Blackpool illuminations axes 'racist' 1960s 'Wild West' light display

dailystar.co.uk:

NHS manager, author and member of the Chickasaw Nation tribe, in September last year, that it reinforced “racial stereotypes”.He claimed the display – that depicts six men in headdresses around a totem pole – paints Blackpool “as a community that supports racism and discrimination” and now, after another citizen complained, the council have removed it entirely.Tony told Lancs Live: “The council were very responsive to my concerns, I raised them last year and they responded quite quickly then to say they would take it under review. "They have done that, they got in touch with me around a month or so ago and we chatted about where things were.“They said they have made the decision to retire the tableau and wanted to work with me to try to find a Native American artist to try and replace it.In September, Tony filed a complaint to every member of the council regarding the display.

In the filed complaint, he wrote: “I was dismayed to see stereotypical Native peoples dancing before a totem pole on the Visit Blackpool site for the Blackpool Illuminations.

I understand there is a second illumination showing native Hawaiians in caricature as well.“Native Americans have long been caricatured as an attempt to erase our culture, redefine our history and assimilate us with Euro-centric ideals.”It later reads: “Examples of these attempts to define – and ultimately erase – Native peoples continue to this day in North America and abroad.