Frances Snyder
Economic Racism is the Contemporary Battle for Native Americans
Malice in Wonderland
My tribe, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, is on a reservation that sits amongst some of the most valuable land in California. Our people suffered the deepest of poverty while surrounded by the wealthiest of the wealthy.
Our mere presence made some white people uncomfortable.
Then everything changed with the passage of California Propostion 1A in the year 2000 which officially allowed California tribes to have casinos on their reservations. Now my tribe is wealthy, too.
And some white people are not only uncomfortable, but they are also really angry. It’s called economic racism.
My book, Malice in Wonderland: Economic Racism is the Contemporary Battle for Native Americans, chronicles my experiences working for my tribe and dealing with economic racism from local tribal opponents who didn’t believe our tribe deserved our success.
The New London Day, February 4, 2005
“They used to throw rocks at [my mom] because she was an Indian. Now instead of throwing rocks they're throwing lawsuits.”
The Economist, June 24, 2004
“The American dream is OK, but they don't like us having it.”
Los Angeles City Beat, October 7, 2004
“We had so many protests [over our liquor license], including from David Crosby. Now this is the same David Crosby that is now applying for a new liver. Maybe because he can’t drink, he doesn’t want anyone else to drink.”
Santa Barbara News-Press, March 11, 2004