Racist remarks in comic ignite boycott

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Racist comments a comic book character has his creators confused as to why Aboriginals might be insulted his use of the term "going Native."

"The story is really only meant to be humorous," said Lucille Stanzione, executive assistant to Michael Silberkleit, chairman of Archie Publications. "We never meant to insult anyone. I'm sure no one intended anything but to be humorous."

In the No. 19 issue of Jugheads Double Digest, comic book character Reg said

he did not want to "go Native" lest he sink "to the depths of degradation and despair! A sniveling, snarling animal! No hope! No pride! No sense of decency!"

Archie Publications was not aware of the potential insult of the remark, said Stanzione. The company prides itself on presenting non-violent, educational mater, and promotes various public service issues such as environmentalism, she said.

"The only thing that we can send you is our sincerest apologies," Stanzione said. "In the future, we will be more aware."

That apology may come too late for many Archie fans.

Karina Cardinal, 14, and friend Amber Dion, 13, were flying home to Kehewin Reserve, 125 kilometres east of Edmonton, from Toronto, when they read the offending story.

"I felt hurt and insulted the remarks," said Dion. "I used to buy Archie comics all the time, now I'm telling my friends not to buy them because (the comic) gives people the wrong idea about Natives."

As the only Native student in her class, Dion said she has to deal with racism every day. Her friend Cardinal agrees going to a predominately white school is difficult, but she has more support as there are five Native students in Cardinal's Grade 9 class.

"I always loved the Archie series but now my judgment towards them has totally turned around," Cardinal wrote to Richard Goldwater, company president. "I already have to deal with racism where I go to school and now I have to deal with Archie Comics' racist remarks."

Allowing the term Native to be used in such a manner is completely unacceptable in today's society, said Cardinal's father John Kehewin.

As teens struggling to be accepted in a white environment, the adolescents face enough barriers without being betrayed a favorite comic book character, said Kehewin.

"They were very, very hurt these remarks," he said. "They were trying to fit in and then they come across this nonsense. It hurts."

And the teens are showing their mettle. They have launched a letter-writing campaign alerting Native media to the issue and informing Archie Comics executives their product will no longer be bought Native youths.

"It is sad we have to do this because today's youth hasn't got much left in the way of entertainment that is innocent and light-hearted," wrote Dion's older sister Shana.

"I thought comics sere supposed to be universally unbiased, or at least until now I did.

Archie representative Stanzione agreed a letter campaign to the chairman and editors could result in something more than a verbal apology.

"If we get a good amount of letters, it would get people's attention," she admitted. Stanzione said the idea of a published apology would be forwarded to chairman Silberkleit.

Company executives, attending a comic book convention in San Diego, were unavailable for comment.