Whose Story Should Be Told
2014
This case study describes the controversy over murals in a Washington, D.C. federal building that Native American employees say perpetuate inaccurate and demeaning stereotypes of Native Americans and create a hostile work environment. The conflict illustrates important issues of human rights and concerns about racial and cultural discrimination and prejudice. The case explores the connections between government and the arts, as well as leadership, public policy, stereotypes, historical integrity, civil rights, and cultural politics.
This case is one of several developed by the Enduring Legacies Native Cases Initiative at The Evergreen State College in Washington State. A number of the Initiative’s cases address health-related issues for Native American communities in the United States; each includes both the case narrative itself and a short Teaching Note with identified learning outcomes and suggested discussion questions.
Source:
Smith BL. Whose Story Should be Told. The Evergreen State College Native Cases Initiative 2014. https://www.evergreen.edu/native-cases/case-study/whose-story-should-be-told.