Washington Redskins: A Name Of Honor Or Dishonor?

684 Words2 Pages

Redskins, a name of honor or dishonor? There has been controversy that involves the name and logo a National Football League (NFL) team named the Washington Redskins. Many people believe the use of Native American names and symbols by non-native sports teams, is a detrimental form of ethnic stereotyping. President Barack Obama discussed issues of culture and professional football on an interview with the Associated Press (AP), stating that the Washington Redskins football team should consider a new name. In response, Lanny Davis, an attorney for the Redskins, argued that President Obama is not aware polls taken in 2004 and 2013 that reveal Native Americans weren’t bothered by the name “Washington Redskins”. Although President Barack Obama and …show more content…

One way both positions are similar is because both Obama and Davis respect the concerns of the people. For example, According to President Obama, he states “I don’t know whether our attachment to a particular name should override the real, legitimate concerns that people have about these things.” In addition Lanny Davis states “We at the Redskins respect everyone… we do not intend to disparage or disrespect a racial or ethnic group.” Both statements show how both Obama and Davis respect the concerns of the people. Another way President Obama and Lanny Davis positions are similar is because both agree that The Washington Redskins fans love their team and don’t mean offense. President Obama states “I don’t think there are any Redskin fans that mean offense... they love their team, and rightly so” and Davis states “We Redskins fans sing 'hail to the Redskins' every Sunday as an expression of honor not disparagement." These are some examples of the two positions are …show more content…

According to President Barack Obama, in an interview with the Associated Press (AP), President Barack Obama states that “If I were the owner of the team and I knew that there was a name of my team, even if they’ve had a storied history, that was offending a sizable group of people, I’d think about changing it.” However, in response to the president, Davis argues using observational study and states "As a supporter of President Obama, I am sure the president is not aware that in the highly respected Annenberg Institute poll (taken 2004) with a national sample of Native Americans, 9 out of 10 Native Americans said they were not bothered by the name the "Washington Redskins." Also Davis states “an April 2013 AP poll showed that eight out of ten of all Americans in a national sample don't think the Washington Redskins name should be changed. President Obama believes that Native Americans feel “pretty strongly” about all the mascots and team names related to Native Americans. In Lanny Davis response to President Obama, Davis uses examples of other team names that relate to Native Americans such as The Atlanta Braves, The Cleveland Indians, and The Chicago Blackhawks, to demonstrate that The Washington Redskins isn’t the only team name that relates to Native Americans and that that they love their team, the name of their team, and don’t mean to

Show More
Related

  • Use of Native American Mascots Should be Banned

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... sensitive...for decades we had the Washing Bullets and Abe Pollin on his own changed the name in 1997 because of the high murder rate in D.C. Guess What? The world did not spinning.” (qtd in Sports The Indian Wars, 4). So just because a team name changes does not mean the violence that goes along with my name, and my feelings toward the teams will change as Schwartz implied. The world does not adapt to traditions being changed. If the world feels a certain way about something, they will go on feeling that way no matter what happens.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On The Redskins

    1054 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fighting the use of the word ‘redskins’” by Brian Cladoosby says how “[s]tudies show the use of American Indian-based names, mascots and logos in sports has a negative psychological effect on Native peoples” Cladoosby places a link to Dr. Michael A. Friedman research report which backs his case. In his study Dr. Friedman, a clinical psychologist says how Redskins is “uniquely destructive” because it “perpetuates the stereotypical and outdated caricature” and “promotes and justifies the use of a dictionary-defined racial slur, thus increasing risk for discriminatory”. With the rate of Native American suicide one of the highest in the nation the addition of their culture and history being stereotyped young Natives are facing discrimination and then being told that it’s okay because it’s for a sport. Cladoosby adds how that it creates a challenge to Natives who want to “maintain a foundation in their culture and language” meaning that ignoring a name that was once used when hunting their ancestors means that they are ignoring their culture. The name is not just racist and derogatory but promotes the an old-fashioned and stereotypical view of Native

    Read More

  • Kansas City Chiefs Research Paper

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the past few years, the controversy over Native American and other racial sport names or mascots have become an uproar. The main sport teams that are being targeted due to controversial mascots are programs having names dealing with Native Americans. Many teams are well known programs such as the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, and the Washington Redskins. The Redskins are receiving the most heat from racial groups. According to Erik Brady of USA Today “The volatility surrounding such names has amped up in the year since Daniel Snyder, owner of Washington's NFL club, told USA TODAY Sports that he'd never change his team's name: ‘NEVER — you can use caps.’” (3). However, professional teams are not the only teams receiving negative remarks,

    Read More

  • Comparing Obama And Roosevelt's Inaugural Address

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    Franklin Roosevelt’s speech says the following, “Primarily this is because the rulers of the exchange of mankind's goods have failed, through their own stubbornness and their own incompetence, have admitted their failure, and abdicated. Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men.” Roosevelt uses words such as “stubbornness”, “incompetence”, and “unscrupulous” to underline the absence of morals in these money changers that have failed the American people. Barack Obama’s speech says the following, “Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.” Obama uses words such as “violence”, “hatred”, and “weakened” to stress the wrongdoing that have been committed by the previous leaders of the country. Both of the presidents use emotive language to illustrate the wrongdoings that have been committed by the previous

