Discrimination through the pages of a magazine

The following letter was sent this week to the editorial staff of a magazine published by Arrocha, one of Panama’s leading drug stores. It was signed by Melva Lowe Goodin.

To the editor Maria Jesus Rodriguez and team ARROCHA journal:
As a subscriber of the newspaper La Prensa, I received the ARROCHA Magazine (March 2013 edition) yesterday. I were very impressed that in the 114 pages of this magazine, with multiple images on each page, there is not a single image of a woman, man, girl, child, or infant who is not white skinned with straight hair all in color hues Until the twelve Horoscope illustrations on pages 112 and 113 appear only white women, slender, with hair of various colors. The irony is the article that appears on page 58 with the title "Do not discriminate!" in recognition of the International Day of Racial Discrimination held on March 21 each year. While the article notes that "Racism as ideology and doctrine will eventually create a series of negative values, which transcend the physical differences" the illustration on that page is a white skinned couple. I wonder if a couple with that appearance has experienced firsthand discrimination by the color of their skin? I believe not.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Journal Arrocha
The population of Panama is a melting pot, and the Pharmacy Arrocha clientele consists of people who reflect this ethnic and racial diversity. The money we spend on their companies have the same value of money spent by people of white appearance. We (a) black (a), Chinese (a), indigenous,(a) fat (a), weak (a) deserve worthy illustrations by all publications in Panama. For a further discussion of the background of racism in Panama, I recommend you read my book African Descent in the Isthmus of Panama 1501-2012 sold in pharmacies Arrocha (Tumba Muerto, Costa del Este, and Villa Lucre) besides other libraries in the City.