Wading through the garbage of social media posts is mostly an eye-roll and scroll type of experience. However, there are occasions where the misinformed and bigoted need to be addressed. Especially when those who perpetuate dangerous stereotypes proclaim to be “anti-racist.” Such is the case for one Tariq Nasheed, a self-proclaimed historian who produced the Hidden Colors documentaries that no one watched. According to Nasheed, Native Americans have certain features and attire that make them identifiable to the public.
Tariq Nasheed took issue with the latest outrage over racial profiling. Two Native American teenagers recently toured a college where a white woman called the police thinking they were suspicious. I won’t argue the semantics of racial profiling, but to look at the media photos of the teens leads me to believe they are not white. However, according to Tariq Nasheed, the teenagers are white supremacists pretending to be Native American to undermine the plight of black people. When he was called out on his ignorant views, he went live on YouTube to spout more ignorant and racist garbage.
PSA Native mutuals: No point trying to have a good faith disucssion with Tariq Nasheed. Man has never had a good grap of history (or basic logic) and he likes doxxing/harassing folks on here who confront him.
— William Jamal Richardson (@DecolonialBlack) May 6, 2018
Rather than apologize for ignorant statements, Nasheed doubled down on his disgusting racism. According to him, Native Americans are black people who have gotten lighter throughout generations because we mate with “colonizers.” So since the color of our skin isn’t black, Native Americans shouldn’t have a reason to complain about being discriminated against. He proceeded to call Native Americans with light skin “$5 Indians,” insinuating they are descended from white people who committed fraud to gain Indian land.
We shouldn’t give Tariq Nasheed any attention. He’s been awful to Black women and doesn’t deserve an iota of anyone’s time. Here are some reminders: https://t.co/heghdMhgqH
— Rana (@RanaLaPine) May 6, 2018
I could go along with someone’s argument that the teens in question wouldn’t necessarily be identifiable as Native American specifically. However, they don’t appear white, which would substantiate someone’s perception of discrimination. I’ve been told that I look everything from Filipino to East Indian to Syrian. The idiotic notion that you can identify someone based upon skin tone is being perpetuated by those who thrive only by playing the victim.
In fact, part of Tariq Nasheed’s hissy fit was over Native American tribes who kept black slaves. Several Native American users attempted to reason with him, but Nasheed continued to attack their skin color. I expect nothing less from a man who supports Bill Cosby and R. Kelly. He also routinely attacks black women for choosing to date “outside their race.”
Tariq Nasheed needs to stop, he has no authority to comment upon ones native identity, let alone make statements for the native community 🙄#LetUsTalk
— Han (@MindiiMapatis) May 7, 2018
Perhaps the most offensive rhetoric this man spewed was saying the Native American teens looked like “white school shooters.” According to Nasheed, the boys were suspicious-looking because they wore hoodies, looked weird and white, and “acted strange.” So it stands to reason why someone would call the police.
Ironically, Nasheed was outraged over two black men who were asked to leave Starbucks for not making a purchase. It might be hard to explain to someone who desires to be oppressed that Native Americans married Europeans. Tariq Nasheed and his followers are messengers of hate with some strange score to settle with white people and members of his own community. This type of behavior causes divisiveness and takes away from actual issues that we should all be tackling together.
