Entertainment

Kevin Hart & His Wife Hosted a 'Cowboys & Indians' Party for Their Son & the Pics Are Sparking Outrage

EntertainmentPublished Nov 26, 2018
By Tanvier Peart
Eniko Hart, Kevin Hart son Kenzo cowboys and indians birthday partyenikohart/Instagram

It's safe to say we should file this birthday party idea as something not to do in 2018. Kevin Hart and his wife are catching heat for hosting a "cowboys and Indians" birthday for their now 1-year-old son, Kenzo. Although it's safe to assume the celeb dad and his wife, Eniko, likely did not mean to offend anyone, that doesn't take away from the backlash and why such a theme is still problematic.

Kevin and Eniko's son Kenzo is officially 1.-placeholder
Kevin and Eniko's son Kenzo is officially 1.
enikohart/Instagram

Kevin and Eniko's son Kenzo is officially 1.

The adorable little one is the couple's first child together who joins Kev's two children -- Heaven, 13, and Hendrix, 11 -- from a previous marriage.

To celebrate, they hosted a birthday party full of Wild Wild West vibes.-placeholder
To celebrate, they hosted a birthday party full of Wild Wild West vibes.
enikohart/Instagram

To celebrate, they hosted a birthday party full of Wild Wild West vibes.

And what looks to be inspired Native American garb to complete the "cowboys and Indians" theme.-placeholder
And what looks to be inspired Native American garb to complete the "cowboys and Indians" theme.
enikohart/Instagram

And what looks to be inspired Native American garb to complete the "cowboys and Indians" theme.

"Zos cowboys & indians party was nothing but amazing! Thanks to everyone for coming ... we love you guys!" Eniko Hart wrote in her Instagram post.

As expected, this did not sit well with many of Eniko's followers.-placeholder
As expected, this did not sit well with many of Eniko's followers.

As expected, this did not sit well with many of Eniko's followers.

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img-of-media-slide-266863

Thankfully, no stereotypical headdresses were worn, but that doesn't automatically absolve them from the troublesome theme.

... especially because she shared the photos on Thanksgiving.-placeholder
... especially because she shared the photos on Thanksgiving.

... especially because she shared the photos on Thanksgiving.

Critics are quick to point out that a "cowboys and Indians" theme is pretty problematic AF.-placeholder
Critics are quick to point out that a "cowboys and Indians" theme is pretty problematic AF.

Critics are quick to point out that a "cowboys and Indians" theme is pretty problematic AF.

Seriously, please don't throw your kid a "cowboys and Indians" party.

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img-of-media-slide-266854

And has people -- including Native Americans, who are not simply "Indians" -- calling out Eniko.-placeholder
And has people -- including Native Americans, who are not simply "Indians" -- calling out Eniko.

And has people -- including Native Americans, who are not simply "Indians" -- calling out Eniko.

Apparently, she not only tried to change up the caption but got caught deleting comments about her son's party.

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img-of-media-slide-266866

Native Americans continue to have their image commercialized, belittled, and depicted in a negative light.

They're often seen as "savages" and "the enemy" throughout history -- even in cartoons and classic movies (looking at you, Peter Pan) many of us grew up watching and soaked in.

We need to do better for our kids.-placeholder
We need to do better for our kids.
enikohart/Instagram

We need to do better for our kids.

Rather than give this the "Oh, it's just a kid's party. Calm down" kind of brush-off, let's look at the bigger issue here and the poor message it sends to our kids. (Heck, many of us still push that kumbaya Pilgrims and First Nation people breaking bread and eating turkey nonsense -- as if Europeans didn't rob them of their land and pillage them.)

Native Americans are still fighting for rights and ownership to things that have been stolen. So rather than promote a party theme that characterizes a group as "the bad guy" in such a stereotypical way, let's do more than repeat history and problematic imagery that doesn't need to have a place in 2018.

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