Existing comment:
Relying on his familiarity with Alaskan culture, Kent painted text in the little-known Kuskokwim dialect, creating a fictional message sent from Alaska to Puerto Rico. Translated, it reads: "To the people of Puerto Rico, our friends! Go ahead, let us change chiefs. That alone can make us equal and free." The implication of revolutionary sentiments angered groups of both American and Alaskan viewers. In Puerto Rico, some viewers objected to the inclusion of only dark-skinned figures. These negative reactions led to an extended public debate that ultimately was left unresolved (see "Revolution and Race," below).
The above from http://www.gsa.gov/vpb/01028/art_10.html |