    Read More

  • Offensive Language In Sports In The Indian Wars By S. L. Price

    1473 Words  | 3 Pages

    In a generation focused on social justice and the elimination of prejudice from our society, there is still a use of offensive language and terminology in the area of professional sports. In “The Indian Wars” by S. L. Price, Price attempts to make the reader aware of sports teams that use derogatory terms as their team name and their mascot. He does this by highlighting football, and trying to determine whether Native-Americans are offended by team names in sports, or more specifically, the Redskins. Price’s essay is ineffective because although he raises good points, he doesn’t help the reader to form an opinion by adding historical context to the derogatory names used. He also uses inaccurate poll results to make assumptions about the feelings

    Read More

  • Scott Russell Sanders Essay On The Benefits Of Moving

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sanders says that Rushie “articulates as eloquently as anyone.” Instead of using a condescending tone or harsh diction to rebut what Rushie says, Sanders successfully uses a respectful tone to respect Rushie’s point of view, even though he doesn’t agree with it. While writing his essay, Sanders also connects with the reader by using words such as “I,” “our,” and “we.” He also says “for ourselves, our fellow creatures, and our descendants” to connect with the reader and include himself with the reader by using “our” not a second person point of view. Even though Sanders is going against what Rushdie says, there isn’t any part in the essay that shows that Sanders is being disrespectful. Sanders acknowledges what he has to acknowledge, but at the same time, articulately explains what his views

    Read More

  • Dallas Cowboys: NFL Team

    702 Words  | 2 Pages

    When managers seek to improve their sport organization often times they refer to SWOT. SWOT is an acronym which stands for strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat. These four areas are tools used to address and fix any issue that an organization may have internally or externally. The Dallas Cowboys are an NFL team that uses these four categories to address any issues they may have in order to improve any imperfections for the betterment of their Franchise.

    Read More

  • Pittsburgh Steelers: Strengths Of The National Football Team

    1182 Words  | 3 Pages

    Strengths The Pittsburgh Steelers have many strengths that separate them from their competitors in the National Football League. Strengths are what give drive to the fans, players, coaches, and other members of the organization to continue the success of the past as the organization moves into the future. Some of the main strengths of the Steelers’ organization are winning, stability, location, and the fan base. Many other strengths stem from these four core strengths, all of which help to validate such an established organization.

    Read More

  • Should The Washington Redskins Change Their Name?

    713 Words  | 2 Pages

    The debate is divided into two sides. Those opposed to the use of Redskins and all Native American names in sports, and perceive the use of such terms and imagery as racist and derogatory towards Native Americans and those for keeping the name who cite the history of the team, its links to Native American players and coaches who were part of the team when it was create...

    Read More

  • Native American Names in Sports Are Unacceptable

    938 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...ers' evolution from mother and student into a leading voice against the merchandising of Native American sacred symbols -- and shows the lengths to which fans will go to preserve their mascots." In keeping all the Native American Mascots in schools, colleges, and professional sports teams we are showing a lack of respect. The Native Americans have voiced the lack of honor these names are bringing to them. "The fact that history has ignored the incredible pain we have inflicted on Native Americans does not now give us the right to ignore their largely muted call." Americans need to take a step back think about how they would feel if there ritual and or sacred tradition was misused. "We feel that we are being put in a position of sacrificing our dignity and pride and will never be treated as equals in white society as long as the use of Indian symbols continues."

    Read More

  • Native American’s, Stereotypes, Discrimination, and Ethnocentrism

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    Orvetti, P. (2011). Do the Redskins Need a New Name? Retrieved Mar. 17, 2012, from

    Read More

  • Racism In The NFL

    1600 Words  | 4 Pages

    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?

    Read More

  • Symbolism, Racism, History, And Reality: The Real Problem With Indian Mascot?

    941 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Reasons Why Mascots Should Not Change

    973 Words  | 2 Pages

    The name redskin is an offensive term used to refer to Native Americans, and it comes from native people being killed with their scalps cut off. These notions offend people in many different ways depending on how you see it. However, the Redskins are not named after the offensive term that many think. The Redskins before they were called the Redskins were the Boston Braves. They then changed their name to the Redskins to honor their coach William “Lone Star” Dietz who was a Sioux Indian and other Native Americans that were on the team. They also wanted to avoid conflict with having the same name as the baseball team. Also, a survey of over 500 Native Americans from the Annenberg Public Policy Center said that 9 out of 10 Native Americans would not be offended if a non Native American team called themselves the Redskins and a surprising 8 out of 10 would not mind if they were called a Redskin. Also, even Mark Rypien said the Redskins name shouldn’t change by stating, “I can see the viewpoints of both sides … it takes away the history of the team.” Mark Rypien is a former Redskins quarterback who is a descendant from Native Americans. These are the type of people they need to start asking because they would have the most knowledge if the team name is disgracing their ancestors and obviously it is

    Read More

  • Discrimination Against Native Americans

    564 Words  | 2 Pages

    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, ...

    Read More

More about Washington Redskins: A Name Of Honor Or Dishonor?

Open Document