Survivor Guatemala: We're Surviving Media Stereotyping Again!
CBS Allows Yet Another Discriminatory Display
Aimed at Aboriginal People!
Boycott CBS to Stop Racist Stereotypes: Your Help Needed
Date: Thursday, September 30 @ 09:10:13 EDT
Topic: Media
| Sign the petition here. You can also help by information from the forwarding the following message to friends and listservs. |
 by T. S.Greenfield and M. A. Deveneaux
Special to Natives Against Media Stereotypes
September 29, 2005
PLEASE REDISTRIBUTE WIDELY!
We have created this web site for the purpose of raising questions, provoking thoughts and exposing differences, subtle or blatant, concerning the treatment of Indigenous Americans in the media. It is our conviction that it is imperative that changes be made to ensure that Indigenous Americans receive equal exposure and have a say in the way their image is projected to the world.
What happened?
Less than a year after Outkast's Grammy performance sparked outrage in Indigenous communities across America, CBS not only allows, but encourages the Survivor Guatemala contestants to portray themselves as "ancient Mayan warriors" by adopting outrageously offensive stereotypes of Indigenous people. A group of predominantly white Americans competing for $1 Million dollars in cash were encouraged by host Jeff Probst to "get into the spirit of the competition" by decorating themselves with feathers and "war paint" provided by the producers of the show.
It is hard to believe that even after the Outkast controversy, CBS doesn't have a problem in portraying Mayan Indians as savage barbarians who murdered the losers in their football competition. Clearly, CBS didn't even attempt to consult with Indigenous political or cultural leaders in Guatemala. Instead they allowed the contestants to use the racist warrior caricature as a gimmick for their entertainment show.
Last year, when Outkast chose to dehumanize and objectify Native Americans, CBS reluctantly offered a luke warm apology. Clearly, the CBS executives haven't learned anything from last year's controversy. Once again they show white men parodying Mayan men as ridiculous painted warriors and white women parodying Mayan woman as scantily clad ethnic go-go girls. Encouraging the contestants to put feathers in their hair and to paint whatever they felt like on their bodies while claiming to emulate Mayan warriors is equally obnoxious and offensive as the Outkast performance, or of any sporting event where Native people are objectified as mascots. How long will Indigenous Americans have to put up with these dehumanizing and degrading depictions of themselves?
What Were They Thinking?
Contestants fought with each other and pushed and shoved each other for the chance to win $1 Million dollars. Thursday night's show much more resembled a football game where the fans adorn themselves with "war paint" and practice the offensive "Tomahawk Chop." Did CBS ever think about how painful it might be for Native Americans in the viewing audience to watch white people parody Mayan warriors and bounce and prance around on netting trying to imitate their deeply engrained racist perceptions of Mayan culture? Did the producers even do any research into modern Mayan culture. Did they ever think that feathers might have special spiritual significance to the Mayans and that they might not like their culture depicted in the outrageously disrespectful way it was depicted on Thursday night? We think not.
Representatives of Guatemalan Indigenous culture should have been contacted to assure that they were not represented in an offensive way BEFORE the show aired. We are asking any Native Americans who come across this site and their friends and supporters to call for an apology from CBS for the unacceptable and disrespectful misappropriation of Indigenous Icons on the show "Survivor."
CBS must take responsibility for the images they allow to be broadcast on the public airwaves for consumer consumption.
CBS failed to address honestly and directly the issues surrounding the petition protesting the stereotyping of Native Americans in 2004. We are too outraged to let them get away with another incident.
Has it escaped the producers of Survivor Guatemala that Native Americans have had a long history of suffering discrimination and persecution because of the widespread misperception that all true Native Americans are either extinct or living on reservations. Stereotypical media portrayals of Native Americans wearing fake feathers and war paint and behaving like savage barbarians reinforce this misperception, as does the near-total absence of countervailing portrayals of Native Americans functioning as recognizable members of American society. The producers of Survivor Guatemala have included every under-represented minority group in America as contestants, except Native Americans.
The CBS television network's decision to broadcast Outkast's offensive portrayal of Native Americans at the 2004 Grammy's and promote the TV show "Survivor Guatemala" shows a blatant disregard for the consequences and power of racial media stereotypes. To allow another incident to happen within a year is unconscionable. Native American children are especially susceptible to the taunts and ostracism of their peers, who are likely to be entertained by the show's simplistic comedy premises and fast pace, but are unlikely to have developed the critical facilities necessary to reject the stereotypes presented.
