HomeTelevisionSacheen Littlefeather, Activist Who Gave Marlon Brando's Oscar Speech, Dies

Sacheen Littlefeather, Activist Who Gave Marlon Brando’s Oscar Speech, Dies


master mentalism tricks

Sacheen Littlefeather has died at the age of 75. The Indigenous activist famously took the stage in Marlon Brando‘s place at the 1973 Academy Awards to decline his Oscar earned for The Godfather.

Littlefeather died on Sunday, October 2, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Sunday. She had been living with breast cancer.

Littlefeather was born Marie Louise Cruz on November 14, 1946 in Salinas, California. She changed her name in her 20s to align with her heritage as she became increasingly involved in Native American activism in the 1970s. She was part of the group that occupied Alcatraz Island in 1970. Littlefeather reportedly met Brando through Francis Ford Coppola, who like her, lived in San Francisco, after she joined the Screen Actors Guild. Brando became interested in Native American issues and had Littlefeather give his speech in his stead during the 1973 Oscars ceremony.

“He very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award,” Littlefeather politely said to the audience. “And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry… and on television in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee.”

The activist was met with boos and offensive hand gestures. Actors such as Clint Eastwood, Raquel Welch, and ceremony co-host Michael Caine criticized her on-camera for the remarks, which she was only allotted 60 seconds to give before being escorted off by security guards. Littlefeather later said she saw an angry John Wayne being physically restrained as she spoke on stage, and that for years she was boycotted by Hollywood, calling it being “red-listed.”

The speech remains one of the most famous moments in Oscars history, but the Academy didn’t do anything to rectify the mistreatment she faced that night until this September. The Academy formally apologized to Littlefeather at an in-person presentation at the Academy Museum on September 17, 2022, calling the abuse she faced in response “unwarranted and unjustified.”

Littlefeather explained Brando’s decision in an interview with Variety ahead of her appearance at the Academy Museum.

“At that time in 1973, there was a media blackout on Wounded Knee and against the American Indian Movement that was occupying it,” she said. “Marlon had called them in advance and asked them to watch the Academy Awards, which they did. As they saw me, up on stage, refusing that Academy Award for the stereotypes within the film industry, and mentioning Wounded Knee in South Dakota, it would break the media boycott.”

“It was my first time at the Academy Awards. I made it through my first hurdle, promising Marlon Brando that I would not touch that Oscar. But, as I walked off that stage, I did in the ways of courage, honor grace, dignity, and truthfulness. I did so in the ways of my ancestors and the ways of Indigenous women,” she added. “I was met with the stereotypical tomahawk chop, individuals who called at me, and I ignored all of them. I continued to walk straight ahead with a couple of armed guards beside me. I held my head high and was proud to be the first Indigenous woman in the history of the Academy Awards to make that political statement.”

Littlefeather had a handful of film roles. She went on to continue her activism, as well as working in theater and health care. A documentary about her life, Sacheen Breaking the Silence, was released in 2021.

The activist reflected on death before her passing, saying in a statement, “When I am gone, always be reminded that whenever you stand for your truth, you will be keeping my voice and the voices of our nations and our people alive. I remain Sacheen Littlefeather. Thank you.”

Read The Full Article Here


trick photography
Advertisingfutmillion

Popular posts

Hollywood Spotlight: Director Jon Frenkel Garcia
The Dutchman Cast: André Holland, Zazie Beetz & More Join
The Creator Reactions: Gareth Edwards’ Latest Is One of 2023’s
Company Paid Critics For Rotten Tomatoes Reviews
Gilles Marini on Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch and the
Fire Country Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Too Many Unknowns
‘Beef’: Everything We Know About Season 2
Blue Bloods Season 14 Episode 4 Review: Past is Present
Bill McBirnie’s Reflections (For Paul Horn) 
“Be Big” by Stephanie Bettman
“Ride On” by Roots Asylum
Touch the Buffalo’s “Bodhicitta”
9 Boob Tapes That Work For All Busts, Shapes, and
Here’s Why Apple Cider Vinegar Is the Ingredient Your Hair
I Travel a Lot for Work—These Are the Useful Items
The Best Street Style Looks From the Fall 2023 Couture
Summary and Review: One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
No Preview
One Perfect Couple: Ending & Explanations
Author Aimie K. Runyan Shares The Joy of Writing Foodie
Enthralling Novel Captures Essence of Humanity in Futuristic, AI-Ruled Setting
Starship launch 3: What time is the SpaceX flight today?
Europa’s seafloor may be impenetrable and inhospitable to life
Research reveals the key to an irresistible online dating profile
In Frank Herbert’s Dune, fungi are hidden in plain sight
Killing TikTok
Comedy or Tragedy?
BYD Atto 3 Electric SUV With Blade Battery Technology Launched
Bitcoin Falls to $19,000 in Anticipation of Tighter Fed Policy