Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

With violence headlining the news around the globe, a multicultural perspective has never been more relevant than now. No longer does "rugged individualism" or "might makes right" seem the answer to every dilemma. Even jaded Americans, sure of their own superiority, are beginning to ask what's happening.

Unfortunately, the frontier mentality is embedded deeply in the American psyche. It's pervasive in every form of popular entertainment, from sports to TV to comic books. How many times has the lone hero, a John Wayne or James Bond, defeated the forces of evil against insurmountable odds?

By providing another perspective, multicultural products challenge the predominant myths. But it's difficult to find such voices in today's media onslaught. Few minority creators have the resources to break through the noise.

As the smallest and most at-risk minority, Native Americans provide a case study of how mainstream society ignores other viewpoints. As an indigenous people with non-Western roots, they also suggest an antidote to our monocultural beliefs.

Racism Here and Now

Most people consider blatant racism a thing of the past. But as the 21st century approaches, minority stereotyping and slighting still occur too often. A few recent examples:

* In February 1999, a TV episode of "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" gave the Native American hero Thunderbird a gruffer voice and animalistic powers he didn't have in the X-Men comic book. Ironically, the "original" Thunderbird was killed off after one issue.

* In April 1999, the Washington Redskins football team vowed to fight a ruling that voided its trademark as "disparaging." Meanwhile, the Cleveland Indians baseball team continues to parade its "Chief Wahoo," a devil-eyed savage, before an audience of millions.

* Also in April, an LA Times columnist wrote about his daughter's participation in the YMCA "Pawnee Squaws," a "fierce tribe" of "Indian princesses," without realizing most Native Americans consider all these terms offensive and wrong. One might dismiss these as isolated cases, but they don't begin to plumb the depths of our cultural myopia. More telling are the themes and attitudes evident in much of our media. These reflect a mindset we rarely even notice, much less question.

Comics Mirror Society

American comic books and cartoons are a leading influence on today's pop culture. Kids absorb and recycle them in forms such as movies, video games, and websites. As instances, one could cite everything from Batman to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to the Lion King.

Native Americans have made strides in comic books. A dozen or two significant characters exist. But few of them are leaders or stars. No Native American--indeed, no minority hero except the Black Panther (a holdover from the '60s)--is on the title of a major comic. How does the prevailing attitude express itself in comics, and what's the alternative? Consider the following:

Comic book characters are routinely tall and thin, and often pale and blond, like golden idols. In contrast, Native Americans tend to be genetically programmed to be short and stocky, with dark hair and skin.

Comic book heroes routinely rush into battle without calling for help--either from other heroes or the authorities. In contrast, Native Americans tend to stress community involvement over glory-seeking individualism.

If our heroes pause to talk, they demand answers or specify solutions. In contrast, Native Americans tend to approach problems indirectly. They tell stories and let listeners realize the best course of action for themselves.

Often a superhero conflict becomes a contest of wills, a competition for its own sake, as the underlying goals are forgotten. In contrast, Native Americans tend to shun adversarial relations and seek the inclusion of all.

Comic book villains are routinely captured and put behind bars without any attempt to rehabilitate them. In contrast, Native Americans tend to emphasize methods such as "talking circles" so wrongdoers can face up to their deeds.

Of course, one could say much more about each of these points. But the overriding message is clear. We have much to learn from the multicultural perspective if we only stop and listen.