Who says racism is unfashionable?
My Sunday newspaper contained an insert advertising this curious product, advising that "This first ever Native American influenced Nativity is a very special, limited time offer, and strong demand is expected." (Sic.) And only $49.95! Send no money now! Who wouldn't want this heirloom item in their "collection" of dust-gathering ceramics?This "collectible" is so offensive on so many levels, it's hard to know where to begin. So I'll ask the following: Who does this offend more?
- Indigenous Americans who have suffered generations of genocidal slaughter at the bloody hands of "Christian" oppressors; or
- "Good" Christians who know that "our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" was a blondish, blue-eyed white male (as unlikely as that would be in First Century Judea.)
posted by Paul Dorn at 11:12 AM
1 Comments:
I don't know if it is racist or just horrible kitsch? I have been to late fall pow wows and other ethnic markets where I have seen artisan made (not factory produced) nativities with an indigenous spin (whether North American or Andean). I have also seen versions made in Africa with African motiffs. Many American Indians are Christian. I think part of the beauty of Christianity is that we can see ourselves in the humanity of Christ's struggles in life (including a humble birth). So, the historical Jesus was a 1st century Judean who was probably bronzed with curly dark hair. That's probably ethnographically correct. But, I have seen various paintings of Madonna and child from different cultures where the figures are interpreted with features of the ethnicity of the artist. Perhaps that's a way of making Jesus' story your own. So, maybe I'm not feeling the outrage I should about the nativity. But what does piss me off is that Indian people are probably not making money from the product.
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