Diversity
A look at Historical Accuracy, Point of View and Inclusion
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HOW SHOULD WE DEPICT PEOPLE OF COLOR IN AN EDUCATIONAL HISTORICAL CARD GAME?
HOW SHOULD WE DEPICT PEOPLE OF COLOR IN AN EDUCATIONAL HISTORICAL CARD GAME?
Native Americans and African Americans have been portrayed during the American Revolutionary War time and even since as the "OTHER" in art and media. As we work towards depicting characters that were, during the time period, treated as the other, we would like to find ways to analyze the images that we are using as references to determine if it is the way it is appropriate to depict our characters.
USER TESTING CARDS THAT HAVE PEOPLE OF COLOR:
USER TESTING CARDS THAT HAVE PEOPLE OF COLOR:
User Testing:
User Testing:
2/16/18
by Susan Bonner
Location: GVSU, "Roger That!" NASA event with the first African American Astronaut and a lot of Middle School Students.
Showed Joseph Brant and Crispus Attucks cards on phone, (Pixel XL) to Lois Owens - This allowed the cards to be actual scale.
Lois Owens is a Professor of Social Work at GVSU. Owens specializes in Diversity in Social Work and herself has Native American and African American roots.
This cropped version of Benjamin West’s “The Death of General Wolfe” shows the section with the Native American. West’s portrayal of the Native American has been cited as an example of the “noble savage.”
The Death of General Wolfe, 1770 by Benjamin West
JOSEPH BRANT:
Owens thought that Joseph Brant was beautiful, laughed and said she wished she was that fit. Owens then questioned if he was defined as a savage, and even perhaps "the sinuous savage" depicting the Native American as "the other". She mentioned the artist Benjamin West and how he depicted the Native American the as the sinuous savage.
She also mentioned that he looked "Mean not angry".
IDEAS OF HOW TO MOVE FORWARD by Susan:
IDEAS OF HOW TO MOVE FORWARD by Susan:
This is a very grey area to visually accomplish, but the idea here is that persons of color are often depicted as mean, not angry, in their situation; that they are tribal, and have a different or other response, which is not reasonable as compared to the majority.
Even though historically these characters have been depicted as other we have a responsibility to switch the narrative when depicting people of color.
To move away from the "Sinuous Savage" look we will have to clothe him. Perhaps he needed more clothing anyways if this is in the northern colonies. See research section below.
CRISPUS ATTUCKS
Owens suggested that he also looked mean not angry, asked if there was a way we could make him angry instead, as that could be more empowering, pointed out that people of color are often depicted as angry and mean in images and that continues to put them in the "Other" category.
She suggested that he could look happy or elated from the idea of freedom. She really liked the idea of breaking free of the ropes which was like breaking free of the chains. She liked that he was strong and was excited to show her grand niece and nephew with her.
letter from stephen staggs regarding Joseph Brant
letter from stephen staggs regarding Joseph Brant
I am happy to hear that the game is going so well. I think the name is a good one. As for the Thayendanegea card, I have a few suggestions.
First, it is more accurate to refer to him as "a Mohawk military and political leader" rather than "chief of the Mohawk people." Native American political systems were relatively egalitarian and were not centralized. Consequently, Native groups had many leaders, and the leadership and direction provided by someone like Thayendanegea was not always followed by every individual, clan, or group. In fact, this is something that British military commanders found quite frustrating.
Second, although he tried to convince the Iroquois to support the British and was later commissioned by them during the Revolutionary War, his loyalty was to the Mohawk. He led a group of Mohawk, Tuscarora, and Loyalist warriors in the war on the frontier in New York. Thus, rather than refer to him as "a war leader for the British," it would be more accurate to refer to him as "a Mohawk political and military leader who commanded a group of Mohawks, Tuscaroras, and Loyalists against the Rebels (Patriots)."
Third, I wouldn't describe him as someone known for his involvement in "massacres." Although many Patriots accused him of committing atrocities and labeled him a "monster," historians have shown that these allegations are simply not true.
Finally, I am concerned that, coupled with the text that essentially only touches on his role as a warrior, the image will reinforce the stereotype of Native American men as "savage warriors." Although Thayendanegea was a warrior, he---like other Native American men---was so much more. He was a well-educated Christian who spoke many languages, including English. He could also read and write in English, and so he worked as a translator, helping to translate the Anglican catechism and Gospel of Mark into Mohawk. He was also a husband, father, hunter, farmer, missionary, and diplomat. In fact, at age 34, he traveled to England to meet with King George III on the eve of the Revolutionary War. While in London, he sat for a portrait by the celebrated English artist, George Romney.
Since there are five historical images of Thayendanegea, I would suggest creating an illustration that draws on the print, watercolor, and paintings that have come down to us today.
I hope this helps.
Best Wishes,
Steve
Stephen T. Staggs, PhD
response to feedback from kcad students
response to feedback from kcad students
Thank you for your historical insight. Issues of race and culture are especially important to the KCAD team and we have every intention of approaching hard topics, events, and people with the utmost respect and accurate historical representation.
