“The Other Side of Racism and Hate”

“The Other Side of Racism and Hate”
by
Donald L. Vasicek

So, there was this hot, windy day in Oklahoma City,
May 25, 2017, which was the beginning of learning a lesson
about racism and hate that parallels that of the hate groups
in America today. I should’ve known better before I accepted
an invitation to come here to speak at the Cheyenne and Arapaho
Veterans Memorial Day Service and to screen my award-winning documentary
film, “The Sand Creek Massacre”. I should have known better
because since I wrote, directed and produced the film, I have looked into
the eyes of racism and hate over and over and over during screenings
and appearances in every major city in the U. S. It is a most
chilling experience.

The Director of Cheyenne and Arapaho Veteran Services, a personable Cheyenne man with coal black, wavy hair, and smooth light brown skin with a
dynamic personality, kindly drove me to each location where I was to be.
The Cheyenne and Arapaho Complex in El Reno, Oklahoma was our first
stop. When we walked into this massive-sized hall, he left me to myself to attend to his job responsibilities. As I scanned the huge room, I saw numerous Cheyenne and Arapaho people milling around. I did not see 1 white person. It gave me a feeling of fear.

Suddenly, several Cheyenne and Arapaho people swarmed me. They
introduced themselves, said they were excited to meet me.
They had made up flyers and posted them all over Oklahoma
City, El Reno and Concho, Oklahoma, in anticipation of my
appearance. Each person wanted something different from me.
One man asked me to sign 7 different posters of me with my photo and
Sand Creek Massacre film poster along with my bio on the posters.
Another, Larry, a Cheyenne man wearing a fedora, sunglasses
and a white patch of hair at the crease in his chin, wanted
to talk with me about the Sand Creek Massacre and his
ancestors who were there, and survived. A Cheyenne woman
print journalist asked to interview me after I gave my
speech. 3 other Cheyenne woman asked me for copies
of the film. A trim and handsome Cheyenne man who
is a re-known forensic face expert, introduced himself to me.
He creates “faces” from dead bodies so that it helps law
enforcement identify dead bodies. Meeting him was exciting
because I read true crime book and watch true crime t.v. shows.
He has been mentioned in some of the books and shows.

After several men and kids sitting in a circle around drums played
and sang 3 songs in Cheyenne, a Cheyenne and Arapaho
color guard presented its colors. There were 3 Cheyenne and Arapaho speakers, 1 of whom was the Lt. Governor of Oklahoma and a USMC member. When I spoke I commended the 6 Cheyenne and Arapaho men who told their story in “The Sand Creek Massacre” film, particularly those who served America in the military service. In an attempt to establish some common ground
with the audience, possibly 1 to 200, all of whom were Cheyenne and Arapaho with the exception of a white camera person taping the service, I mentioned Trump by saying that there was a racist and bigot who lived in the White House.

When my speech was over, there were echoes of applause. I write, echoes, because they were few who applauded me. But those who did, their applause bounced off the walls of the massive-sized room. My film was turned on for everyone to watch (there were about 200 people there).

While the film was playing, sitting alone, I started eating my box lunch,
while a Cheyenne print journalist interviewed me for her newspaper.
Then, 6 Cheyenne men came up to me. They pulled out chairs. The
sat down and circled all the way around me. I ended up sitting
in the middle of them, you know, like I was being attacked like Indian’s
attacked whites encroaching on their lands during the 18th & 19th centuries,
who circled their wagon trains to protect themselves from the
attacks.

The spokesman a burly, intimidating man with an angry
look on his face, whom I’ll call Mr. X, told me with no blinking of eyes that I was exploiting their people by having made this film and distributing it. He asked me who gave me permission to make the film. I told him I traveled to Clinton,
Oklahoma, Lame Deer, Montana and Wind River, Wyoming Cheyenne
and Arapaho reservations and appeared before Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal councils to get permission to make the film. They approved it. The
angry man told me that a PBS t.v. station came down to
Oklahoma to shoot footage for a Sand Creek Massacre
story. He said they promised his people and him that they
would pay them, which they never did.

As I looked around the circle, and met each man head on in
their eyes, and stone-cold faces, I saw that their pupils were black. Like
the eyes of a snake, motionless, angry, maybe fearful, they stared
right through me like laser beams burning holes in my very being. Fear
drove me to attack.

I told them they were insulting my integrity and professionalism. I told them that I made the film to provide a voice for their people. I said there was never any intention to make any money off of the film or to acquire fame because of it, something Cheyenne and Arapaho people on other reservations had confronted
me with before. I went on to say I hadn’t made any money from
sales of the film, that I was still paying for its production out of my
own pocket, and that I would never make any money on the film.

We proceeded to have a stare down. I wasn’t going to blink or
move. I thought, “fuck them”. They owe me an apology. Finally,
Mr. X stood up. The other 5 men stood up. He offered his
hand to me, as well as each of the other men. We shook hands. Each of the other men shook my hand. They smiled. They showed me respect.
Mr. X thanked me and said that they no longer had a problem
with me making the film. The forensic face man asked me where he could get
a copy of my film so that he could show it in classrooms for
appearances he makes in schools.

That evening I screened the film at the Concho, Oklahoma Community
Center. There were 50 chairs, all of which were filled, with Cheyenne
and Arapaho people. I was the only white person there. After my speech
and the screening, 2 different people attacked me for making the film.
A Cheyenne woman. An Arapaho man.

