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Sacheen Littlefeather at the 1973 Oscars (Image: UCLA Library Unique Collections, CC BY 2.)
In 1973, riding large off the results of The Godfather, actor Marlon Brando used his platform to give a voice to Native Us residents. Not only did he refuse the Academy Award for Ideal Actor, which he won for his role as Don Vito Corleone, but he sent Sacheen Littlefeather to the ceremony in his position. In just one of the most memorable moments in Oscars historical past, Littlefeather took the stage in his place and spoke out about Hollywood’s destructive cure of Indigenous People. And although Brando’s motives weren’t entirely appreciated at the time, right now it truly is apparent that he was in advance of his time.
Littlefeather, who just handed away on Oct 2, 2022 at age 75, was only 26 several years outdated when she took the stage soon after Brando was introduced as the winner of the Greatest Actor Award. The Apache and Yaqui activist respectfully waved off actor Roger Moore, who attempted to hand her the statue. She experienced been instructed by Brando not to contact the Oscar and, fairly, study an 8-web page statement. Items did not go very as prepared.
Difficulty was brewing even before Littlefeather arrived at the podium. Brando would afterwards tell talk present host Dick Cavett that the Academy “didn’t want her there and did not want the evening interrupted with that individual notice.” In reality, just minutes prior to the award was handed out, show producer Howard Koch experienced informed Littlefeather that she needed to continue to keep her feedback to 60 seconds. So, efficiently what we hear at the podium is an improvised speech by the activist.
However, in the limited time she did have, Littlefeather made her voice read. “[Brando] extremely regretfully are not able to accept this extremely generous award. And the factors for this becoming are the therapy of American Indians nowadays by the movie industry,” she claimed as the audience started to boo, “and on tv in film reruns, and also with current happenings at Wounded Knee.”
Whilst some in the audience applauded Littlefeather, her presence at the awards ruffled feathers. Some felt that Brando was creating a mockery of the awards, when some others felt that he was “jumping on a social lead to bandwagon.” A few months just after the Academy Awards, Brando was a guest on The Dick Cavett Exhibit, exactly where he eloquently spelled out his posture and showed no regrets for inquiring Littlefeather to go to the Oscars.
Marlon Brando on The Dick Cavett Clearly show in 1973 (Picture: Sipuede7 through Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.)
Some may possibly not realize that Brando was not only a terrific actor but also an activist and experienced been remarkably involved in the Civil Legal rights Movement. He’d also supported Indigenous American triggers for yrs. In 1964 all through a fish-in, which was a protest to honor fishing legal rights on Puget Seem promised to Indigenous American tribes, he was even arrested.
As Brando plainly discussed to Dick Cavett, when he recognized that not everyone would share his feeling, he wished that they would choose the time to hear to what Littlfeather had to say. “Since the Native American has not been ready to hear his voice read or have his voice heard any place in the heritage of the United States,” he shared, “I felt that it was a wonderful chance for an Indian to be able to voice his impression to 85 million persons and I felt that he experienced a suitable to in look at of what Hollywood has performed to him.”
Brando was unequivocal about his see that Hollywood was accomplishing a disservice not only to Native Individuals, but all minorities, thanks to their stereotypical portrayal of distinct cultures. He evidently recognized the result that this had not only on grownups but, in individual, children.
“People essentially don’t understand how deeply these men and women are hurt by looking at themselves represented,” he shared. “Indian kids looking at Indians represented as savages, unpleasant, awful, treacherous, drunk…they develop up only with a unfavorable impression of on their own and it lasts a life time.”
He then shared that he realized that some others ended up fearful to communicate up about these difficulties, but felt that it was essential not to be silent. When we imagine today about his phrases and what illustration means—especially to children—one are not able to help but applaud his willingness to discuss out in a time when it wasn’t well-known to do so.
How forward-considering Brando’s decision was and the bravery Littlefeather shown has only been lately acknowledged by the Academy of Motion Image Arts and Sciences. It took practically 50 many years, but in June 2022 they issued a official apology to Littlefeather and on September 17 an party was held in her honor at the Academy Museum.
She can rest assured that no one will consider her bravery that night for granted and extensive after her passing, she will carry on to be a shining example for many others.
In 1973, Indigenous American activist Sacheen Littlefeather took to the Oscar podium in the position of Most effective Actor winner Marlon Brando.
https://www.youtube.com/check out?v=2QUacU0I4yU
See Brando eloquently describe his decision to stand up for Indigenous American legal rights and phone out Hollywood’s portrayal of minorities.
https://www.youtube.com/check out?v=UBE19iiZe84
Watch Sacheen Littlefeather recite Brando’s entire speech, which she was barred from looking at for the duration of the 1973 ceremony.
https://www.youtube.com/observe?v=d0PViD48uO8
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