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native american mascots and logos should only be used if they arent offensive
arguments against native american mascots
arguments against native american mascots
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You see Native American team names and mascots everywhere in sports: middle schools, high schools, colleges and professional teams. In fact, 900 teams in the United States use Native American terms (Potenza). Over the past couple years, Native American groups began to protest, sue, and ask teams with Native American nicknames to change their names, mascots, and logos. For instance, in 2014, many groups have protested against the NFL and the Washington Redskins, to change their name. Many people believe that Native American nicknames belong in sports. Those people believe that using a Native American name brings tradition and honor to the tribes they support. However, those nicknames are racist and humiliate Indians. Sports teams using Native …show more content…
To the naked eye, Redskins, Braves, Indians, Blackhawks and the other 900 spots teams named after Native Americans, is all normal. It seems ordinary, sports franchises perceive it as innocent. However, American Indians are still, very much, alive and take offense to the nicknames of Indian descent in sports. Some Native Americans refer to the term “redskin” as the R-word and they even compare it to the N-word. Suzan Shown Harjo, president of Morning Star Institute, a national Native American rights organization, says “The most offensive example of a mascot is the one used by Washington’s football team…. The R-word - she can’t even bring herself to say it - is the same as the N-word.” Harjo has been fighting for years to get the Redskins to change their name (Basu). The Washington Redskins aren’t the only team to scrutinize for their Native American nickname. College teams like Arkansas State University and University of North Dakota had to change their mascots. Native Americans take offense to the use of their tribal slurs and wish that they’d be gone from sports. You don’t see any African American, Asian, White, Latino, etc. racial nicknames so why is it okay to use Native American …show more content…
The professional baseball team, Atlanta Braves have their fans do a hand motion referred to as the “tomahawk chop.” They argue its tradition for fans to use this chant and hand motion, however, it mimics Native Americans, nothing traditional about that. The Washington Redskins owner, Dan Snyder, argues that their team name defines them as a franchise, he says, “Our team name captures the best of who we are and who we can be, by staying true to our history and honoring the deep and enduring values our name represents.” Snyder adds, “The name of our football team is the name of our football team. And I think that what I would encourage you to do and everyone else to do is just look at the history, understand where the name came from, understand that it means ... honor, it means respect, it means pride. And it 's that simple." How is that traditional or honorable toward your team if you disrespect the Native Americans you’re supposedly supporting? The Washington Redskins aren’t and Atlanta Braves aren’t on Indian reservations and they don’t have permission to us their names (like most teams), therefore, they shouldn’t be allowed to us those
The article “The problems with Native American Mascots” written by Laurel R. Davis covers many arguments regarding the use of Native American names and images for sports teams’ mascots. Rather or not sports teams should be able to continue using Native American names for their teams and images for their mascots is a highly controversial topic. Opinions will vary, especially when a person of Native American heritage is being asked opposed to a person of non-Native American heritage. Native American images should not be used for sports teams’ mascots as their use stereotypes the group, misrepresents many aspects of the Native American culture, as well as negatively impacting the lives of those that come from Native American heritage.
Asian or any other ethnic group is unthinkable, so why are Native Americans still fair game”? (Shakely 522) Jack Shakely, former chair of the los Angeles City/county Native American Commission as well as president emeritus of the California community Foundation, effectively argues that removing Native American names and mascots from college and professional teams is the right thing to do. Indian mascots for sports teams are offensive to many Native Americans because they are portrayed as savage cut-throats or act like fools. Jack Shakely argues his point in the article, “Indian Mascots- You’re Out!” by explaining his experience with Indians portrayed as mascots and how dignity and respect are not subject to majority rule. A fourth-generation Oklahoman of Creek descent, he is the author of “The Confederate War Bonnet”, a historical novel of the Civil War in Indian Territory. Shakely is mixed-blood Muscogee/Creek and his family has fought against Indian stereotypes. Being a known author, a leader of these important organizations, Native American, and personally dealing with his family fighting against Indian stereotypes makes Shakely creditable to argue his point effectively. I also believe that Indian names and mascot should be removed, because I would be offended if a sports team was named after African Americans and an African American mascot was dancing around like a fool. Some Native Americans believe that people are getting the wrong impression about them. Only %16 of Native Americans find Indian names and mascots offensive but Shakely states, “If 16% of a population finds something offensive, that should be enough to signal deep concern. There are...
