6:25 pm, edited 3 times in total.

Now that's funny!

4 races, to my understanding ... Red, White, Black, and Yellow.

I've heard that even nowadays, it's safest not to identify as Indian / Native American on forms where it asks your race or ethnicity, if you wish to avoid discrimination.

She's acquired quite a few names for her fraud.

It's only a fraud if
1) she is not part Cherokee,
2) she knew she isn't part Cherokee but claimed she was, and
3) she made the claims for the purpose of getting some kind of benefit.

If she is not part Cherokee (which remains to be proven) but thought that she is part Cherokee and claimed that she is part Cherokee, then she would have made an error. There would be no fraud or lying involved.

I just enjoy watching uptight people flipping out over every little thing Trump says or tweets. I was lmao at all the headlines yesterday.

Same here

I have to say, the entertainment value Trump has provided me from his campaign to his presidency has rivalled any TV show, movie or book I've ever enjoyed.

I really think he gets off on all of this. He'll put out a Tweet that sets the world ablaze and just sit back and chuckle.