J.K. Rowling new series The History of Magic in North America angers Native Americans

SHE is used to her story releases being greeted with collective euphoria, but J.K. Rowling’s new wizarding series is copping some serious heat for racism.

J.K. ROWLING is accustomed to her book releases being greeted with collective euphoric excitement.

And at first, it seemed the announcement of her upcoming short stories on North American wizardry would maintain that trend. But she has since been accused by devoted fans of insensitive cultural appropriation.

The Harry Potter author is penning a four-part series of short stories, published in bite-size instalments on pottermore.com from Wednesday (AEDT). Titled The History of Magic in North America, the collection explores the world of magic in North America and topics such as skin-walkers and the Salem witch trial.

In a video preview of the series, a Native American skin-walker can be seen transforming into an eagle.

The wizarding world's history awaits in @JK_Rowling's #MagicInNorthAmerica: https://t.co/GnafCTrRMI #FantasticBeastshttps://t.co/eDWLE2I3V1

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) March 7, 2016

Dr Adrienne Keene, a Cherokee scholar and blogger on Native Appropriations, led the charge against Rowling explaining across two posts why native spirituality should not be employed as fantasy.

“We as indigenous peoples are constantly situated as fantasy creatures,” Dr Keene said.

“There is also a pervasive and problematic narrative wherein native peoples are always mystical and magical and spiritual.”

You can't just claim and take a living tradition of a marginalized people. That's straight up colonialism/appropriation @jk_rowling.

— Dr. Adrienne Keene (@NativeApprops) March 8, 2016

Dr Keene, a Harvard graduate and Brown University postdoctoral fellow, said this portrayal concealed the fact Native Americans were “still here, and still practice our spiritual traditions”.

She said she had hoped Rowling worked alongside Native Americans in creating the stories.

“I get worried thinking about the message it sends to have indigenous magic suddenly be associated with the Harry Potter brand and world,” she wrote.

“We fight so hard every single day as native peoples to be seen as contemporary, real, full, and complete human beings.”

She said the new series felt like “a slap in the face”.

“It actually makes me kind of want to cry. Harry Potter was such a formative series for me, and holds such a deep place in my heart,” she wrote.

Dr Keene was equally scathing after reading the first part released today, which includes a sentence saying “the Native American wizarding community was particularly gifted in animal and plant magic”.

Dr Keene has challenged Rowling to respond to her concerns shared with many others.

I know you're reading our concerns @jk_rowling, your silence is noted. https://t.co/td415ZaDm6

— Dr. Adrienne Keene (@NativeApprops) March 8, 2016

Many enraged Twitter users have joined the protest, firing off tweets expressing their disappointment with Rowling.

.@jk_rowling I love your books. Please treat Native Americans with the dignity and respect we deserve. We have been invisible for too long.

— Derek Pounds (@SkillChecks) March 7, 2016

Harry Potter fandom is overflowing with racist microaggressions Native Americans will have to deal with thanks to culture appropriation.

— Fangirl Jeanne (@fangirlJeanne) March 8, 2016

This. Is. Such. Colonial. Thinking. And. No. One. Stopped. Her.

— K Tempest Bradford (@tinytempest) March 8, 2016

Twitter: @sopphie

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Originally published as J.K. Rowling new series The History of Magic in North America angers Native Americans