I have ONE answer -- though I cannot speak for Native American young people. The answer is "Jim Thorpe." He is universally lauded as the best athlete of the first half of the 20th Century, many say the entire Century. He won more gold medals than anyone had up to that time, and in multiple and varied events. [Look him up on the web at: http://www.acun.com/dentons/thorpe.htm http://www.alphacdc.com/necona/jthp-day.html http://pelicanpub.com/thorpe.htm http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?ti=05AC5000 http://oraibi.alphacdc.com/necona/returned.html Yet, because he played a season of AAA ball, he was stripped of his medals. He died a bitter and unhappy man, and rightly felt betrayed by his own countrymen. There have been plenty of examples of Native American athletes. But it's got to hurt young Indian kids coming up to consider what was done to Jim Thorpe. He DID get his medals back -- but posthumously. He never knew that his memory would live on as it has. He's a figure in history similar to Ira Hayes who was one of the men who raised the flag on Iwo Jima. When he returned to the States, he went back to prejudice and unfair treatment. See: http://www.thegoldweb.com/voices/irahayes.htm http://www.artnatam.com/utaylor/n-ut008.html http://www.toptown.com/hp/66/irahayes.htm http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/irahayes.htm Like Jim Thorpe, Ira Hayes died not realizing that he would be called an American hero long after his death. Why can't people of color be appreciated during their lifetimes? Answer that question and you can turn the country around. Curtis -----Original Message----- From: HAWKL35@aol.com <HAWKL35@aol.com> To: BLACK-DUTCH-AMERICA-L@rootsweb.com <BLACK-DUTCH-AMERICA-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2000 8:09 AM Subject: [BLACK-DUTCH-AMERICA] RE: THE GAMES . . . .and it hit me that I have not ever seen Native Americans Participate why is this does anyone have any answers on this? . . . Alece, Little Hawk,