In his Sports Illustrated article, “The Indian Wars,” S.L. Price argues that there is no easy answer to whether or not the use of Native American mascots by high school, college, and professional sports teams is offensive. “It's an argument that, because it mixes mere sports with the sensitivities of a people who were nearly exterminated, seems both trivial and profound -- and it's further complicated by the fact that for three out of four Native Americans, even a nickname such as Redskins, which many whites consider racist, isn't objectionable.” Whereas Price provides ample evidence that his claim is true, I disagree with the way it was presented and I still insist that Native American names and mascots are offensive.
Putting Indians on a helmet shows how America “owns” them. “Not only do Indians have to deal with the fallout of being ‘conquered’ people...the shame of being men who descended from those unable to protect our women...the shame of being women who descended from those raped and tortured…” but they also have to deal with being reminded of the events that happened in the past. Constantly being reminded of these events is disrespectful and torture. In the past, the Indians were helpless against the pilgrims and were unable to do anything to protect their people. Since the name of the mascot is broadcasted visually, Redskins just reminds them that they were owned and still remain to be. Just like corporate America copyrighting their inventions, in Dan Snyder’s position in his letter to the Washington Redskins fans, he continues to want to “own” the name Redskins. Snyder’s action of keeping the team name shows his power of “sustain[ing] long term success if this franchise.” American Indians are being disrespected in this manner by being seen as a franchise instead of a group of people. Especially since such a big issue like this is just for a sports game, it is demeaning for American Indian’s
The idea of having a Native American as a mascot seems respectful to the tribe and a way to honor the people who arrived to this country first. Many people find it racist and derogatory to call teams by these names, while
There is considerable controversy that dates back to the 1960’s over sports teams’ names that reference Native American heritage. “The National Congress of American Indiana’s (NCIA) created a campaign in 1968 to eliminate stereotypes found in print and other media.” (ChangeTheMascot.org). The American Indian community has worked for many years to abolish the right to use Native American Names, spiritual and cultural symbols by professional sports teams (Teters) that they feel offensive. The Washington Redskins football team continues to battle a long standing controversy to change their name. Native Americans, politicians, fans of American football, as well as the general public all seem to have opposing viewpoints regarding if this team should be forced to change their name out of respect to those offended.
Issue of whether to keep Mascots in schools or not, started in late 1970’s and from then this debate is going on. Most of the schools have Indian Mascots in place for half a century and suddenly it become problem to use Indian Mascots. Over 500 Native American organizations also announced their support for the removal of those mascots and over 1200 schools across the United States have changed the name of their sports teams and some school refused to play with those schools using Indian mascots. But some school still think that using mascots are just paying homage to the Native peoples and it’s just another group claiming to be offended. Sports teams used those mascots to promote their team’s athletic powers, like wolf, lion and eagle etc. How portrait of an Indain wearing hat with feather or headdress can be offensive or racist? One thing which never be done up to now that is to view our history from Native eyes. First of all, learn about their culture and their living style from their new perspective not the one which is given in our history books. From last hundred years we taught our generations that this is our country and we had a very long war with Indians which won. We also tell different kind of stories like burning of Fort Pequot Indians because they had trade relationship with British company. Can stories like this possibly be related to mascot issue? Using mascots are really a problem or just a political incorrectness.
