It Hurts To Be Rendered Invisible By Other People

I often sit down with magazines and catalogues and leaf through them, looking at the pictures of people. For about five years now, I’ve noticed that there are no Native American faces in commercial ads in magazines or in catalogues.

Most of the faces are white but others are creeping in, slowly. I’m finally seeing some different ethnic groups, such as African Americans and Asians. And I even see people in wheelchairs and people using crutches.

Everyone is in these ads and catalogues these days, except Native Americans. They were first here, but why should they be the last in our ads?

This bothers me because it seems like a basic lack of fairness. I am not Native American but I do have an adopted part-Cherokee grandson whom I have raised. According to the Constitution, isn’t everyone supposed to have an equal stab at life?

To ignore Native Americans in ads is to say that they don’t exist in our culture. They are invisible. By not having them represented in catalogues, it implies they don’t shop. But they also eat food, buy clothes and gifts. Their children need everything any child needs.

It shouldn’t be hard to find Native Americans to pose for these ads. I’ve attended several powwows and met the most beautiful Indian men and women.

I want my grandson to see himself reflected everywhere. It’s part of him. He is very proud of his Indian culture, but yet he can’t find anyone like him reflected in these ads. He needs to feel he is represented so he no longer is so angry about the injustices done to his people in the past.

I think the people who design the catalogues and create the ads should be told this is a concern. If you feel the same way I do, why not let the catalogue companies know. They always have 800 numbers. Give them a call. If you don’t see faces of color in your favorite magazines, let the editors know this bothers you.

If you aren’t sure what I’m talking about, pick up a magazine or a catalog, leaf through it and count how many faces of color you see. You might see some, but I guarantee you won’t see a Native American face.

I don’t want to be a rabble rouser. I’m just a housewife who works in her garden. But I am tired of this injustice and it is time for me to finally speak out.

MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.