Analyzing Team Names and Mascots by S. L. Price's Article, The Indian Wars

Proponents believe tribal symbols display honor and respect towards the Native American people. They cheer that the inclusion of this iconography in the athletic arena serves to pay admiration and ongoing tribute to the identity of the Native American culture. They believe that rather than extinguishing Native American mascots as a symbolic reference for schools and sports teams, the choice to sensitively use such imagery should be without sanction.

Can you imagine how hurtful and offensive it would be to feel discriminating? Many people acknowledge that mascots are used as a symbolic identification in many schools and sports teams of all sorts. For many years, people from the Native American Culture have encountered inappropriate displays of Indian names and mascots in sports. It is also known that most people have aroused conflict because of many misinterpretations over certain mascots that have been used by well-known and popular sports team. In the essay, “Indian Mascots–You’re Out” Jack Shakely introduces the reader with some background information of his first experience he had where Indians were portrayed as a sports team’s mascot, in a way that can offend someone. Shakely’s

In an article, it states “ Since the 1960s, as part of the indigenous civil rights movements, there have been a number of protests and other actions by Native Americans and their supporters targeting the more prominent use of such names and images by professional franchises such as the Cleveland Indians (in particular their "Chief Wahoo" logo); and the Washington Redskins(the term "redskins" being defined in most American English dictionaries as 'derogatory slang)”. This shows how the Indians and Redskins logos are looked at as racist and derogatory slangs. Also, in the article it states “Often citing a long held myth by non-Native people that "Indian" mascots "honor Native people," American sports businesses such as the NFL's Washington 'Redskins' and Kansas City 'Chiefs', MLB's Cleveland 'Indians' and Atlanta 'Braves', and the NHL's Chicago Black Hawks, continue to profit from harmful stereotypes originated during a time when white superiority and segregation were commonplace." This shows how teams continue to promote harmful and derogatory stereotypes in there businesses. Also, this shows the disrespect that these American national businesses sends towards Native Americans.In Conclusion, this is why the Redskins should change their

As a Native American she believed it was an honor to be called the Fighting Sioux, not a racist thing. The same way she believes that I also believe it is an honor, Native Americans are very respectful, honorable, and prideful people. On one hand, I agree that “Teams choose Native Americans as mascots and role models because people admire these people. We view them as strong and courageous with many other positive qualities, not as negative stereotypes” (Broecker). But on the other hand, I still insist some of the names high schools and teams use the Native American names like Carthage College, their mascot is the Redmen, out of 42,624 teams three of them use Orangemen, and ten of them use Reds (Munguia). Now I believe that some of the names they choose should be picked out a little more carefully than what they have chosen. According to Bruce Anderson, a former Washington Redskin; “It confuses my race with a brand name. Would it be okay to have the Washington African

Steve Wulf of ESPN shows this by saying, "How would you feel if you had your home taken away from you and then watched as your identity was stolen for profit? It's adding insult to injury”. Steve helps show what the Native Americans are feeling when we use the name that their ancestors fought for and the name that brings them dignity for our sports teams and make them look like savages. When truthfully Native Americans are normal people just like us.

Through American history prejudice, racial discrimination, and other forms of racism have been constant in the mistreatment of Native Americans. Through the actions of genocide, displacement, slavery, and other heinous acts, Native Americans still are being racially profiled as savages and being seen as primitive people. Several professional sports teams use Native American people or icons as their mascots. By doing this they are misrepresenting the indigenous people. Having a Native American mascot is dishonorable to Native Americans, and translates to other racial actions, and also degrades religious attire.

Someone calling them a name or making fun of them has offended countless people. It happens even more to celebrities, politicians, and anyone in the public eye. A good majority of native Americans tribes and government are criticizing the use of Indians names and mascots in sports. The topic is a controversial one, as it has been argued over for the past decade. People are shocked if using these sort of names are fitting or offensive to the indian tribe the sports team is named after. The controversy raises the question: should Indian names and mascots be allowed to

“To remember who you are, you will need to forget what society has tried to teach you to be...culture matters. Be proud.” These words from an unknown Native American about one major subject: Native American culture. The beliefs of Native culture have been with Native people for as long as they have lived. They believe in sacred acts that have supported and healed Natives and better their heritage. Then Whites began to make American Indian mascots to “honor” Natives. They have had a purpose to honor Natives, but have recently shown a bias towards Natives. Over the past 30 years, there has been a national argument between non-natives and Natives as to whether school and professional sports teams should use Native American imagery as their mascots,

Native Americans see this issue of mascots as a topic that needs discussion. This discussion is seen by Native Americans as a way to learn about their culture as written by Paul Lukas in an interview with Frank Cloutier, a Native American man,

In the short film, “In Whose Honor” by New Daily Digital, depicts the conflict of the Native American mascots. The first people to live on the Americas, were the Native American Indians. Their long history with the Americans is not a happy one. Their land was taken away and forced out of their homes. Ever since their home was invaded, they have been mistreated, unprotected, and left to fend of themselves.

Normally, animals and objects are used in sport team names and as mascots which society seems to be fine with because of course animals and objects can’t talk like humans to express themselves. However, the use of Native Americans as mascots is dehumanizing, because Native Americans are human just like everyone else. “ The Coachella Valley Unified School District received a letter this week from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee...for allowing “gross stereotyping” in school murals, football halftime shows and the mascot in general” (Kelman, 2013) Not all supporters are aware of the harm they are doing to the children who come from Native American culture. Their ignorance regarding Native American culture is a shame and a disgrace to human kind.

Sports teams across the United States, ranging from high school to college all the way to the NFL teams, have derogatory names and logos that come from a variety of sources. Some of the most controversial names come from Indigenous culture, such as the Washington Redskins. The ongoing battle between who owns the name and whether or not these sports teams can use the names, is nothing new. This issue has been evident in our culture for many years, with still no substantial resolution. Although minor changes have been made within different sources of this racism, nothing has come along as concrete as many supporters would like it to be.

The controversy over ethnic mascots and tribal names is not a new debate as the dispute over whether Native American mascots should be used as a team symbol dates back to the 1970’s. Some high schools and collegiate universities across the United States have Indian Mascots in place for half a century and in the past few decades or so, it has become a major 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.

Prior to looking at this section, if anyone were to ask me about my opinion on using a Native American logo or nickname for a sports team I would be indifferent. I wouldn’t feel right about having my own opinion because I have not been a part of a race or culture that has or is looked down upon. After reading Tim Wise’s article and going through the notes, I still feel like I do not have much say in whether or not these teams should be able to keep their logos and nicknames because I am not directly affected and it is hard to put myself into the position of the Native American people; although, I do understand where they are coming from. With that being said, teams should not have names and mascots that are going to offend other cultures.

While the majority of Native Americans have always taken offence to the misrepresentation of their culture in these ways, more recently they have been making a greater effort to shine light on these wrong doings. Groups such as the Iowa Commission on Native American Affairs are helping to eliminate the use of such symbols in order to change people's view on Native Americans as savages. They hope to remove all logos, slogans, and chants from schools and other organizations which depict them as savages, or which reduce the real struggles they faced into games. While the goal is not to end traditions, in many cases that is what must be done to fix the issues which were created. While there may be resistance at first, in the end, the removal of stereotypical and offensive mascots will cause communities to become more unified than they ever were