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‘Hey Adam … Let’s Talk': The #NotYourHollywoodIndian Q&A

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By Arturo R. García

Earlier this week we covered the burgeoning campaign against Adam Sandler, Netflix, and their Ridiculous 6 project.

During our coverage, we caught up to Megan Red-Shirt Shaw, who devised the #NotYourHollywoodIndian tag in the wake of the mass walkout by a group of Native American performers, and talked about how the tag came together, how she feels about the defense of the film as “satire,” and where the campaign goes from here.

Let’s start at the beginning: describe, if you would, the moments when you first heard about the actors walking off the Sandler set. How did you go from there to getting the tag together?

Megan Red-Shirt Shaw: I was definitely upset, but also empowered by their decision to take a stand. It’s really difficult to hear that people within our communities are being dishonored – especially in ways that seem like “vintage” issues — the old Western and “Cowboys and Indians” films we’ve come to know really well. I went on Twitter to see what different voices were talking about and realized there wasn’t a hashtag consolidating the ideas. I looked through the original article by Vince Schilling and saw the quotation by Allie Young about being a “Hollywood Indian.” I knew that was what we had to get trending.

What was your reaction to seeing the tag and the story begin to spread?

Red-Shirt Shaw: The story had already started to grow but again, I thought everyone’s amazing ideas needed to be existing under one moniker –I still can’t believe how epic it’s become overnight. Twitter literally exploded. My phone went crazy. It’s really remarkable to see the ideas grow and who it’s connected me to – I was most recently put in touch with an activist named Nicholas Reville who started a Change.org petition that has come out of all of this conversation, and he asked me to co-author it with him. Change is planning on featuring it on their website this week, so we’re really excited to see the even more consolidated outcome of those signatures. I feel humbled. I feel hopeful. I am overall really proud of the world in helping this conversation ignite.

What kind of responses have you received from within Native communities?

Red-Shirt Shaw: Overall, the responses have been really positive and I have to say a huge thank you to all those who shared this effort — so much love to the activists I connected with who really started pushing it after I first tweeted it out. At the end of the day, we never want this to take away from the bravery exhibited by the actors who decided to walk off set — they are the true heroes here. My hope for all of this was that we could get the conversation rolling to the point where people logging in would see the hashtag #NotYourHollywoodIndian and wonder what it was all about. I think the most powerful piece has been the Native people who have tweeted to me sharing that they’ve cancelled their Netflix accounts. That is truly activism at its finest.

What’s your take on the response from Netflix?

Red-Shirt Shaw: I continue to stand in solidarity with the actors, it doesn’t make me feel one way or the other because I know they’re protecting their money, and I understand that’s all they’re seeing out of cancelling this movie. Reading some of the clips from the scripts, I don’t think Netflix has any educated idea about the implications of what the script is mocking — peace pipes, the role of women, the role of elders. I’m Lakota — these three things are integral to our identity as people. We’re not being oversensitive, Netflix. Please don’t belittle the importance of our identity and culture.

Did you see the video taken on the set where the producer tells an actor that Sandler’s character “loves you guys”?

Red-Shirt Shaw: Honestly, I don’t know how Adam Sandler feels, because he still hasn’t said anything. I’ll listen to him and have an open heart if he decides to come forward, but he hasn’t yet. I also think it’s really important that no one make any assumptions one way or another until we hear directly from him. I always try to approach activism giving people the benefit of the doubt. Maybe this is all he’s ever known — how can we productively teach him? How do we know if it’ll make a difference unless we try?

Much like Netflix, defenders of Sandler and the film’s material will say, “It’s just satire.” How do you respond?

Red-Shirt Shaw: I’ve definitely gotten those responses online –I think there needs to be room for dialogue on this and why it was offensive. We want Native actors and actresses in Native roles across all genres — but we also want to be on the end where we get to help produce the content. Native jokes are amazing — we specialize in a very particular type of humor that I think a lot of people would really enjoy. It doesn’t need to be slapstick with teepees and “ugg-a-wugg” names. Get us on the other side of the table and let us help these Hollywood leaders produce really good comedy.

What, if anything, could Sandler and Netflix do to help remedy the situation?

Red-Shirt Shaw: I would be lying if I didn’t say I hope they cancel this film – but I’m also still waiting to hear from the comedian himself. Until then, let’s keep telling him “Hey Adam, we’re #NotYourHollywoodIndian — let’s talk.”

What happens next, both for this campaign and Native In America?

Red-Shirt Shaw: I hope that #NotYourHollywoodIndian changes the conversation in the film industry about Indigenous identity and that the movement is productive, that ultimately people are using their positivity and power to educate. I hope that Natives In America takes over the world. Period. On a smaller scale … I hope the entire amazing NIA team knows how much they are surprising and inspiring people with their stories about being Native in the 21st century. Until we break through that glass ceiling of who America thinks we are, we have to keep telling our tales. And we will.

The post ‘Hey Adam … Let’s Talk': The #NotYourHollywoodIndian Q&A appeared first on Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture.


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