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Saturday, November 6, 2010

Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Indians

by Dennis Banks

(I use these song lyrics by this this Native American activist to explain portions of the Racial Identity Development theory as originally put forth by William Cross and further developed by other researchers.)


A friend of mine sang a song called,

“Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys”


and I began to think of a song for Indian people

But, you know, the more I though of good words,

the more I began to think of broken treaties and broken promises and broken homes.

Names like Shivington, Jackson and Custer started running through my mind.

and I said, “Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be Indians”


I thought of the long walk of the Navahos

The Trail of tears, 500 years of Columbus…

and I said, “Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be Indians”


Then I began to think of our ancestors

like Chief Joseph, Seattle, Crazy Horse and Geronimo

and their dreams and what they lived for…

and I said, “Mama let your babies grow up to be Indians”


And my heart began to swell with pride

As I saw Jim Thorpe and Billy Mills in the Olympics.

And in the distance I saw the longest walk across America

and I said, “Mama let your babies grow up to be Indians”


Then I felt the spirituality and strength of our people

In ceremonies, the elders, the women.

I saw the sun dance and the cottonwood tree.

I smelled the sweet grass and the sage that purifies our people.

I saw Leonard Peltier and freedom

I heard the many drums and singers

And watched the gracious beauty of our dancers…

and I said, “Mama make sure your babies grow up to be Indians…make sure”