A Matter Of Extreme Importance…
I was going to post about my birthday celebrations this past weekend, but that will have to wait a few days. Instead I think it’s time I say what I need to say about the derogatory comments towards the Lumbee people, my people, from G105 morning show Bob and The Showgram
I suppose before I can really get into it, it would be prudent for everyone to hear what exactly was said during the show. To preface, one of the show’s interns was preparing for her impending marriage to a Lumbee guy. Totally out of left field, the remarks start. Listen for yourself….
(right click here and save for direct download)
To be honest with you, I’ve never listened to this morning show before, it’s not really my cup of tea, but when things like this happen, the news travels fast. The problem here is that it’s assumed that our population is too small to fight a battle of this nature, and possibly that we wouldn’t attempt to rebut, since most of our people cannot even hear this show (this show is aired in Raleigh, NC which is about 1.5 hours from the majority of our population in Robeson County).
Wrong.
This is beyond offensive to just Lumbee people. It is 2008, right? We, as a community should not stand for a program that is directly detrimental to our efforts to better ourselves as a society. I am completely disgusted by not only the comments that were made, but the duration. I know that people were listening to this show and laughing at our expense, simply because they are uneducated and their only reference to native people comes in the form of native media images drawn from years of stereotypes and generalizations. But still, I know some listeners had to be offended, and to those that are, we need your help taking action on the matter.
What you can do (from the NC commission of Indian affairs):
What I propose we do is send emails to showgram@G105.com and carbon
copy
randiwest@clearchannel.com. Randi is the Production Manager for the
station. She is responsible for the on air personalities. Be sure to
articulate voice your displeasure with their comments, and that you
will
be submitting a formal complaint to the FCC.To submit a complaint to the FCC, simply log on to their website at
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html. Complete the electronic
complaint form. Lets get as many people as we can to do this. I am
working to get the various tribes to file a formal complaint with the
FCC as a tribe, but I think volume will make this a bigger issue for
Clear Channel when we get the FCC’s attention.
Also, a letter from Beth Jacobs on the issue:
I am my parents’ only daughter. In my lifetime of 26 years, I have been the caretaker of hundreds of little children. I am a recent law school graduate and a community organizer for a prestigious voting rights organization in North Carolina. I am a person filled with love, hope, ambition, and gratitude.
I am also a Lumbee Indian.
Because I am an “Indian,” all the great things about me and my people, the Lumbee Nation, are never as important as the American cultural stereotypes that depict us as a depraved race of people. We grow up hearing all the bad things that Americans say about Indians; first brutal savagery and then drunken laziness; the tepee and scalping jokes; the historical untruth.
American history produced the propaganda.
American media promulgates the propaganda.For this reason, my existence in America will always be as a statistic. I am surprised at how often I feel belittled, underestimated and blatantly offended as an American Indian. I have been bombarded with the most ignorant, insulting and inane commentary, the likes of which many would deny could be uttered in the professed freedom fest that is our esteemed nation.
And they say racism is dead?
Those of us who are constant victims of modern racism are fully aware of the true history of this country and the bona fide racism that continues to exist, particularly in the media.
Local radio station G105 and its parent corporation Clear Channel have been long time proponents of hate-filled racist propaganda against minorities, particularly during the Bob and the Showgram morning show. In fact, they have often mocked Native Americans, as they call us, including demanding several years ago that some local Indians perform a rain dance during a drought.
That Bob Dumas of Bob and the Showgram recently decided to use his uninformed intern to create the appearance of giving intimate knowledge in order to degrade the Lumbee Nation is where G105 made a fatal error.
The Lumbee Nation is the largest tribe east of the Mississippi and recognized by both the state and federal government. The people now known as the Lumbee Nation have existed in North Carolina since at least the 1700s: resisting removal, accepting newcomers, and striving to retain all semblances of their Native culture, which American culture has tried so desperately to erase. Today, the Lumbee Nation flourishes in all realms of life.
The comments made by Mr. Dumas, his co-hosts and intern were factually inaccurate. For that reason, I do not intend to give Mr. Dumas’ actual words much remark. The comments broadcast by G105 were so obviously racist propaganda, that no intelligent person would form an opinion based on the ignorance spewed. Due to the untrue and uneducated nature of his comments, they were not hurtful to me. They were, however, publicly offensive, racially motivated and made under the pretext of factual information from an informed person. Mr. Dumas was aware of his intern’s impending wedding, and made an intentional decision to bring her on just before and use her as the impetus for his racist rant against the Lumbee.
Mr. Dumas’ intern, Chelsea Prior, a student at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, must be brought out as the uninformed underling that she was in this situation. I doubt that she expected to be bombarded with such ignorance, especially since it was primarily directed at the man whom she supposedly loves.
Nonetheless, in addition to insulting her family and their culture -even her own future children- she has greatly insulted (and no doubt embarrassed) her university. As an alumnus of UNCP, I am most personally offended by her failure to recognize the negative affect that her words would have on the university and community.
