She Studdard And Her Face Turned Red

[GRANDSON OF ZEELA]

I was talking to one of my regular customers that has a home here in Virginia, and one in Ohio. The home in Ohio is a farm House with many acres. She has been a customer of mine for about 10 years now. I asked her if She had any Native Americans working for her up in Ohio, on the farm. Her reply was, NO, the town we live in up there is all white people and we like it that way, I wouldn't hire any of those people.
I kept a straight face and started talking about the riots, and school walk outs, that the Mexican Americans were
doing in California at that time. They were flying the Mexican flag. I told her how dissrespectfull that was, and she agreed, then I said that I am a Native American and you don't see me flying my flag, but if I had one, I would. And we were here first and were still here, so that's not disrespectfull.

The second I told her that I am Native American, she started studdering and her face turned bright red.

I purchased a flag at the last Pow Wow I went to, and I fly it proudly !!

[TKMJ Productions]

The second I told her that I am Native American, she started studdering and her face turned bright red.

Oops!!!!! I think you may have lost a customer. Now that she knows, do you think she will still buy from you? Or will she ask for another salesperson.

That's why I'm in the music business. No one seems to care about race, color, or creed in this business. It's all in what you do, what you know, and who you know. Your reputation does follow you as well. You can be a drunk, a druggie. a white guy, a NDN. You can have long hair, short hair, or no hair at all. You can even cross dress. No one cares what you are. It's all in who you are and what you can do. It doesn't matter as long as you perform well.

I can go to work in a suit & tie or t-shirt, Sit in meetings with dirty jeans or even ware my mocs around the studio.

The music business is as universal as music itself.

[GRANDSON OF ZEELA]

No, I have not lost a customer, since then she has recomended me twice. Maybe her opinion about Native Americans has changed. She recomended me to a family member of hers. We Native Americans make great landscapers !!

[indian-heart-beat]

Good! Maybe you 'kick-started' her brains and her heart...

[Eagle Plumes]

Ive met those kind of people, one time i said well you dont like me? then I pray for you, and the look on their faces are priceless!

[indian-heart-beat]

...a bit out of the track, but...
one day my 'taskmaster' asked me why I get tanned so quickly and never get a sunburn.
I answered that I am a part NDN. Her face turned red, her mouth stood open, then she said(in German): NDNs used to live in former times! There are no NDNs any more. And by the way it isn't modern. So don't talk about it any more!!!
??? No comment.

[Annie Fawn]

We all run into people like that from time to time. We have a bunch of new people in our community ( bunch of new subdivions being built.) and a couple signed up to take my ceramic classes at the community center because they wanted to learn how to make those pretty pot's like the Indians make. Boy were they ever surprised when they found out ceramics isn't pottery and this summers ceramic classes are garden markers and violet pots as well as things for garden rooms. lol

[GRANDSON OF ZEELA]

your task master must have been educated in a large city, separate from the rest of the world. I wonder what books she has been reading. We savages lol were gone way back when the dinasours were wiped off the face of the earth.. lol

[indian-heart-beat]

Yes, absolutely lol...
Good you can laugh about those
stoooooopid people!
lol
But a bit shocking as well, isn't it?!

[X cheryl X]

Yes, absolutely lol...
Good you can laugh about those
stoooooopid people!
lol
But a bit shocking as well, isn't it?!

Yes,shocking,stupid,sad,narrow minded...The list goes on,with a good laugh at their ignorance aswell

[Kio-Manche]

We all run into people like that from time to time. We have a bunch of new people in our community ( bunch of new subdivions being built.) and a couple signed up to take my ceramic classes at the community center because they wanted to learn how to make those pretty pot's like the Indians make. Boy were they ever surprised when they found out ceramics isn't pottery and this summers ceramic classes are garden markers and violet pots as well as things for garden rooms. lol

I got one like that.... My Uncle was at one of those indian markets out west and saw a fella selling "Authentic Comanche Pottery". He went over and started chatting with him, and said, "by the way, that pottery isn't Comanche pottery." And the fella asked him, "How do you know?" My Uncle replied, "Comanches didn't make pottery, they were nomads." LOLOLOLOLOL
The fella selling the pottery took down the sign.....
Numunu

[little bird]

No, I have not lost a customer, since then she has recomended me twice. Maybe her opinion about Native Americans has changed. She recomended me to a family member of hers. We Native Americans make great landscapers !!

You can never tell what some deside to do after you speak up truth to them hu?! Some still give me that "Don't even talk to me glance", some ended up being my buddies out of admiring my boldness and honesty. One just never knows

[GRANDSON OF ZEELA]

Respect is : earned in some eyes ,
given to everyone with some people,
not an option with some people,
a must with others.

Attitude : will get you hired,
will get you fired,
is what will define you.
There are a lot of pretty ladies out there, but some are ugly because of their attitude
Beauty is more than skin deep. It's no different with men.
Those who judge with their eyes, really need to wear a blindfold for about a lifetime, and maybe that will change their point of view...

[TKMJ Productions]

No, I have not lost a customer, since then she has recomended me twice. Maybe her opinion about Native Americans has changed. She recomended me to a family member of hers. We Native Americans make great landscapers !!

This is good to hear. I am happy for you.

[One Hot Mama]

I'm mixed-blood and light enough that some people don't see that I'm NDN at first glance(brown hair, hazel eyes, light olive skin), and if the subject of Natives comes up, some folks will say some pretty prejudiced stuff, and I wait very patiently until they've showed themselves out real good, then spring the "Really? I'm Indian, and me and the other Native folks I know aren't like that at all."

Surprised look on face then-wait, here it comes!- "You don't look Indian!"

Response- "Really? Funny, you don't look like a moron( or a$$hole), either. I guess we both prove appearances can be deceiving!" This reply is usually given when someone is on my last nerve and it's been one of those days...

Of course I can't do this in a professional setting, so I have to be polite and say, "You know, I'm Indian, and nobody I know is like that. I'm sorry you have such a poor perception of us. Perhaps you could take some time and get to know us better; we're really nice people who've contributed quite alot to this world, including 60% of the world's food crops and the cotton in the clothes you're wearing." I can go on and give a list of all sorts of things, from penicillin, petroleum jelly,
and rubber to barbeque, suspension bridges, the basic format of the US Constitution, and the notion of women's equality, that we've contributed. Most people have no idea we've given them so much.

It pays to be educated about such things. I made sure my kids know, and it gives them a sense of pride in us, in who we are, what we've done, and what we are capable of.