Newspaper Rock -- Where Native America Meets Pop Culture

June 28, 2007

russell said...: Writerfella here --
Consider this: Chief Dan George was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Old Lodge Skins in LITTLE BIG MAN. Also nominated that same year was John Mills for his role in RYAN'S DAUGHTER. The members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences had to decide between Chief Dan George and John Mills. Oddly, they felt that a Native American could play a Native American with almost no effort, and so John Mills was voted Best Supporting Actor for playing a Welshman, though it should have been no effort for him to play a Welshman. Thus it is that a shining performance by a Native American went unrecognized, and the woman who complained about the content of this blog has missed the point. Actors who play more or less themselves are judged by whites (the majority of Academy members are whites) unfairly and really have no chance to be honored for their talents. Racial discrimination far more is involved in media than most people realize. Chief Dan George died without the recognition he deserved, and John Mills died with that golden statue of honor on his mantle. Tell the woman who complained that Natives remain without honor in their own land..
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'; 5:37 AM

<$BlogBacklinkTitle$>: <$BlogBacklinkSnippet$>
posted by <$BlogBacklinkAuthor$> @ <$BlogBacklinkDateTime$>