We Had a Little Real Estate Problem by Kliph Nesteroff

 

1.     What feelings did this book evoke for you? 

·       Happy, sad, angry, and surprised

·       Non native author using direct quotes to tell the Indigenous story

·       Loved how he connected Hollywood, other actors/ comedians, and protests against Hollywood to comedy

 

2.     Have you ever heard any of the comedians/ actors featured in this book? What did you think of them?

·       Larry David

·       Gary Shandling

·       David Letterman

·       Richard Pryor

·       Dick Gregory

·       Jimmy Walker

·       Lindsay Wagner

 

3.     Did you check out any of the comedians or Indigenous people after or while reading this book? If you did, what did you think?  Some of the Indigenous folks featured:

·       Charlie Hill

·       Will Rogers

·       Jonny Roberts

·       The 1491s

·       Adrianne Chalepah

·       Jackie Curtiss

·       Dakota Ray Hebert

·       Jim Thorpe

·       Joey Clift

·       Brian Bahe

·       Lucas Brown

·       Paul Littlechief

·       Williams and Ree

·       Terry Ree

·       Jackie Keliiaa

·       Vaughn Eaglebear 

·       Larry Omaha

·       Ryan McMahon

·       Sierra Ornelas

·       Vincent Craig

·       Isiah Yazzie

·       Howie Miller

·       Don Burnstick

·       Marc Yaffee

·       Elaine Miles

·       Dallas Goldtooth

 

4.     Has this book changed your impression of Indigenous people? 

·       Could see the “trickster” role playing out

·       Reminded me that Indigenous nations are very different from one another

 

5.     What did you already know about this book’s subject before you read this book? What new things did you learn?

·       Seems obvious, but Indigenous people can’t practice night after night on a reservation

·       Everything is so darn inconvenient when you live on the reservation

 

6.     What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing this book? What ideas was he trying to get across?

·       He is not Indigenous. His other book is The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels, and the History of American Comedy

 

7.     What else have you read on this topic, and would you recommend these books to others? 

·       Great to learn about Indigenous people (and comedians, if you are into that)

 

8.     Which historical events do you think might need more elaboration for someone not familiar with U.S. history?

·       It highlights how media has played a role in shaping what non-Native people think about Native people and how little attention is given to Native comedians by mainstream outlets.

·       Mohawk Steelworkers

·       Boarding schools

·       Ship Rock nuclear spill

·       Alcatraz Occupation

·       Trail of Tears

 

9.     Of all the information presented in the book, what has stayed with you the most? 

·       Will Rogers was Indigenous and traveled with Buffalo Bill

·       Casinos don’t book Indigenous comedians

·       Indigenous activism has been constant and ongoing, and also made invisible

 

10.   Share a favorite quote from the book. Why did this quote stand out?

·       Charlie Hill's stand-up act includes the following lines: " My people are from Wisconsin. We used to be from New York. We had a little real estate problem." Kliph Nesteroff riffs off Charlie Hill's comedic life into a broad overview of Native American comedy in this book.