Magic FM mocks Indian names

Local radio show causing controversy

By John RomeroA Colorado Springs radio station has stirred quite a controversy in the Native American community. Skuya Fasthorse, a Lakota Sioux was listening to the George McFly Experience, the Monday morning radio show on Magic KKMG 98.9 Magic FM. The topic of discussion on Monday was Native American names. "They were talking about it and kind of laughing about the names that they were given," says Fasthorse.

Fasthorse was furious over what she heard. "Immediately my senses went up and I thought this is wrong. This is wrong for them to be making fun of native names." She says "It made me mad ... It hurt."

A slew of angry listeners took to Magic FM's Facebook account to protest the radio show. Those posts have since been taken off the station's page. Fasthorse says Natives go through sacred ceremonies to receive their spiritual names and those names are very dear to them. "It's very sacred to us," she says. "We don't go and make it public. We don't make fun of that."

Fasthorse has filed a formal complaint with the FCC.Comment:  Disc jockeys who mock Indian names are the same as t-shirt vendors who mock them. Both groups are guilty of racial attacks under the guise of "having fun."

I don't understand why these people don't get it. A few decades ago it may have been okay to make fun of ethnic names--Lipschitz, Pollack, Fukiyama, Dong, or whatever--but it isn't any more.

The public would be outraged if someone sold a t-shirt saying "My black name is Cotton Picker" or "My Jewish name is Golddigger." How is mocking Indian names any different?

Answer: It isn't, of course. That people think it's okay to make fun of Indians only demonstrates how invisible they are. If a group of Indians lived next door, you can bet the Archie Bunkers of the world soon would stop making fun of them.

For more on the subject, see Michigan Opposes "Indian Name" T-Shirts and AIM Fights "Runs with Beer" T-Shirt.