September 24, 2015

Cherokee actor in solar commercial

Here's a commercial starring Cherokee actor Rob Vestal. It's the first time I can remember a commercial featuring a modern Native actor in a role that isn't specifically Native.

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Comment:  Natives have appeared in commercials going back to the battles over Proposition 5 and 1A in California almost 20 years ago. Since then, they've occasionally touted their casinos or their history and culture--usually to build support for their casinos. But this ad has nothing to do with anything Native, which makes it rare if not unique.

For more on Rob Vestal, see Off the Rails at Native Voices and Review of Teaching Disco.

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