There’s a reason why traditional native American headdresses have been largely nixed from most music festivals nowadays.
Wearing them is not a deliberate or malicious act of racism, to be sure. But it is profoundly bloody dumb and an ignorant appropriation of an indigenous culture for the sake of… well, we’re not really sure.
So while seeing one or two people wearing them is enough to incite a few frustrated eyebrow furrows, seeing a literal whole group of people wearing them to cheer on the arrival of a racing yacht is absolutely dumbfounding.
Comanche, the winning yacht in this year’s prestigious Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, crossed the finish line in Tasmania late yesterday, and reached land at Constitution Dock after nightfall.
As the boat was pulling into the dock last night, the winning vessel was greeted by a group of well pleased supporters who were all doing, well… this.
Some chuffed @TeamComanche supporters #sydneytohobart #RSHYR @abcnews pic.twitter.com/cyXNsAkyBW
— Richard Baines (@RichardMBaines) December 28, 2015
The headdresses by themselves are bad enough, but the goddamned war cries as well?
Sure, the boat itself is named for a Native American tribe from the US Great Plains – near the Mississippi River. That’s fine. We get that.
But come onnnnnnnnnn, you guys.
I don’t care what the name of your Sydney to Hobart yacht is, never ever ever use lazy, anachronistic stereotypes to greet it.
— Angela Wilson (@ange_wilson) December 28, 2015
Among the headdress wearers were relatives of model Kristy Hinze-Clark, who was a crew member on board the successful boat.
Revellers drank champagne and sang along to Queen‘s “Fat Bottomed Girls” as the boat docked.
The boat and its associated team is yet to make a statement on the headdress celebrations.
Source: Daily Mail.
