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Omaha Steve

(99,582 posts) Tue May 19, 2015, 04:41 AM May 2015

Native Americans protest South High's refusal to let student wear eagle plumes, beads on graduation [View all]

Last edited Tue May 19, 2015, 12:43 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Erin Duffy

John Andrew Tate pointed proudly to the eagle feathers hanging from his hat and asked the Omaha school board a single question.

“Do I have bling-bling on?” he said.

Tate and other members of the city’s Native American community showed up before the Omaha Public Schools board Monday night to protest a decision by South High to bar a student from wearing eagle plumes and beads on her graduation cap at Tuesday’s commencement ceremony.

South High staff allegedly told the student that no adornments — specifically, no “bling” — could be attached to caps.

FULL story at link. UPDATE ...The school board reverses it's decision: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141097655

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/news/education/native-americans-protest-south-high-s-refusal-to-let-student/article_1266ef66-fdc5-11e4-80a4-e3afc89ddc78.html

82 replies

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Native Americans protest South High's refusal to let student wear eagle plumes, beads on graduation [View all] Omaha Steve May 2015 OP

No one could call it "bling," for crissakes. No one sane, that is. What a shame. n/t Judi Lynn May 2015 #1

Self-important bigots. n/t pnwmom May 2015 #2

Feathers and beads on a graduation cap? TexasMommaWithAHat May 2015 #12

Why not? To these Native Americans, the feather belonged on the headgear, pnwmom May 2015 #18

As usual, I agree with you very much! I just do not see the BFD over this. We are supposed to be a RKP5637 May 2015 #30

And Native Americans wear the feathers for ceremony. Many also have them in their homes. It is jwirr May 2015 #19

Maybe I'm picturing a more elaborate amount of feathers ??? TexasMommaWithAHat May 2015 #21

Since eagle feathers are scare (they cannot be killed for their feathers) they usually only have one jwirr May 2015 #23

Good to know. TexasMommaWithAHat May 2015 #25

I know - she probably wore it dangling from the back down her back. jwirr May 2015 #27

well we are relieved that it is okay with you CreekDog May 2015 #54

Here are some photos of what some Native American students have wanted to wear. pnwmom May 2015 #61

It looks like most are just wearing the feather as part of the tassle. Lizzie Poppet May 2015 #80

For that matter, why should someone wear honor cords? historylovr May 2015 #45

what is the issue with minorities? CreekDog May 2015 #53

Everyone must be the same ya know newfie11 May 2015 #3

Not quite. They are being asked to adopt the customs of Western Europeans that the first jtuck004 May 2015 #5

I was being sarcastic newfie11 May 2015 #9

I should have picked up on that - it was late. <G>. n/t jtuck004 May 2015 #40

Lol newfie11 May 2015 #41

Wow, I haven't seen someone use the <G> in YEARS! Reter May 2015 #79

"..I first went online in 1993" < You're welcome for the work we did to make it available.<G> n/t jtuck004 May 2015 #82

Very good point. The white establishment used to go so far as to steal Native children taking them jwirr May 2015 #22

If you search "bling on graduation caps" TexasMommaWithAHat May 2015 #26

Searched and you are right about the word. jwirr May 2015 #28

Yes the children were taken newfie11 May 2015 #42

We haven't really shelved that attitude either, just changed the skin color we are focusing on. n/t jtuck004 May 2015 #46

Your so right. newfie11 May 2015 #74

The purpose of school is evidently to produce interchangeable parts for the machine. . . Journeyman May 2015 #4

You don't think much of public school education. TexasMommaWithAHat May 2015 #17

Not as practiced in that district. Plenty of districts are more flexible pnwmom May 2015 #20

I agree with Journeyman. It's part of the problem. n/t jtuck004 May 2015 #39

I remember what Russel Means said about the purpose of schools. Fodder for the industrial machine. Autumn May 2015 #24

Yes he was! Nt newfie11 May 2015 #43

I like to use one instance to infer a conclusion also. LanternWaste May 2015 #47

“Nobody at school is going to tell a young lady not to wear a crucifix to her graduation,” progressoid May 2015 #6

Should she be allowed to dangle a prominent crucifix one from her cap? TexasMommaWithAHat May 2015 #16

I've seen people write messages on the top of mortar boards progressoid May 2015 #38

Sometimes Not RobinA May 2015 #49

If any Texas school superintendent prohibited a student from wearing a prominent crucifix pnwmom May 2015 #62

Actually, there are quite a few Christians in Texas TexasMommaWithAHat May 2015 #70

Right, because they're bigoted against Catholics and Mexicans, too. So what would happen pnwmom May 2015 #73

WTF? Enthusiast May 2015 #7

So much power heaven05 May 2015 #8

++++++++++++++++++++nt newfie11 May 2015 #10

I grew up in SD turbinetree May 2015 #13

thank you heaven05 May 2015 #14

I buy from turbinetree May 2015 #77

Yep Pine Ridge has not improved since you were there sadly. newfie11 May 2015 #44

It has gotten turbinetree May 2015 #78

the dominant culture makes the rules but word got out Backwoodsrider May 2015 #36

I hope their protest results in a change of mind, this student's ancestors were here FIRST. secondwind May 2015 #11

Bigotry is truly a low state of mind/being. If bigots realized in a flash if a moment how utterly Dont call me Shirley May 2015 #15

Modern society -> alienation -> identity politics. Sgt Preston May 2015 #29

Just this past Friday night I attended the asiliveandbreathe May 2015 #31

The problem is where would this stop? happyslug May 2015 #32

So the scarves worn by Military veterans are off asiliveandbreathe May 2015 #33

So we have Military Veterans in High School??? happyslug May 2015 #57

If they were ROTC they would be able to wear that asiliveandbreathe May 2015 #72

The line has to be drawn somewhere Sobax May 2015 #35

One more way gypsy3 May 2015 #34

Welcome to DU - and thank you for your post asiliveandbreathe May 2015 #37

Native Americans RobinA May 2015 #48

"Native Americans"? Larry Engels May 2015 #50

Maybe you should audit a 1st or 2d grade class at your giftedgirl77 May 2015 #51

Thanks, giftedgirl, for your kind, informative answer. Anyone else want to try? Larry Engels May 2015 #52

Native American is a tag white Americans give to the indigenous people Cleita May 2015 #55

Thanks, Cleita. Larry Engels May 2015 #56

How do those terms get adapted for use by individual persons? A white person can't pnwmom May 2015 #63

I use First Nations or indigenous people myself. Cleita May 2015 #64

But how do you refer to an individual person who was born into a culture that pnwmom May 2015 #65

So use what you like. eom Cleita May 2015 #67

Interestingly, a lot of my First Nations acquaintances call themselves "Indians." Lizzie Poppet May 2015 #81

The names of people and things change over time, but their intention is to define people or things happyslug May 2015 #58

So many words, so little clarity. Larry Engels May 2015 #59

You troll poorly. giftedgirl77 May 2015 #60

Why don't you give him some tips? Beauregard May 2015 #66

Why is that exactly? giftedgirl77 May 2015 #68

Your post is an excellent example of what I mean. Beauregard May 2015 #69

Oh I'm happy, I just call bullshit when I see it. giftedgirl77 May 2015 #71

I'm putting you on "ignore." Sgt Preston May 2015 #75

Thanks for the heads up. giftedgirl77 May 2015 #76