The Lumbee people themselves raised money to purchase land and construct a building for the Croatan Indian Normal School. More than a century, and many transformations later, it became The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Despite attending UNCP for years, Ms. Prior had the audacity, or more accurately the cowardice, to degrade the very people who built the institution at which she receives her education.
Bob Dumas and Chelsea Prior are equally at fault. Had she taken the initiative and opportunity to provide accurate information about the Lumbee Nation and Indian people, she would not be accountable for the actions of Mr. Dumas. Instead, she sat dim, brightening up only to laugh along as her husband’s culture was publicly defamed. It is incumbent upon her to demand that G105 allow her to air a public apology. Furthermore, UNCP deserves a personal apology and I encourage all alumni and supporters demand such.
Finally, to my people, the Lumbee Nation, and our friends and supporters:
I applaud everyone for their instant action against G105 and Bob and the Showgram. I encourage you to volunteer for the various protests that are going to be staged in the coming weeks. I am attempting to serve as a coordinator for these events. Feel free to forward this letter widely.
As a group, American Indians have been the whipping boys of this nation for far too long. Now is our time to take a stand for all minority groups that continue to be depreciated by American culture and media. If we do not, our children will suffer the consequences of our idle complaints.
Beth Jacobs
Founding Director, Brown Babies, Inc.
I urge all of my friends, family, colleagues in the music industry, djs, and honestly everyone who is a proponent of elimination racism in America and forwarding growth to help my people and me take action. This is not just our fight. This is bigger than us. I put my tribe’s name in my production company title, not because I thought it would sound cool, but because I am proud of who I am, and where I came from. This kind of pride is not easily damaged, and does not accept such attacks lightly.
Thank you,
DJ Forge
April 7th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
It sounded planned to me …. I do not believe that they are smart enough to come up with the things said without planning …. I hope the plug will be pulled on their show …. It was very wrong no matter what your race is…
April 8th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
to crazy, racisum seems so had to go away, for us native people, i experienced something recently, very derogatory concerning indians, made a complaint to tv, geregg richardson, he contacted the mayor, anyways from my understanding the situation was resolved for now anywayz till it hits another native in the face, if ya like to know what it waas about please feel free to contact me, keep up the excellent work, if there is a protest ill be there for sure, take care brenda silva
April 9th, 2008 at 1:27 am
It so stupid that there is still recisum in the US. i know it will always be here. But on the radio, that is just stupid! I am a Lumbee Indian, and im proud of it! Im sorry but yeah Lumbee’s arent lazy. Just because they live on farms, and have the country life style doesnt mean anything. To them maybe white people are lazy. My neighbors get maids to clean their homes and cut their grass, and all that stuff. My family lives in Lumberton. They work in the fields, they work in their homes, they do their own laundry and clean their own homes. They actually spend time with their families, while people around here have nannies and babysitters. I mean who are they to say Native American’s are lazy. And Lumbee’s are imbreeds. Atleast they werent racist! I mean i have had a so called friend say things to me about indians and i couldnt stand it and i let him have it in history class. It’s wrong and something needs to be done about it! i used to go to biker church at 40 and 42 where bob goes, i just cant believe people could be so heartless. What if we said something about white people? Wouldnt they get offended? Im a senior in high school, if this bothers me, i wonder how many other people it bothers?
I went down to pembroke this weekend to visit my family. My radio in my car is messed up and i need to get it fixed. But i used to listen to g105 all the time when my radio worked. so i had no clue about this whole issue until i went down there. And this issue is all that people have been talkin about. They are not happy. A lot of people want to come to Raleigh and deal with this. That shows how much it hurt people down there when he said that.
But if anyone has something to say or wants to talk about, you are more than welcome to hit me up. I will be more than glade to talk to u
April 9th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Come on get over yourself people!! Most of us “Indians” are more white than we are ever Indian. Why is it that all white people don’t want to be called white you all say “i am not white, i am an Indian”. Well i am tired of everyone taking stuff so seriously; i listened to the clip (it wasn’t that bad, they have said worse about white people)that was provided by you and instead of being so critical how about helping them understand; let’s educate instead of slamming these people. Wouldn’t this be the perfect time and platform to share the history and culture? Take a step back, actually think about what you say and use this for the advancement of the Lumbees. Take a breath and a break and enjoy life; tomorrow is not promised us.
April 9th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
if you hold the belief that there is nothing so bad about what was said during that taping, then you have become successfully desensitized to racism.
even if bob and his minions spent 90% of their air time insulting white people, that would be wrong too, and it still wouldn’t give them a pass to insult others.
genuinely talented comedians don’t have to resort to hurling insults at the expense of others. every time bob and his minions insult black people, native americans, mexicans, asians, women, homosexuals, the disabled, the elderly, etc., . . . every time they spew stereotypes about various groups of people . . . they are representing themselves as racist, prejudiced, and intolerant individuals who see nothing wrong with berating and dehumanizing others.
they need to be punished harshly. this suspension is long overdue.
