Political Incorrectness

When I lecture on women in Colonial America, I use the word “Indian” more than 100 times in the first 45 minutes. I don’t say “Native American” because, frankly, the word Indian rolls off my tongue much easier.

Sometimes I’m corrected for not using the more up-to-date term by listeners in my audience – who are always white women, by the way. Frankly, I resent it, though I answer them politely that I’ve never met a person of American Indian background who objected to the use of the term “Indian.”

Granted, I don’t know very many Indians well. I do read novels and nonfiction by Indian writers, most of whom use the word “Indian” frequently. Tommy Orange, in his award-winning novel “There There” uses it freely. I’ve also talked with several museum researchers who work directly with Indians and maintain that the word “Indian” does not upset them.

Is other people’s insistence on my using “Native American” a white liberal affectation? I’m white and consider myself a liberal, but I resent being pushed into some misguided form of political correctness. If someone could give me a good reason to use “Native American,” I would consider changing my ways.

Understanding the story of Indians is vital to understanding American history. That’s where I place my respect.