More generally, to date there has been no indication that CBS ever intended the contestants or viewers of "Survivor Guatemala" to question the portrayals of Mayan Indians that now constitute the show's signature images. To view the contestants dressed up in fake feathers and body paint go to: www.cbs.com and click on "Survivor" last episode. To the contrary, as a patently mindless entertainment vehicle, "Survivor Guatemala" is not intended for viewing with a socially critical eye.
On numerous occasions, the producers have suggested that the show doesn't promote stereotypes, but rather makes fun of them. The photographs currently on the CBS website illustrates the absurdity of this premise.
This is not the only CBS show that promotes demeaning stereotypes when seen from a Native American audience's perspective. Nor does it mitigate the consequences of the widespread viewing of these portrayals for Native Americans, especially our children. Finally, it does not disqualify Native Americans from criticizing the show, because Native Americans are no more responsible for these white-dominated television productions.
Despite its great wealth and power, CBS has not tried to do anything to enlighten its audience, to educate them about the harm that cultural stereotypes do to oppressed people or to contribute anything positive to race relations in the United States. The voices of Native Americans are so rarely heard in the mainstream media, and the accurate history of Native Americans in the United States is so rarely taught, that the relevance of race to the experiences of Native Americans comes as a surprise to many people.
Many Americans are heavily invested in the stereotype of Native Americans as primitive savages. They desperately cling to any anecdotal evidence they can find that will support this investment: the complicity few white contestants in the production of "Survivor Guatemala" is inexcusable. As we bear witness in contradiction of these views, we expect to reap a whirlwind of outrage from those who are surprised that we exist at all."
We, the Undersigned, will boycott all CBS Broadcasting Company properties, including Paramount Pictures, Blockbuster Video, MTV, Nickelodeon, Infinity broadcasting, Simon& Schuster, Blockbuster, Paramount Pictures, UPN TV network, Pocket Books, for a period of two (2) months for each day the producers of Survivor Guatemala refuse to make amends for putting the offensive episode on the public airwaves. We will also support a boycott of prominent sponsors of CBS and Viacom.
For more information on the boycott, visit
http://fightmediastereotypes.bravehost.com/boycott.html
| CBS has not yet responded to our complaints about the Survivor Guatemala episode. This would call for a 16 month boycott of CBS properties. CBS can shorten the boycott period only by making a sincere, public apology and taking steps to see that legitimate cultural and political leaders of Indigenous communities have real input as to how they are depicted the show. Why two months per day? As a marginalized minority group, we are forced to make up in intensity what we lack in numbers. Based on ratings for the first episode, the number of people we need to commit to this boycott in order to make it unprofitable for CBS to continue showing negative stereotypes of Mayan Indians on "Survivor Guatemala" is between 10,000 and 25,000. Help make it happen by sending the petition to your friends and listservs.
You can begin the boycott now by manually removing CBS stations from the channels received by your TV.
(If you're looking for something to do instead of watching CBS reality shows, how about learning more about Native American empowerment through online radio?) |
 When will CBS stop airing these racist stereotypes? Contact Addresses for E-mails, Telephone Calls and Letters of Protest:
CBS:
CBS Viewers Comment Line:
(212) 975-3947 Dial this number, WAIT until the message is over, then place your comment after the beep.
askcbs@cbs.com
Hand written letters of complaint are the most effective:
CBS Television Network
51 W. 52nd St.
New York, NY 10019
Fax: 212-975-9174
Email: Diversity@cbs.com
E-mail complaint form Go to (http://www.cbs.com/specials/cbs_75/timeline/1960.shtml#) scroll down to the very bottom and click on "feedback" chose "survivor" from the pull down menu and include a comment (the form will accept around 500 characters)
Survivor Sponsors
DHL
telephone 1-800-CALL-DHL (1-800-225-5345)
e-mail contact: http://www.dhl-usa.com/custserv/contactus.asp?nav=ContactUs
Go to the middle of the page and click on "write to us" in red.
You can submit feedback without giving them an e-mail address if you wish.
Address: 1200 South Pine Island Road
Suite 600
Plantation, FL 33324
Home Depot
telephone:
Media Relations:
For immediate assistance, The Home Depot customers should call:
(800) 553-3199.
