While the idea of Native American T-shirts may seem to be an anachronism and even an insult to the history and culture of the Native American people, actually some Native Americans are embracing the T-shirt as a way of sharing their pride in their identity and peoplehood.
Some Native American T-shirts convey controversial political messages in an entertaining way, such as a T-shirt which redefines illegal immigration as having begun with Columbus in 1492. In fact, most authentically Native American T-shirts proclaim a bold and direct message of pride in being the original inhabitants of the United States, with an undisguised message that the American settlers who arrived later are interlopers. It is as if the Native American identity is blazed in full color upon that most American of garments, the T-shirt, so that the Native American T-shirt designers are conquering the T-shirt as revenge for the settler conquest of their ancestral lands. Even if that conquest of the T-shirt is comical and entertaining ,the images and messages of Native American pride that appear on Native American T-shirts and also posters, prints and other forms of Native American art are quite direct and bold.
Yet, there are Native American Indian shirts that convey the same pride without political overtones, showing to the world an image of Native American pride that can be shared by all Americans as part of a shared, albeit painful, history. These are the T-shirts which use the image of the Native American Indian to convey strength by depicting the proud dress and expression of Native Americans of old on T-shirts, often without any particular message or with a general message such as “Pride” that has no controversial or confrontational overtones.
Regardless of their specific nature, the Native American T-shirt has become a part of the T-shirt culture of the USA even though it may be overshadowed by traditional Native American regalia, it is appreciated by those of Native American descent as well as other Americans.
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