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Racism: Melting Pot of Hatred

I love this guy!(not literally)

Greetings:

The American Indian Movement of Florida learned last month that ateacher at TYRONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in Saint Petersburg was teaching her students that the word "Squaw" is an appropriate term to describe American Indian women. I sent a letter to Mrs. Jacobs and Tyrone Elementary School explaining that the word is a racially demeaning and derogatory as well as sexually demeaning term for American Indian women both in its usage and in its origins in Mohawk in which it refers to female genitalia. I included the Oyate teaching guide and its "Teaching Respect for American Indians" as a guide and asked that the teacher refrain from using the word "squaw" in the future and teach the 5th grade class that the word is offensive (similar to "n**ger, W*p"etc). On January 5th, 2000 I received a response from Mrs. Jacobs informing Florida AIM of the following:

*-She will continue to teach the word squaw as an appropriate termfor American Indians because she will not be censored in America

*-She believes we are simply being politically correct as the word has been used for two centuries and further it appears in award winning books(didn't Mein kampf win awards?).

* Because we asked her to stop using the word she will no longer donate to any American Indian charity (she cited NMAI, Oglala Lakota College,American Indian College Fund, and Saint Josephs) because if Indian people are offended by the use of the word squaw they don't deserve her money. As this lady is WILLFULLY teaching students to use a racially demeaning,derogatory and offensive term for American Indian people we ask the following:

1) WE ASK ALL PEOPLE OF GOODWILL TO CONTACT THE PINELLAS COUNTYSCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT AT (727)-586-1818 or EMAIL- super@pinellas.k12.fl.us
and board@pinellas.k12.fl.us
and DEMAND THAT MRS. JACOBS AT TYRONE ELEMENTARY BETERMINATED FROM EMPLOYMENT IMMEDIATELY. FURTHER DEMAND THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HALT TEACHING RACIALLY OFFENSIVE AND DEMEANING TERMS ASAPPROPRIATE FOR AMERICAN INDIANS

2) WE ASK ALL PEOPLE OF GOODWILL TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO DONATE ANYAMOUNT TO OGLALA LAKOTA COLLEGE AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND and other American Indian tax exempt non-profits and inform Mrs Jacobs at:

1038 39th Ave N Saint Petersburg, FL 33703

that you have made a donation to these Native organizations out ofgoodwill and honest support for Native peoples rather than because they played "Tonto" as she appears to want Native people to do.

Thank you,

Sheridan Murphy

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