1-800-553-3199
Public Relations: 770-433-8211
E-mail contact:
Lowes
Customer Care (CON8)
Address: Lowe's Companies, Inc
.
P.O. Box 1111
North Wilkesboro, NC 28656
Telephone: 1-800-445-6937
Contact form: https://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=custSvcOrderIssue&topic=customerService
Preference by L'Oreal
E-mail form: Go to "Another question click here (in red) in the middle of the page.
Pontiac Torrent
Telephone: 1-800-762-2737
Address: Pontiac Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33172
Detroit, MI 48232-5172
E-mail contact form: you need to limit your message to 2500 characters
Mervyns
Telephone: 1-800-MERVYNS
Address: Mervyns' Customer Service
22301 Foothill Blvd. MS 2115
Hayward, CA 94541
E-mail contact form: http://www.mervyns.com/cust_serv/contact_us.aspx
American Family Insurance
Address: American Family Insurance
6000 American Parkway
Madison, Wisconsin 53783-0001
(608) 249-2111
E-mail contact form: https://web.amfam.com/customer/forms/support/email_cucc.asp
Alltell
Telephone: 1-800-Alltel1 (1-800-255-8351)
Address: Building 4 Fifth Floor
One Allied Drive
Little Rock, AR 72202-2099
Febreeze
E-mail contact: http://www.homemadesimple.com/febreze/index.shtml Click on "contact us" at the bottom in blue. When a box pops up, click on "e-mail us" in blue and submit your message. They require age, country and e-mail address
Universal Pictures
**** More sponsors to boycott****
Walt Disney
Email form
Address:
Telephone:
Chevy (Impala)
E mail form for comments (2500 characters) they require a phone number
Email:
Address:
Chevrolet
P.O. Box 33170
Detroit, MI 48232-5170
Telephone: 1-800-222-1020
Clartin D
E mail form for comments (characters)
Email: support@claritin.com
Address:
Telephone: 1-800-CLARITIN
Red Lobster
Email complaint form (579 characters)
CorporateAddress:
Red Lobster
5900 Lake Ellenor Drive
Orlando, FL 32809
Telephone: (407) 245-4000 or
1-800-562-7837
Charles Schwab
Email contact form requires and address and phone number
CorporateAddress:
Telephone: 1-866-855-9102
T-Mobile
Email complaint form
Circuit City
Email complaint form
Capital One
Email: webinfo@capitalone.com
Address:
Capital One
PO Box 30285
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0285
Telephone:
Phone: 1-800-955-7070
or 1-804-747-7200
Carl's Junior
Email complaint form
Address:
Telephone:
Citi
Email complaint form – you need to log on first
Address:
U.S. Service Center
Citi Inquiries
100 Citibank Drive
P.O. Box 769004
San Antonio, TX 78245-9004
Telephone: 1-800-374-9700
****If you block and copy your message into a word or text document, it should take about 20 minutes to contact most of these sponsors by e-mail.****
SAMPLE MESSAGE:
I noticed that you are one of the sponsors of Survivor Guatemala. I just want you to know that as a Native American, I am deeply offended by the content of the show. The show projects extremely negative stereotypes about Native people. As long as you are a sponsor of this show, I will urge my tribe NOT to purchase any products from Chevrolet. The type of racism that CBS is promoting is very hurtful to me and I find it unacceptable and you should not be sponsoring it.
Thank you in advance for your consideration to this matter.
(433 characters)
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CARING!
Protest "Survivor Guatemala" in Person
Location: 51 W. 52nd St.
New York, NY
Time: 8:00 a.m. Friday October 14, 2005
The Problem With "Survivor Guatemala"
CBS will air another episode of their popular reality show "Survivor Guatemala" on Thursday, October 13th at 8:00pm EST. We are asking everyone to go to CBS's website and judge for themselves. While this is supposed to be a depiction of the ancient Mayan Indians, we fear it may have negative ramifications for Native Americans, who've usually been depicted in a similarly racist and stereotypical fashion.
NAMS's stance on the Survivor show has always been consistent. We believe that the reality/game show acquired by CBS when placed in the context of American culture has strong racists elements attached to it. The show stands to reinforce the negative image of the Black man, strong women, Lesbians and Gays and the Indigenous people of the land where it is filmed and to present exaggerated caricatures of real human beings only to entertain us the "Amos and Andy" of today.
