Eth_125_Ethnics_Group_and_Discrimination

The ethnic group that I decided to conduct research on would have to be the Native Americans, because I would have to say that I belong more to that group than any other ethnic group listed. According to http://en.wikipedia.org, the human species evolved in Africa and began migrating from there to other parts of the world more than 70 thousand years ago. Some of them reached East Asia more than 40 thousand years ago and some kept on going across the Bering Strait to the Americas, perhaps along the coast by boat. The first ancestors of the Native Americans reached North America at least 20 thousand years ago and possibly much earlier. Others kept coming in waves from Asia, the most recent arriving perhaps 3 or 4 thousand years ago. Some other humans from Africa reached Europe about 40 thousand years and their descendants began coming across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas about 500 years ago. All of this was long before the United States was formed. When the white man first landed on the east coast they pushed Native Americans back with peace treaties, trade agreements and if that failed, violence. Native Americans were seen as savages due to their lifestyles and were forced to the outer edges of cities. They were blamed for white deaths which caused many violent clashes. Later on when Americans saw the potential for land expansion they just started pushing aggressively by any means possible. According to www.truth-it.net, “the Native American people have suffered greatly due to discriminatory acts by the white populations of America.” “In the early years of the United States of America, the people viewed the Native Americans as savages, and believed them to be a danger to the white population, therefore Native Americans were killed in large numbers on a routine basis.” “Since that time they have frequently still been considered savages by many and have been viewed as uneducated and alcoholics.” “Discrimination is still common, but we need to find a way to end it. Discrimination hurts all involved and the consequences can destroy entire societies.” “The people of society need to be educated about the peoples of the world.” “We cannot function on ignorance and we cannot continue to be driven by our prejudices.” If you have ever watched westerns before, you can get a great glimpse of how the Native Americans were treated by White Americans. You can experience the discrimination that they endured through many, many decades. I remember a western that my father and I use to watch occasionally, “Dances with wolves”, those Native Americans endure so much hate and discrimination for the U.S. Army, even if they did not commit any real crimes at all. My father and I felt pity for those Native Americans because they were unable to stand up for themselves and fight back for what they believed in. In my own opinion I do believe that I culturally identify more with the ethnic group, Native Americans, which I examined. When finding out how I culturally belonged to this ethnic group, I ask myself these questions: how would it affect me and what can I handle. Would I rather be with people that I am similar to or would I rather enlighten myself by sticking it out there a bit' But of course, is that which I want to learn actually worth learning or is it only curiosity' I found these questions to be very helpful through this process. I have witnessed the ways of Native Americans, I have to say that their way seems more pure at heart then the White Americans way does. They appreciate mother Earth and all of her gifts. They also keep in touch with their inner spirits, through this method people can be healed of disease and sicknesses. I have also noticed that Native Americans do not waste items as the White Americans do. They use fur from their prey to make clothes with, and to help provide shelter for their families with. They also use the bones from their prey to make certain weapons with for protection and ways to kill their prey. To me the Native Americans way of life is the life for me. This is how that I know that I am more culturally identified with this ethnic group.