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Native American children recognize media stereotypes
Oakland, CA -- Native American youth say the media has a powerful
influence on perceptions of people of color and that they see themselves
characterized as "poor," "drunk," "living on
reservations," "selling fireworks," and "fighting over
land." Whites and African Americans are also seen by these young
people as racially stereotyped on TV - "black people are always
funny," "white people are all rich and stuff."
These are just some of the observations from Native American children
released today as a continuation of A Different World, a groundbreaking
1998 study examining children's perceptions of race and class in the media.
The studies were commissioned by Children Now, a non-profit child advocacy
organization.
Children Now, along with the polling firm of Lake Snell Perry &
Associates, conducted focus groups in three cities- Oklahoma City,
Albuquerque and Seattle. The groups involved representatives of more than
20 tribes and respondents from the ages of 9-17.
"We heard from Native American children that they think of themselves
as an invisible race in the media," said Lois Salisbury, president of
Children Now. "Yet, when they do see themselves, they're often
troubled by what they see."
One Comanche child says, "Nobody really talks about our group,"
while others point to persistent stereotypes - casinos, "fighting over
land," dancing around fires." When Native American youth do see
themselves positively portrayed, they say they feel proud and empowered. One
Seattle boy talked about seeing a news clip about the Gathering of Nations,
a pow-wow in Albuquerque, "They announced it on TV ...I was really
surprised. It was cool."
In addition to race, Native youth also perceived a marked difference based
on socioeconomic class. "the [news] media thinks of upper class kids
as perfect...they don't really notice the middle class and lower
class...they think they're something you step on."
Like children of all nationalities and races, the Native youth polled in
Children Now's study want to see honest, accurate portrayals of themselves
and those that are around them. All respondents said they have friends of
different races and want to see that multi-ethnic aspect of their lives and
their world reflected on the TV and movie screen. As one Isleta boy
commented, "Show them all people...Show them together. As
friends."
Finally, Native youth looked beyond color and race to issues of equality,
economics and fairness in their critique of television and movies. One
Washington girl said, "When you do see Native Americans on TV
...they're all drunk and beating up on each other. And they're poor.
"A Seattle teen offers some simple advice. "If they're going to
put Indians [in the show], I'd tell them to actually go and study what they're
about to film."
For more information, please contact Vernae Graham or Dante Allen at
Children Now, 510-763-2444.
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