Stereotyping of Native Americans at the 2004 Grammy Awards

Let us first offer our congratulations to Andre Benjamin and OutKast for their well deserved recognition. As high-profile entertainers, Outkast has the influence and responsibility to resist racial stereotypes that contribute to the dehumanization of minorities and the neglect of their legitimate concerns. Unfortunately, this principled stance was NOT seen during the televised performance of Hey Ya at the recent Grammy Awards Ceremony [February 8, 2004] -- instead we were appalled by the misuse of Native American imagery and cultural symbols as outlined below:

CAUSE FOR PETITION
1) Dehumanization: The objectification of native men and women as painted warriors and 'go-go-girls' was thoroughly demeaning -- a stage filled with grinning minstrels in black-face would never be similarly tolerated.

2) Respect for traditional culture: The native regalia (feathers, dresses, headdresses, and lodging etc.) that was so crudely imitated holds much symbolic and sacred meaning to Native Nations, comparable only to the religious icons and vestments of other cultures. Symbols of a peoples spiritual life should never have been used in such a profane and disrespectful manner.

3) Respecting diversity within Indian country: One of the most damaging stereotypes is the assumption that over 500 tribes share one generic Indian culture. The indiscriminate mixing of desert, woodlands, and plains cultures in the Hey Ya performance was fair to no one, and mocked the integrity of individual nations.

4) Respecting and involving native artists: The saddest and most ironic twist was that while the faux-Indian performance was highlighted as the closing act of the evening, the granting of the award for Native American music was not even televised, and authentic native musicians received little or no on-air recognition.

REQUEST
Many individuals and tribes are working strenuously to dispel the negative effects of native stereotypes on our children and communities, yet these are the very images the Hey Ya staging exalted and reinforced. As concerned citizens and supporters of popular music, we ask all parties involved to publicly apologize for the affront to native peoples evidenced in this performance. We respectfully request a full and formal public apology, including the acknowledgement that ethnic stereotypes, and the conscious or unconscious racism that supports them, must not and will not be tolerated within the industry now, or at any time in the future.