J.E. #2: The Lone Ranger

I've always heard of The Lone Ranger but have never seen it until now. It saddens me to know that shows like The Lone Ranger perpetuate Native American stereotypes in the borderlands. The way in which Tonto speaks is by far degrading--the way in which he enunciates his words allows the viewers to believe all Native Americans speak with the inability to properly understand the English language. The show also creates an "us versus them" concept of which the Anglo male is by far superior than that of his Native American counterpart. It also allows the viewer to believe that they themselves can be superior. By giving them a subhuman title and not identifying them as people but rather calling them by their supposed skin color, "red skin," is shows how offensive and stereotypical this show is, as well as American culture at the time. It also shocks me that the Lone Ranger's Native American sidekick is given a Spanish "name," if you will, of "Tonto." How utterly degrading is it to name him that? That's not even a name but rather, an insult, attacking his intelligence and character. I cannot believe that the Lone Ranger was just made into a movie this year, encouraging younger generations that racial stereotypes against Native Americans, let alone any group of people, is acceptable.