April 9th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
hey troy.. maybe you should have taken the chance on here (with all of your people reading and paying attention to this blatant racism)to educate the “white” people instead of blasting off at your own people about how they should take things when they are continuously degraded and subjected to amerikkkas waste. maybe you should have encouraged your people in this bad time and offered ways to help handle the issues. you chose to attack the ones who have already and always been attacked.. if you identify more with YOUR white side than YOUR native side then maybe you should have posted something on the g105 site supporting Dufas instead of wasting my people’s time on here.
Now, to all MY people.. please be strong (as we always have been) and dont lie down on this issue. They continue to do this and it gets swept under the freedom of speech rug. If we dont fight this and make them own up to their racism and go down the road towards change then we should just prepare ourselves for the next smack in the face… i pray as we protest this and go forward against the station and the FCC that it will only bring us closer together as a people and as nc natives. maybe our efforts will help one person change their mind and their ways towards natives and minorites… aho
April 9th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Glad to see the healthy discussion and that people are concerned. There is a protest planned for monday april 21st, I’ll make another update on the issue closer to that time
The show was suspended from today until Monday. A small step, I suppose.
April 10th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Everyone needs to realize that Bob and his crew make fun of Whites, African-Americans, Inidians, Mexicans, and people who are fat, skinny, tall, short, hairy, bald, male, female, old, young and everything in between. Yes, it’s a comedy morning show, and yes, it’s funny. I think the Lumbee have had a chip on their shoulder ever since they failed to be Federally recognized. Stop playing the racism card and realize that it was a joke. If it offends you that much, turn the radio dial. You would think that so much “persecution” would have given the tribe thicker skin, but I guess not. This is life people, stop wasting it trying to fight a losing battle, brush it off and move on.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I mean, has anyone seen any stand-up comedy recently? Some of the most common subjects are the difference in cultures and stereotypes. The truth of the matter is, stereotypes wouldn’t exist without the “bad apples” who provide them. That goes with any race. I have known extremely dorky white people, white people who live in trailers and sleep with there cousins. I have known black people who sag their pants, carry guns, and steal. I know mexicans that will work for almost anything, slick their hair back, and spray paint the virgin mary on the hoods of their cars. I know native americans who are full blown alcoholics. In addition to these people, I have known many more of each race to be contributing members, and pillars of the community and society.
The point is: Yes, there are some differences between cultures. No, it’s not everyone.
*Attention*
White people (or European Americans if you really want to be PC about it (but you never hear that term)), are some of the most discriminated people around. I for one, take these comments with “a grain of salt,” and move on.
They aren’t ignorant. They all have college educations, and all have had different experiences in your lifetimes. The people who are ignorant are the people who think that stereotypes are the general view of the public and anyone in the general public who thinks that way.
Has there been inbreeding in the tribe?
Are there lazy members?
Do those questions (which weren’t even asked) have any merit? If so, wtf is the problem?
I’m half polish, and half irish. I’ll be the first to tell you that there are some serious “kid popping” drunks in ireland, and some pretty dumb people in poland. In reality, the majority of the irish don’t live that way. You won’t find most of us singing on some bar in Dublin after getting into a brawl because our football team lost. The Polish are the same way. Not many people know this, but Poland has consistantly had the highest IQ scores in all of europe. I, for one, have the foresight to realize that it’s not everyone, the self-image to know that it’s not me, and the tolerence to not care if anyone jests at those few, or says “mick,” or “pollock.”
Isn’t it stupid that people can’t say certain things if they aren’t of a certain heritage or color? Or wait, maybe I missed that part of the first ammendment….
This argument would be valid, however, if they said these things with malice, the specific intent to harm members of the lumbee tribe.
I feel that they did not have those intentions.
My family (both sides) came over here in the early 1900’s. Almost 40 years after slavery was abolished. Still, people look at me as the slave-owning-decendent white man holding them back. Also, I think it’s crazy that people are pissed off about things that didn’t even happen to them! They happened to their ancestors!
Do the Germans still owe the Jews land or money for the holocaust?
How about the egyptians who enslaved the jews? according to the bible, Moses saved them, but do they still owe ‘em?
How about England? Do they owe me the land they stole from my Irish ancestors 2 centuries ago?
I dont think so. If we thought this way, we couldn’t be selective with history. We would have to research every single injustice and grant the victim’s decendents reparations. That is just ridiculous. I, as an american, have been afforded enough opportunity here to make my own way. Plus, like I said, it didn’t happen to me, it happened to people that of which I have never met, that happen to be in my bloodline.
I’m not saying that what they said is right. My argument is that I don’t think we should over-analyze something that was said in jest and clearly without malice.
I don’t agree with many of the things each of them say. But, I don’t turn the radio station on FM 105.1 to get history lessons either. They are entertainment. Americans, of all races, need to realize that they are all beautiful, and are all going to the prom.
April 10th, 2008 at 11:53 am
More discussion on this issue here
http://www.newraleigh.com/articles/archive/racist-dj-outrages-nc-native-americans/
April 14th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Jedidiah, good to see this being discussed elsewhere!