How long will it take to admit and correct the injury and insult that is piled on by the continued use of Native American Nicknames and Mascots by high school, college, and professional sports?
Haven’t we as a nation done enough to Native Americans? First, we came to this country pilfered, pillaged their villages, women and children. We ultimately took the land and herded them off to reservations. They continue to be subjected to sub-standard education and poor healthcare.
As if this wanton and utterly disenfranchisement was not enough, we continue to reduce their culture for our entertainment by using Native American nicknames and mascots – from the genre of western film (The Lone Ranger and beyond) to our national pastime of sports, baseball and football most notably. Worse, we pass this on to our children.
Recently, the cry of “enough” grew louder. The Smithsonian Museum of Native American History held a day-long symposium about whether the pro football team, the Washington Redskins, should consider changing their name and mascots. The mayor of Washington, D.C., sensitive to the issue, has begun to use the “Washington Football Team” instead of the Washington Redskins.
During that day-long symposium, many attendants became sensitized to what Native Americans must feel when they see fans dressed as Indians and performing moves and dances that they haven’t a clue of their sacred meaning. There were many converts during that symposium, many vowing never to wear war paint, don an Indian feathered headdress, and mockingly perform an Indian dance, “the Tomahawk Chop,” again. Such use of Native American nicknames and mascots show racial and ethnic insensitivity and ignorance of history.
A few weeks ago, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, requesting that all Michigan high schools be barred from using Indian nicknames and imagery as their school mascots.
An editorial appearing in a Michigan paper, The Holland Sentinel, says it well: “…White Americans who blithely adopt for their own entertainment images from a minority group, especially one as persecuted through history as Native Americans, are likely to offend that group. The portrayals are almost inevitably one-dimensional caricatures, perpetuating old stereotypes. Too many people who would never dream of wearing blackface or a serape and sombrero abandon their good judgment when it comes to Native Americans, reducing an entire culture to war paint and feathered headdresses. If you wouldn't flaunt these images on a reservation, then they're not appropriate in a Michigan high school either.”
As a nation, a day-long symposium or a filed complaint, and other actions here and there are starts to take corrective actions. But, they clearly are not enough.
The pervasive, persistent, and insensitive use of Native American Nicknames and Mascots in our most endeared sports at every level only reinforces the need for a public dialogue in communities across America.
Not to have these honest dialogues is to continue to perpetuate our attitudes toward race and ethnicity in this country, which we all can acknowledge are still in need of major, major, major adjustments.
What do you think?
This article originally appeared on RaceReport.com and is reprinted here with permission.
Comments
Two sides
When I first started this class, I didn't understand the implications of mascot use on Native Americans. This article gave me a new perspective in that I can see how their cultural icons are more specifically used more than any other cultural group. However, from the many comments, it appears that many people with Native American families fall on both sides of this debate - where some take offense to this and some do not.
I agree that there was probably not ill intent on the part of the mascot choosers. However, out of sensitivity, something needs to change. Whether that is changing the mascot or changing the way the mascot is used or changing the education surrounding the mascot (in the case of schools - why not use it as a teaching moment and not a mockery). I think most teams are proud of their mascots so on the surface, I think it's sad that this has become an offensive situation. But I do understand why it is. Without a Native American to help explain the true meaning of the mascot chosen, if it is not appropriately represented, it just feels bad.
Talking Points
I honestly have to say I disagree with this issue. My great grandfather was a Cherokee. I only took the time to learn the culture because he never let his Native American identity be his sole identifier. Instead of being angry, he chose to educate. He always said, "he who angers you, controls you." My father on the other hand finds the name Redskins very offensive yet does not mind the use of Native American mascots. I take the side of my grandfather and make it a nonissue. I do not mind the use, but I do take it as a moment to educate my peers. I think education is the way to get change. By educating others instead of immediately telling them what is right, allows the person to make the decision on their own. After educating them, they may find it offensive as well and join your cause, or at the very least educate the next person.
I like the point that you
I like the point that you made about how whites would never wear blackface or a sombrero, making fun of blacks or Mexicans. But for some reason its acceptable to have the redskins, and make fun of Native Americans. The Native Americans were massacred by white people, and we still use those racist mascots, like its all fine. Imagine if today, in Germany, football teams had stereotyped images of Jewish people as their team mascots. It's wrong. I bet that just reading that made your stomach curl. We need to start realizing just how much us as white people have changed the lives and cultures of Native Americans. We need to be respectful of that, not still promote those racist beliefs.
Mascots
I enjoyed this article because I have never thought about how offensive it could be to have Native Americans represented in mascots. I like the part of the article that speaks about how many people do not understand the symbolism and traditional meaning behind headdresses, clothing, dances, etc and it perpetuates a lack of care towards these groups. Although mascots were traditionally used as a symbol of good luck or used to symbolize a particular event, I feel that for the majority of people a Native American mascot is not used to honor these people, but rather to associate them with other animals and delegitimize them. Although some Native Americans may be personally comfortable with this idea, its the whole concept of using Native Americans as another form of entertainment rather than putting them in a place of honor. I'm sure it makes people uncomfortable to address this issue due to the color-blind racism that is represented in society today.
I don't see the problem
While I am not the biggest sports fan, I do know the names of multiple football teams and when thinking about them, I do not understand why the Native American population is upset with being represented in the NFL. While the team may be degraded because of rivalries, it is usually the players or coaches that are criticized, not the team name or mascot. I could understand the anger from this population if their symbols were being disgraced or disrespected, but they are not. Instead, society is acknowledging these different pieces of their culture and bringing them into the "white society."
Agree
I don't really see the problem with this either. It is not like they are trying to make fun of Native American's or disrespect them in anyway shape or form, it's just a tradition for the mascot to dress up like a native american. I feel as though it's hard to say because I am not a Native American so I don't know how hurtful it may be to them because I don't really know the culture or the background of their culture.
Never Really Thought about it
I went to a high school and currently it is a bird but originally an indian. At first, it was just an indian, but now that I think about it, it had all the racial features like the big nose and the head dress on. Those characters are racists and offensive to the Native Americans and I let it happen and did not think anything of it (back then at least). It is becoming more prominent that there is still racism going on and I think that white Americans are blindsighted to see this issue going on because they are not Native American to understand what they are feeling towards these images. Like others were saying 'Redskins' is a very offensive name and I do not think we should just keep the name because that is what it has always been. However I don't think I know enough about the culture, but is 'Blackhawk' is offensive to the Native Americans?
Native Americans
I learned about this topic in my race and ethnicity class. Some people in my class believed that it is offensive while other's believed that it's a tradition and shouldn't be looked at as offensive. One African American student made a point by saying that one of his white friends dressed up as Jay-Z (an African American rapper) for halloween. The African American said he was not offended by his white friend painted his face darker because he knows that his friend is a fan of Jay-Z. He explained that his friend is not making fun of African Americans, he actually looks up to Jay-Z as a performer and looks at him as an idol. I'm sure some African American's would have taken offensive to that though.
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