Indian Country, Social Media and the Right Response from Gwen Stefani and No Doubt

 

By Vincent Schilling: November 5, 2012

 "Within a few hours of posting their latest video “Lookin Hot”—in which Stefani was dancing suggestively in a series of video montages with cowboys and Indians and was also handcuffed and tied to a wall—social media outlets in Indian country were aflame with comments."

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 I haven't personally seen the the video that has caused a large up rage in the Native community, but I am currently searching to see what was going on. This quote above gives a small view as to what No Doubt was doing in the video...being handcuffed and tied to a wall? Really? Really No Doubt? Why to abuse and awkwardly hyper-sexualize Native women. I don't understand the background as to why they would choose to display this in a music video, but it just makes me think of rape and violence toward Native women. Being tired up and chained to a wall seems like a pretty large visual statement. People that don't know the background or have never learned anything about Native cultures probably would see nothing wrong with this. More generations now a days are considered a visual culture and there is nothing wrong with seeing women tired up and being abuse, which in and of itself is completely wrong....but using this imagery causes individuals to believe that Native women are wild and need to be trained/tamed. It impacts the public on more than one point and can destroy all the hard work that Native women have worked to achieve.

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“As a multi-racial band our foundation is built upon both diversity and consideration for other cultures. Our intention with our new video was never to offend, hurt or trivialize Native American people, their culture or their history. Although we consulted with Native American friends and Native American studies experts at the University of California, we realize now that we have offended people. This is of great concern to us and we are removing the video immediately. The music that inspired us when we started the band, and the community of friends, family, and fans that surrounds us was built upon respect, unity and inclusiveness. We sincerely apologize to the Native American community and anyone else offended by this video. Being hurtful to anyone is simply not who we are.”

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The article goes on to state they he is proud of the way that No Doubt handled the issue that they were faced with (even though they make the issue themselves). The way in which they apologized was incredibly important in order to help bond the band back to the community, but the fact that it happened in the first place should somehow take away from the apology, maybe? No Doubt stated that they talked with individuals that have roots in Native American culture, but does that make it any better? Does saying that you developed an idea and worked with a certain type of people take away from the racist ideals attached to it? It's like individuals say "It's not racist, because I have this type of friend" or "I'm not racist, but..." I understand that pulling the video down probably costs the band a lot of money and wasted a lot of people's time, but did anyone notice that he son was dressed up as a Native individual for Halloween? Does that make it okay to wear people around at a costume in order to collect candy and make fun? It that what cultures have become? Something that is just worn around and laughed at? I guess this can be considered a victory for the Indian Nation, but is it really a victory or have they been silenced again until something else offensive pops up?

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