NAMS understands that humor is subjective and is primarily based on one's artistic interpretation. However in this instance the blatant disregard for the sensitivities of the Mayan Indian community serves to show how Indigenous voices are once again marginalized. We feel that the current lack of positive images of Indigenous Americans in the media does not allow for any sort of counterbalance to this show. The disproportionately exaggerated portrayals once again create a disservice to the Native American communities who have been fighting these negative stereotypes all their lives.
We just want to send the message to these executives that racist stereotypes in "Survivor Guatemala" will not be tolerated by the viewers.
None of us can remember a positive reoccurring Native American talent on CBS primetime. The network continues to showcase Native American males as either brutal savages or mindless guides and helpers of smarter, stronger, more spiritually in-tuned whites.(as seen on "Walker Texas Ranger" or "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman(sic)" and numerous "special programs") or in cameo appearances as angry, psychotic drunks. There is not one positive Native American person on CBS primetime schedule.
After the Outkast performance, talks with CBS and Native American elders proved to have been futile, even after a Jesse Jackson joined with Native American rap artist, Litefoot, to call for a public apology at the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow. We have sent countless letters and e-mails to CBS to suggest that they find the many talented Native American comedians, film-makers and playwrights to produce quality television about Native Americans living in the present day and to replace shows that are set in the past or show nothing but stereotypes. Those suggestions have been ignored. We believe that CBS still does not understand the ramifications of supporting such a show and the negative "trickle down effect" it will have on the Native American communities across America and our supporters.
We implore you to help NAMS (Native Americans Against Media Stereotypes) support and stage a protest against CBS and its sponsors.
For more information how you can help eliminate another episode full of racist stereotypes from being aired in your community, visit this web site's action guide on challenging stereotypes
An Open Letter to CBS
By Thomas O'Neil
CBS's Message Board
October 3, 2005
I noticed you are a sponsor of Survivor Guatemala on CBS. Last Thursday night I cringed when I saw the contestants pretend to be Native Americans wearing fake feathers and war paint. I am appalled that you are a sponsor of a show that would promote racist stereotypes about Indigenous people. I will NOT purchase ANY products or services from your company as long as you are a sponsor of this offensive show.
I must
agree with many of the comments and criticisms already in place on the internet. Survivor Guatemala presented stereotypes of Mayan Indians that hinder and even reverse any progress that is being made towards so-called "racial equity" in the world today. When it comes to
mass-media exposure, Native Americans and the descendents of the Mayan Indians represent a small, struggling
group. Consequences of the elements employed to provide "Survivor Guatemala" with
its intended theme only reinforce racist stereotypes that objectify and
denigrate both Native Americans abroad and especially the descendants of Mayan Indians in Guatemala.
There is a disturbing trend in televised entertainment is so-called "reality
television" to provide the views with a few brainless laughs. It concerns me that more and more, the producers of reality shows are editing the shows to emphasize the negative stereotypes that White Americans hold about racial minorities, homosexuals and women. Many of the successful concepts are based on emphasizing the "exotic" nature of the Indigenous people of the land where the show is currently being filmed. Therefore, the "trend-savvy" decision to
air a show based on a racist concept tried and true inside the United States does not surprise
me.
To parody an entire sub-culture, an ethnicity, and a race of
human beings is unconscionable for a major network such as CBS.
Along with other ethnic minorities, Native-Americans have had to struggle with
gross injustices such as extreme poverty, lack of access to quality health care and education and government corruption in the handling of our economic affairs. As these dark parts of this nation's history become sorely forgotten,
little has been done to educate the American public of the struggles and
accomplishments of modern-day Native Americans.
It strikes me with utter disgust that the only show on television featuring
the Indigenous culture of Guatemala is a show as unintelligent, tasteless, and derogatory as
"Survivor Guatemala".
As I am sure, this is neither the first nor the last of the complaints you
will receive regarding "Survivor Guatemala". It has already aired to the American
public. At this point, I can only suggest that you comply with the demands set
forth by any advocacy groups that will probably be contacting you shortly.
Needless to say, there should be a sincere apology to the Indigenous people the Americas, North Cental and South America, and to the American viewers of this series immediately.
I look forward to the day when this type of complaint will be unnecessary.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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