Puerto Rico sees increase in blacks, American Indians
Tired of census numbers yet? One more maybe? Interesting figures show the number of people identifying themselves as black or American Indian in Puerto Rico jumped about 50 percent in the last decade.

Once again we come back to the question: Are these accurate numbers or just a sign of better outreach methods to minorities and reservations? Here’s what the Associated Press wrote:

The increase suggests a sense of racial identity may be growing among the various ethnic groups that have long been viewed as a blurred racial mosaic on the U.S. territory, although experts say it is too soon to say what caused the shift.

The growth in those calling themselves black or American Indian reduced the population share of Puerto Ricans who identify themselves solely as white. That group dropped nearly 8 percentage points to about 76 percent of the island’s 3.7 million people.

Dueling Redskin mascot headlines
Ok, ok. Done with mascot stories too? Well, here’s just a pair more: Red Lodge High students praised by state officials in mascot change then, Redskins Mascot Reinstated at Maine High School.

The Billings Gazette reported last week on a public official who spoke at the Red Lodge high school in Red Lodge, MT, about the recent school board decision to change the Redskin mascot name.

In Maine, however, the school reinstated the Redskin mascot after rigorous debate, ICTMN reports.

Smithsonian artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith paints her world
From the Daily Evergreen, WSU:

With each word, visiting artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith crafted a picture of the history of Native Americans and the injustices against them. Smith, a contemporary Native American artist, presented the history of her people not only through her words but with the works of fellow artists from the past 40 years on Wednesday to a full hall in Kimbrough 101.

Born on the Flathead Reservation in 1940, Smith is considered one of the most acclaimed American Indian artists and political activists, according to the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Her art focuses on images of Indian sufferings and stereotypes set against the background of the modern American way of life.

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Tags: art, flathead reservation, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, peurto rico, red lodge redskins, redskins, U.S. Census