Aside from professional sports teams having offensive names, high school and college teams also have offensive names. In Greenly, Colorado at the University of Northern Colorado, their mascot is the Fightin’ Reds. Of course, this name sounds very racists, depicting Native Americans in a very harsh manner. Students on the basketball team renamed their team, The Fightin’ Whites. They were trying to depict the 1950’s style of the average American male. Their slogan for their team is “Every thang’s going to be all white.” By making this new mascot and new slogan, the basketball team was trying to get their city council to talk about the insensitive team mascots that their school, along with thousands of other schools have. In Eaton, Colorado the people who live there are amazed by all the madness that is going on about the school’s mascot. They are perfectly happy with the mascot, and to them it seems like it would be breaking tradition if someone were to change their mascot. Even though there are many people who hate the school’s mascot and vote for it to be changed, there are also some people who love it and do not want to be changed. Some people think it is a honor for a school’s mascot to be named after their culture. But the number of people for the mascots do not even compare to the number of people opposed to the mascots. (Cart, A12)
Orvetti, P. (2011). Do the Redskins Need a New Name? Retrieved Mar. 17, 2012, from
Many believe that these children are going to grow up as racists as a result of watching sports and even going to school. How can people make such wild accusations that essential parts of American culture and society are the catalysts for racism? Some sports teams are accused of having derogatory names that are offensive to Native Americans. Examples of these offensive names are the Indians, Chiefs, Braves, Redskins, Illini, Savages, and Redmen. Additionally, the mascots that represent these teams are also seen as offensive by their mockery of Native American Traditions. Some people take this theory of ruining our youth through mascots even further.
Today in America the word Racism is taken to a whole new level. Even in sports, such as the NFL racism prospers. For instance the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Native Americans are trying to say the NFL is being rude for naming a Team Redskins. The Redskins have had that name since 1933 (Staff). The team had the name of Braves before they adopted the name Redskins. It was changed due to racism purposes. Some people would agree that the whole situation with Redskins is ridiculous because The Major League Baseball series has two teams related to Native Americans, The Atlanta Braves and The Cleveland Indians. The NFL also has more than just Redskins. They have the Kansas City Chiefs. So if they are really worried about total racism why isn’t the Chiefs in on this conversation?
Redskins, Seminoles, Tribe, Indians, what do they all have in common? They are all athletic team names under scrutiny by people who deem them as being racist. For years, people have argued over the fact that these names and/or mascots are being used in a negative way. Some have been changed while others are still being argued over. Teams with these mascots should not be forced to change their names because the majority of Native Americans are not even bothered by these sports names.
She even describes what that experience in the school environment was like for her. This tactic directly coincides with pathos, one of the modes of persuasion. Her purpose of creating this article goes along with wanting to persuade those who engage in using offensive Native American imagery to realize why it’s harmful and offensive. By using pathos, she’s able to get inside the reader’s emotions to feel some of the feelings she had to feel as she grew up. The essay only includes a brief description of her perspective in attending a school that had a Native American mascot, but the way she writes about how she was silenced with her opinion by staff would raise questions for people who believe that everyone should have a voice. Even more so if that voice is directly affected by said mascot. The author goes on to speak about how she purposely missed her high school reunion because of the plans that was rumored to be happening. The plan involved an alumni student painting a warrior face on the gym to commemorate their old mascot. Some may see this as harmless, but the mascot was eventually changed years ago, when they still attended – so why would that be necessary? I agree that the mascot should have been changed, but some may still finish this article and wonder how and why it offended her so thoroughly. Adding more
The next reason we’ll be looking at are the stereotypical images commonly seen in literature and mascots. Mainstream media such as “Dances with Wolves”, “The Lone Ranger”, and “The Last of The Mohicans” and mascots in professional sports teams like Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Blackhawks all include representations of Native Americans that for some, are offensive. With this in mind, ...
The growing debate about the mascots, logos, and team names used in sports has been an issue since the 1960’s-1970’s. The argument that is at hand is depicting if these symbols are a representation of pride or if they can be classified as racist. There are many supporters to both sides of this debate. Many on one side are arguing that the symbols are clearly racist while others on the opposing side are making claims that the symbols are an honor to whom they are portraying and are negatively connected to racism. There also the individuals who do not identify with either side, obtaining the belief that these symbols are a representation of the organization itself rather that creating a backstory or an image associated to anything other than the organization represented by an image. With many debates and issues regarding the topic happening annually, the question remains, what should be done about the racism issue in the sports industries?