I had gone back and forth over whether or not kids were mocking Native American Nathan Phillips when he drummed and chanted in the middle of a group of teens OR if they were just making the best of a confusing situation and making perhaps misguided attempts at joining in. A 3rd video angle that shows the kids up close, shows them mocking Phillips verbally and physically. Not ALL the students were, but many. It's sad and I don't condone their behavior. But here are some points why this actually isn't THAT big of a deal.
1. Would ANY group of high school students have reacted differently?
I've taught high school kids. Some are cool... but many are straight up assholes. But most will mature over the next decade and become respectable adults. I don't think they reacted any worse than any other high school kids would have. Much of the focus has been that since Trump supporters are seen as racist, their kids are probably racist too. But march into any large group of kids with a drum and I think you're in for some mocking.
2. Did Phillips ask for permission to walk straight into the crowd of kids? Did he get their consent?
Nobody asked for Phillips to show up drumming and chanting. He was outside of the zone for the Indigenous People's March. The kids were perfectly fine singing and chanting their school songs. His presence was confusing at best and very intrusive at worst.
3. What if Phillips were white? Would making fun of him be OK?
Native Americans have been severely mistreated ever since Europeans landed in America. It's a very sad fact. But does being a Native automatically make you above reproach or immune to being made fun of? We are supposed to respect Mr. Phillips culture. And we should. But what if a bagpiper from Scotland marched in the middle of the kids uninvited, a harp player from Ireland, or a yodeler from Germany did the same thing? Would any of these white people displaying their culture get any more respect than Phillips? They would probably be mocked as well. But it wouldn't be a news story. The story is visceral because the kids are mocking a Native American, which is considered worse than mocking someone of their own race. I'd agree it is worse... but I'm not sure WHY it's worse. At its core it's still people mocking a person... and race shouldn't matter... but it still does in today's society.
So the key takeaways? Phillips had no business marching right into the middle of the kids playing an instrument. Teenagers are assholes and they responded like teenagers. A white person in the same situation would have faced the same mockery but it wouldn't have been a big deal to the media.
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