Racist Sports: The History Of Sports

Throughout the history of sports in the United States mascots represent each team. When we think of a mascot, we think of an animal or a Native American. We root for these teams, but do we really know how much we are hurting the people that the sports industry uses as mascots. The reality is that as everyday Americans, we do not realize that we exhibit dysconscious racism toward Native Americans, which as a result causes the Native American community to feel oppressed and detached from this country. Racist sports mascots bring hatred towards the Native American community which as a result causes psychological and physical problems among the Native American Youth.
Since this country began we have diminished the Native American community and

However, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) reports, “the use of American Indian-based names , mascots and logos in sports have a negative psychological effect on the Native peoples”(5). I agree with the NCAI because after having their land taken away and them being put into reservations where they were forced to live with their enemies, their children were sent to Boarding School to learn the “American” culture. In the boarding schools children were forced to only speak english as their form of communication and if they did not follow the orders the would be punished for their behavior. At this point the childern, now teenager, were already harm psychologically, but then they had to constantly see reminders of the oppression that was placed upon them and their community, they would feel like they did not belong in this society. Essentially, I am arguing that it is not an honor to have a Native American as a mascot because this “honor” is causing a constant reminder of the past and the past should be left in the

If teen problems were not already enough, Native American teens have to deal with racism, stereotypes, and discrimination that are perpetuated by the mascots. All of these issues cause Native American teens to have a lower self-esteem and as a result they commit suicide. The Center of Native American Youth has created a document with facts about Native American Youth, facts that help us understand the struggles of the Native American Youth. According to the Center of Native American Youth (CNAY), “suicide rates are more than double, and Native teens experience the highest rate of suicide of any population group in the United States.”(3) The feeling that Native Americans do not belong into society greatly influences the suicide rates. The NCAI points out, “suicide is particularly prevalent among young Native men, who commit suicide at a rate that is up to five times higher than that of young Native women.”(5) Men are more likely to commit suicide because they tend to be around people that enjoy sports and, therefore are more exposed to racism. Furthermore, the high suicide rates are not the only way the Native American youth is being harmered psychological. As the CNAY reveals, “alcoholism mortality rates are 51.4 percent higher than the general population.” Native American Youth uses alcohol as a form of coping with the insults that mascot bring because they feel that