Regarding Thayendanegea's card, changes will be made to text and clothing design to show a more nuanced view of his life. That being said, we do not want to erase or cover elements of his culture.
We will continue to look to you for historical and cultural accuracy.
revised cards
revised cards
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Portrait of Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) c. 1805 oil on canvas 61.8 × 46.1 cm National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Portrait of Joseph Brant by Charles Willson Peale (1797)
Brant was visiting England with Guy Johnson at age 33 or 34 when Romney painted him in his London studio. Brant is shown wearing a white ruffled shirt, an Indian blanket, a silver gorget, a plumed headdress and carrying a tomahawk. - Wikepedia
Joseph Brant watercolour by William Armstrong
Historical Clothing and Location Research :
Historical Clothing and Location Research :
Wikepedia: Brant dressed in "the English mode" wearing "a suit of blue broad cloth
Brant lived in Oswego, Ontario, Fort Niagara, NY
In the paintings Brant is seen wearing the Engilsh Gordet - this visually connects him to the Tories.
QUESTIONS TO ASK AS WE CREATE THE CARDS:
QUESTIONS TO ASK AS WE CREATE THE CARDS:
Questions for all cards:
Questions for all cards:
Who's point of view is the card from?
Would the person that the card it is depicting be proud of how they are depicted?
Would the people who share heritage with the card feel that the card is accurate?
How does this card make you feel about the person or people depicted?
What emotion does the person have?
Is the clothing historically accurate?
Joseph Brant Specific Questions:
Joseph Brant Specific Questions:
What type of clothing would a Mohawk War General wear in battle?
Is the Mohawk hairstyle actually from the Mohawk people?
Where did most of the battles that Joseph Brant fight take place?
What was the climate? Would he need more clothing? Would he wear the British officer neck piece as he does in his official portraits?
RESEARCH SOURCES:
RESEARCH SOURCES:
Native Americans in art Research:
Native Americans in art Research:
Gives insight to the idea of how we have talked about Native Americans as savages through our depiction of them.
AFRICAN AMERICAN RESEARCH:
AFRICAN AMERICAN RESEARCH:
Grand Rapids has an African American Museum
George Bayard: bayardgallery@aol.com
Conversation with Waylon Wilson at meaningful games 2018
Conversation with Waylon Wilson at meaningful games 2018
North America is Turtle Island to the indigenous peoples.
Politically correct ways to list people from history that we don;t know their nation:
descendent of Indigenous heritage of North America
North American Indigenous
Finding out their nation or tribe is important to give the full story:
Waylon gives an example through his name below.
Waylon is Haudenosaunee, Iroquois, Tuscarora, Squarure.
This translates as: People of the long house, Of the shirt wearers or of the hemp gatherers, of the deer family.
This gives people an understanding of their place with others and in relation to their environment.
Waylon is Haudenosaunee, Tuscarora and Deer Clan
Waylon Wilson - as he depicted himself on his website
Waylon when he Graduated from University at Buffalo in Media Studies with a Production Game Studies Certificate, now a Master of Design student at Concordia University.
Waylon Wilson with his game that brings attention to spear fishing from the Tuscarora perspective.
An experimental game that plays more like an interactive documentary. This game puts you in the Tuscarora perspective of the history and impacts of the construction of the New York State Power Authority and Lewiston Reservoir. Modeled in Maya, Built in Unity, C*,
Susan Bonner and Waylon Wilson at Meaningful Play with the Most Meaningful Student Created Game - Miner Madness that he will take to Skarù:rę’ Awękwehstá:Ɵe:’ youth group to introduce code theory through game.
Čà:wak, 2016, Waylon Wilson
Symbolism transfered from the 5 nations to the new confederacy:
Symbolism transfered from the 5 nations to the new confederacy:
Hiawathan Wampam belt - representing the 5 nations of "New York"
5 needles = 5 nations.
The Iroquis confederacy as originally formed by the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca peoples.
Confederacy coming together
after the confederacy was formed then the wampum belt was formed.
Arrow symbolism = one is weak many is strong
Olive branch symbolism = 13 colonies
Eagle chosen as the one that looks over all others- suggested by the Indigenous People when the new government of America was thinking about the Turkey.
Portrait of Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) c. 1805 oil on canvas 61.8 × 46.1 cm National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Waylon feels this image is the most effective for the historical accuracy and as a way to move beyond the savage native feeling. He also really likes all of the art!
Suggestions for the Joseph Brant Card:
Suggestions for the Joseph Brant Card:
Use the one that is closest to how he was historically represented (like the painting) so with the most clothing.
Keep the translations as listed - Using his name as "He places two bets" helps people to understand that he was a strategist.
A name is given and one is reminded of their place in the people and relationship to the world through their name.
Suggestions for the Molly Brant Card
Suggestions for the Molly Brant Card
She would have been very important as it was a matriarchal society.
Suggestions for the Crispus Attucks Card
Suggestions for the Crispus Attucks Card
If we can find out what peoples he was descendant of that will help to respect the culture, (instead of saying he was native american).
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