Cowboys and Indians: Toys of Genocide Essay

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There is a theory, that children’s toys associated with Native Americans or cowboys are unfair reminders of Native genocide and falsified history. Michael Bird, for example, argues that the warped history of colonization has become mainstream for society and has reduced the importance of American Indian culture to a caricature (2004). According to the author, exposure of children to such toys irreversibly affects their psyche, contributing to colonial thinking and the development of “superiority” (Bird, 2004). The theory is that prejudices on which toymakers rely can negatively affect children’s further development and the formation of their cultural intelligence.

Undoubtedly, there can be some truth in these statements, especially with the article published in 2004 when society was one step lower in its cultural development. On the other hand, the author dramatically exaggerates such toys’ importance, influence, and excessive prevalence. His judgments about the demeaning treatment of Indigenous people by the grown-up owners of such toys seem excessive. Furthermore, it should be noted that this article is primarily and almost entirely based on the author’s subjective, therefore limited personal opinion.

In our time, society is struggling and succeeding in correcting colonial and ethnic mistakes. Every Native descendant has the opportunity to create or join an organization dedicated to restoring his or her tribal heritage. There has been a massive change in education: today, children are taught about equality and respect for one another from a very young age. Moreover, toys remain toys: cowboys originally symbolized the brave lone shepherd, who had little to do with colonization and is not, for example, a soldier. Indians – figures of wise warlike men in national dresses with spiritful faces and successful in battle – cannot be made disrespectfully.

To summarize, it can be concluded that such an article in our time, and perhaps in 2004, is an excessive overstatement. The reason may be either the author’s craving for popularity or creating waves in the social sphere and inciting interracial hatred. Children at a more or less conscious age learn to distinguish a fairy tale from the actual history they are taught, and cowboys and Indians are already more of a fairy tale to them. Equally, there are a lot of different toys, including even Nazi soldiers or terrorists. Nevertheless, the primary personality formation should come from parenting and upbringing, not from the “wrong” toys.

Reference

Bird, M. Y. (2004). . Wicazo Sa Review, 19(2), 33-48. Web.

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