Chickasaw woman to become first Native American to clerk for Supreme Court justice

Yes, it has been an issue and still is, especially in Indian Country.

Is it because of descrimination or reluctance to assimilate or a combination of the two?

CPT Jack Durish - Both. A while back in Oklahoma, I mentioned that I was part Menominee & Chippewa, and an older guy just blurted out that "you don't look like a prairie n*g**r." Thats not uncommon. By the same token, tribes want to maintain their heritage and their system of justice, which is not always compatible with the law system of the United States. It means that lawyers who practice in tribal courts often have to know two distinct system.

Capt Gregory Prickett - My father was bully. He bullied his family. And I grew up with a knee jerk reflex to bully bullies. My father was also a bigot. At least he was indiscriminate in his discrimination. He hated everybody who wasn't just like him (German/Lutheran - which is funny because he wasn't really German). Thus, I also grew up bullying bigots. Again, a knee jerk sort of reflex. I must admit I never heard the pejorative "prairie n___" which is sort of surprising inasmuch as my father never referred to those who were different expect with pejoratives. I suppose he never met a Native American. My problem with discrimination is that I suffer the repercussions as much as those whites who are bigots. It's the same as all service members suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous behavior during the Vietnam War even if they didn't serve in Vietnam. Sadly, we'll never put an end to prejudice. It is as much a human trait as knee caps. The best we can hope for is to make sure that it doesn't influence our legal system and never make it welcome in polite society. For my part, I will go to my grave bullying bullies and bigots.