Friday, February 19, 2010
What Part Moon?
What Part Moon? by Inez Petersen elicits the struggles of living as a person of mixed heritage. Petersen writes of the confrontations and awkwardness of not knowing how to respond to the constant question of "What part Indian are you?" Nowadays, with the high propensity of mixed cultures within our society, people have become obsessed with percentages and numbers to identify their culture. Agreeing with Inez's argument, it is not a number or percentage that makes one a part of a culture, but their devotion and love for it and their lifestyle. If someone is full Native American but chooses to not embrace themselves in their culture and someone is a percentage say only half Native American but lives a more culturally Native American lifestyle, then the person with a mixed heritage should be determined "more Indian." As Petersen states, you heritage lies within whats in your heart. But should this mean that someone who has no percentage of a heritage within them can choose to associate with any culture they wish?
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Yeah, I'm with you on that! There is no clear percentage that should make you "Indian enough" or anything like that. It takes me back to the reading Only Approved Indians Can Play from the first day. How there was one guy that was like 1/16th Native or something, but he was this blonde guy and he changed it to like 1/8th I think? How ridiculous is that?! To be classified as something because of a percentage?!
ReplyDeleteBut then again, I really don't know where the "limit" is. If someone was no percentage Indian but adapted all the Indian traditions just because they "liked it", how would that work? Or if someone was 100% Native, but chooses not at all to be part of their culture, how would that work? I know that it would seem pretty sketchy if I knew someone like that...
But what can I say? It's tough to put a finger on it...haha.
I definitely think there is a distinction between strongly identifying with a culture and being an active participant in that culture. When one really engages, they begin to understand the subtle nuances, or "context" of that society. That being said, I don't think that blood heritage is an essential prerequisite to identifying with a culture. What matters is intention and dedication.
ReplyDeleteYes, percentage should definitely not be a measure of cultural quality. I really don't believe that "blood quantum" should determine your ability to identify with a certain people/culture. Honestly, even if you have no "Indian blood," I don't see who it would kill if you were to participate in native culture and tradition. In fact, I think nonparticipation and consequential misunderstanding of differing ways makes sympathizing with the plight of any suffering people much more difficult to achieve.
ReplyDeleteGreat point in your post. How do we define what part any individual is based on their blood lines? How absurd is it that we must put numbers in order to participate in an ethnic identity we want to associate ourselves with. And if we do so where do we draw the line? Do we say that because an individual is 0.09% native he is non-native but if he is 0.10% he automatically becomes native!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you all. Nowhere is there or should there be a clear cut line for when someone should or shouldn't be considered a certain identity based on blood. I think self-identity is much more important that any arbitrary grouping that a community gives to you. And evolutionarily grouping people into and out of races the way that we do is no where near how people around the world are grouped based on actual genetics.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Inez's argument, it is not a number or percentage that makes one a part of a culture, but their devotion, love lifestyle. I think it's what you identify with, your community and what you see yourself as. It really isn't about the percentages.
ReplyDeleteDude, I totally get what you are saying. I find that cultural connection is what makes you (insert ethnic culture here). Blood percentage is an absolutely ridiculous notion. But then again, there is the question what if not that culture at all, as in blood, but you embrace it? Does that make you that culture? But once money is thrown into the equation, everything is about numbers. And there goes that theory out the window. Far too many variables to make it simple.
ReplyDelete