DaShanne Stokes' Blog | Human Rights, Equality, Inclusivity

Native American Mascots: Criticism vs. Reality

Published on April 9, 2013

Last week CNN featured an article by Moni Basu detailing the work of activist Susan Shown Harjo and others to bring an end to racist sports team mascots featuring caricatures of Native American people. A number of readers responded to the article with sharp criticism. One reader said, “Let us move on to real issues like hunger, unemployment, addiction (in Native Americans too), and homelessness…” Yet another wrote, “Who really cares… Can we stop being so sensitive?” Collectively, these comments illustrate that many people feel this shouldn’t be an issue and that changing mascots detracts from larger, more

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How to Survive Being Denied Your Religious Freedom

Published on February 23, 2013

Over the millennia, many governments have suppressed the religious freedom of their citizens. It happened in ancient Rome, when early Christians were fed to the lions. It happened in the U.S., when Native American ceremonies like the Sun Dance were outlawed. And it continues to happen to people even today. I happen to be one of those people. Like many Native Americans, I’ve faced being kicked out of the university dorms for my spiritual practice involving smudging, and I’ve lost job opportunities for having long hair, a common custom for many Native American men. And because of the eagle

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5 Cross-Cultural Communication Strategies You Can Use

Published on February 18, 2013

It can be very difficult knowing how to talk to people from different cultures. But cross-cultural communication is a skill. It can be learned. In my experience, for example, people sometimes haven’t known whether to call me Indian, American Indian, Native American, Sioux, or Lakota. Making it more complicated, many have genuinely wanted to know more about Native Americans, but their school books didn’t teach them much about indigenous peoples, Native Americans are not commonly seen in the media, and few have had any experience with Native Americans. Of course, I’ve been on the other side of this

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Letter to President Barack Obama on His Inauguration and Religious Freedom

Published on February 12, 2013

President Barack Obama Inauguration Speech on Freedom

February 5, 2013 Dear Mr. President, I congratulate you on winning your second election, and on your inspired inaugural address. You held out a great vision that is sure to touch the lives of so many deserving people. As someone who voted for you and had the pleasure to watch your inaugural address, your words touched me deeply. As I listened to you speaking about liberty and justice, I wondered if you could help realize for me that promise of freedom enshrined in your speech and in our Constitution by the First Amendment. You see, though

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How I Began to Heal from Child Abuse and How You Can Too (Part 3)

Published on February 9, 2013

In my previous post, I shared proof that healing from child abuse is possible, describing how I personally began healing from one of many traumatic experiences in my childhood. In this post I take a look at several self-help books and whether or not they really can help a person to heal from child abuse. Media and the general public sometimes portray needing therapy as a stigma, and self-help books as a racket selling little more than common sense. I’ve learned, however, that contrary to this image, some self-help books really can help. Over the years, as

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You Can Help Lift the Ban on Gays in Scouts. Here’s How.

Published on February 6, 2013

After years of protest over its discriminatory policy banning gays from membership and service in the organization, the Boy Scouts of America will consider changing their policy this year. As announced this week, the vote to change the policy has been pushed back until May of this year. This, the organization says, will give it a better chance to hear opinions from members about the policy. With the vote being pushed back to May, it’s critically important to show your support in the coming weeks. Here’s how: How you can help: To voice your support to change the policy,

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How I Began to Heal from Child Abuse and How You Can Too (Part 2)

Published on February 6, 2013

In my previous post, I discussed how child abuse can be very difficult to identify, especially for those who were abused, and how this is a critical first step in the healing process. I explored how those who were abused can benefit from the support of loved ones and therapists. Another major lesson I’ve learned along the way, however, is: It may be painful and scary, but you can heal. When you’ve had lots of painful experiences, the idea of healing or having a better life can seem impossible. But you can heal and start to have a better life.

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How I Began to Heal from Child Abuse and How You Can Too (Part 1)

Published on February 5, 2013

How to heal from child abuse and abuse of children's rights

Child abuse not only violates children’s rights, but can leave subtle scars that can evade detection and treatment. But people can heal. I’ve seen it firsthand. This post is the first in a three part series on how adults can begin healing from abuse they experienced as children. Here’s a quick look at what’s to come: In part one, I explore some of the difficulties identifying child abuse, which is a crucial first step in the healing process. In part two, I share proof that healing is possible, describing how I personally began healing from a traumatic experience in my

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Next Steps in Changing the Boy Scouts Anti-Gay Policy

Published on February 1, 2013

Next steps in changing Boy Scout anti-Gay Policy

After years of protest, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) looks like it may finally be giving serious consideration to changing their official policy banning homosexuals from membership and service in the organization. In a statement released earlier this week, the BSA indicated that their national board will consider whether or not to delegate decisions about gay membership to the local, troop level, allowing individual troops to decide for themselves, “consistent with each organization’s mission, principles, or religious beliefs.” As an Eagle Scout, I applaud this step in the right direction. But it’s gotten me thinking about what might come

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Sage, Sweetgrass, and the First Amendment

Published on January 31, 2013

On a fall day in 1996, a student at Boston University sat in his dorm room, depression his only company. That was until the resident assistants for his floor knocked at the door and asked to be let in. They told him that his actions placed him in jeopardy of being kicked out of the dorm. What had he been doing to get into trouble? Praying. The problem wasn’t that he was praying, it was the way he was doing it. He burned sage and sweetgrass while he prayed, a religious practice called smudging. He was doing what most traditionally

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Doesn't Osaka Mayor claiming 'comfort women' were necessary during WWII sound like an attempt to legitimize abuse? t.co/58xJytxOJ8 Time ago 4 Days via HootSuite Reply - Retweet - Favorite
Good article about link between race and media coverage: t.co/qlqXRI0Ev6 Time ago 9 Days via HootSuite Reply - Retweet - Favorite
"Corrective rape" is a crime against humanity t.co/1ZQUzCixIk Time ago 10 Days via HootSuite Reply - Retweet - Favorite
Love should never be illegal. Zambian men being arrested for being gay is a crime itself t.co/xIw0M5XPEg Time ago 10 Days via HootSuite Reply - Retweet - Favorite

Follow @DaShanneStokes on twitter.

I am a sociologist, author, activist, and educator. I am also a former business owner, and the founder and former director of Religious Freedom with Raptors, a political interest group featured in the national media.

I am currently completing my first book (a memoir entitled Recomposition) as well as my doctorate in sociology at the University of Pittsburgh.

When not busy with writing and research, I enjoy playing with my dog and spending time with my friends and loved ones.

Native American Mascots: Criticism vs. Reality

How to Survive Being Denied Your Religious Freedom

5 Cross-Cultural Communication Strategies You Can Use

Letter to President Barack Obama on His Inauguration and Religious Freedom

How I Began to Heal from Child Abuse and How You Can Too (Part 3)

You Can Help Lift the Ban on Gays in Scouts. Here’s How.

How I Began to Heal from Child Abuse and How You Can Too (Part 2)

How I Began to Heal from Child Abuse and How You Can Too (Part 1)

Next Steps in Changing the Boy Scouts Anti-Gay Policy

Sage, Sweetgrass, and the First Amendment

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