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Dr. Myrton Running Wolf, on Adam Sandler Giving Us a Native American Rosa Parks Moment

Episode Summary

Thomas Sampson, an undergrad student at the Reynolds School of Journalism, and the host of the Back to the Films podcast, chats with Dr. Myrton Running Wolf, an assistant professor of Race and Media, about his recent paper titled: “Thank You, Adam Sandler & Co., for Giving Us a Native American Rosa Parks Moment!” The paper is a response to the 2015 film The Ridiculous 6, which stars Adam Sandler, and according to Wikipedia, is just one of a few films to have received an approval rating of 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. Running Wolf’s paper highlights the discrimination experienced by Native American actors in Hollywood, and also acts as a call to action for films such as The Ridiculous 6 to no longer be made. With supporting roles in Academy Award nominated films such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The New World, along with directing, producing and writing his own work, Running Wolf provides a unique perspective as to what it means to be Native American in the film industry today.