The Cheyenne woman was right in front of me, feet away. I have never, ever, faced anyone with such a hating look that she gave me. It was chilling. I really believed that she wanted to take me out. She ranted about how white people treat the Jews by building monuments for them, giving them money, helping them out with training and jobs, but they do nothing for the Cheyenne and Arapaho people. She asked me, “Why is that? Why are white people helping the Jews, but not use” as though it was my fault.

I told her that I made this film as a voice for her people. I told her that other white people have helped create organizations in colleges and universities for America’s indigenous people to further their education. I told that there are companies and corporations who have and are creating jobs for America’s indigenous people. I told her that there are many groups of white people who stand up for America’s indigenous people. I told her there are television and radio programs that have their doors open to America’s indigenous people. I said that there are a multitude of white people who donate money and time to help America’s indigenous people get places to live, food to eat and transportation.

She said, “That isn’t enough.”

I was unable to take my eyes off of her eyes. Her pupils were small and black, shaped like inverted almonds. The hate that emanated from her eyes terrified me. I was stunned by it. I was thinking that she was going to pull out a knife and stab me. She showed so much hate towards me. I was about to step back from her when I was suddenly able to look through the hate in her eyes. On the other side of the hate, I saw the look of betrayal, of sadness, of a loving woman who was devastated by the trust by her ancestors that was broken by white people many years ago and continues to exist today, even to the point of genocide. It was at that point that I saw her vulnerability.

I asked her, “What is enough?” She blinked her eyes then. Tears filled them. Mine were on the brink of tears. She smiled. She reached out her hand to me. She thanked me for making the film. I wanted to open my arms up to her, to hug her, but the fear was still there even though, for the first time in my long odyssey with “The Sand Creek Massacre” film, which has taken me to nearly every state in the country for screenings, speaking appearances, questions and answer sessions on radio and television, traveling to schools, colleges, universities, organizations, corporations, film festivals, etc., I felt as though I had finally found some common ground with racism and hate.

I will always remember the little 4th grade girl who watched the film with 73 parents, faculty and students at Walnut Hills Elementary School in Centennial, Colorado. She asked me, “Why do people hate Indians?” I was speechless. Now, I could answer her question better than I did then. And what do any of us have, if we do not have love in our hearts for human beings?

An Alternative to Killing
An Alternative to Killing

Sand Creek Massacre Golden Drover Winner to Direct Silas Soule Film

Olympus Films+, LLC ("The Sand Creek Massacre", "Faces") has been a global filmmaking, writing and consulting company for the past 40 years.
Olympus Films+, LLC (“The Sand Creek Massacre”, “Faces”) has been a global filmmaking, writing and consulting company for the past 40 years.

For Immediate Release

Centennial, CO, United States of America March 11, 2014
GOLDEN DROVER WINNER TO SHOOT NEW FILM
March 11, 2014 (Centennial, CO) – Donald L. Vasicek, who won the Golden Drover Award for Best Film (Native American) (“The Sand Creek Massacre”) at the Trail Dance Film Festival and also winner at The IndieFest Film Festival and The American Indian Film Festival, has signed a LOI with Iron Violet Films (I.V.F.), a division of the parent company: Iron Violet Productions, to write, direct and produce a feature film along with his film company, Olympus Films+, LLC.

Titled, “The Captain”, it is a story about Captain Silas Soule who risked his own life in his quest to save African­Americans from slavery, and the Cheyenne tribe from annihilation, during the Sand Creek Massacre. I. V. F. is headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana, also known as “Hollywood South”, where nearly 220 major motion pictures and shows have been shot. It boasts three motion picture studios and sound stages in the region. Broadway producer, Marcinho Savant, is executive producing “The Captain.” I.V.F.’s anticipated film releases include, “The Tracks”, “Birthday Pie”, and “Brookwater’s Curse” with Mr. Savant (CEO) serving as Creative Consultant and Executive Producer.

Savant said, “One of America’s greatest, muted, stains. Some would have it swept away, like so many grains of blood­soaked sand. I’m honored and grateful to be collaborating with Donald on this important film. His passion, has become my own. I’m honored to play some, small, role in telling the truth, for the benefit of the Cheyenne, and Arapaho victims of this horrendous slaughter. Captain Soule was a pioneering Abolitionist who befriended the indigenous people. I suspect he’d be thrilled to know that the truth will, finally, be told.”

Vasicek said, “It is past due time to make a feature film about Silas Soule, let alone the Sand Creek Massacre. Mr. Soule’s bravery and courage to face and elevate himself about the racism and hate that drove people to brutalize, murder, rape, mutilate and terrorize slaves and America’s indigenous people reigns as a shining example of heroism for all Americans and the world. I am honored and blessed to have become part of this film with Iron Violet Films and the talented Mr. Savant.”

Vasicek said an upcoming press release will give an update for the production schedule. The pre­production website address is “The Captain” Movie. Please contact Vasicek via e­Mail, 303­903­2103 or Mr. Savant via e­Mail , 318­402­4697 x 705 for more information.

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CONTACTS:
Donald L. Vasicek
Olympus Films+, LLC
dvasicek@earthlink.net
303­903­2103

Marcinho Savant
Iron Violet Films e­Mail 318­402­4697, x 705