Harjo Fighting Mascots

A native man being called a redskin, first time he’d ever heard the word and being offended by it.Now, that same word is the name of a football team known as The Washington Redskins.Ole Miss Rebels, a football team, had to rename the team in order to not be racist towards African Americans. The Washington Reskins, years after knowing people were emotionally hurt by the name, kept it.Many Natives protest and refuse to be a mascot, but yet the name is still on their jerseys. The Washington Redskins are aware that they are invidious to some Native Americans, but fail to change the name and feel the need to keep it.

The dispute over whether Native American mascots should be used as a team symbol dates back to the 1970’s (Price 2). There are those who are passionately against Native American mascots. These advocators insist that Native American mascots are degrading to

Former chair of the Los Angeles Native American Commission, Jack Shakley, in his argument, “Indian Mascots-You’re Out!” disputes whether Native American mascots should be allowed to be the face of American sports teams. Shakley’s purpose is to convey the idea that is insensitive to have Native Americans as mascots. Jack Shakley uses a passionate tone to show readers that not only is using a Native American mascot racist, but it is wrong and should be changed to a less offensive mascot. Shakley starts off using pathos to the readers by telling a story from his childhood. In the article, Shakley demonstrates the ability to use strong pathos and logos arguments to support his claims that we should get rid of Native American mascots and steam names.

​In 2014 a Native American’s protested in Washington against Washington’s NFL team named the “redskins” . The protesters claimed they are not “mascots”, and protested the name “redskin” is a slur of harm not honor, and if anyone were to call a Native American a “redskin” to their face there would be serious problems. They also protested that they should not be seen as “bygone people” and that it is inhuman to name the nfl team “redskins”. They even went to the extent

or many years now many people have been debating whether schools and professional sports teams should use Native American imagery, nicknames, and logos to represent mascot. “When I was a kid, me and my friends, we really thought that they had captured and killed Native Americans and pasted them all over the building,” Samuel Henry Washington Redskins fans said. “We were just kids, we didn’t know any better. But we really, honestly believed that,”. Many people need to respect how the professional sports team or any teams use Native American imagery, and when teams use Native American mascots, it is not an offensive slur against them.

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.

radio station, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated that “if one person is offended, then we have to listen" (McCarthy 12). Instead of paying attention to the valid claims of America’s vast population indigenous people, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder has decided to stand firm with his decision to keep Washington’s current name. While the term is a dictionary-defined slur, Snyder sees no issue with the name, sighting that the mascot is backed by over 80 years of honor and tradition. Although slurs can be reclaimed by the group of people that they target, it is not an outsider’s place to say when and how someone should reclaim a slur. Redskin is not a white man’s slur to use, just as queer or faggot is not a heterosexual’s slur to claim. Even if more and more Native Americans reclaim the slur “redskin,” it does not excuse the fact that Snyder’s defense of the Washington mascot is blatantly and unapologetically racist. The example that the Redskins mascot sets for the American public is unfortunate; however, the population does not have to sit by and deal with it. Pressure needs to be put upon the NFL and Dan Snyder, from both Native Americans and regular people, in order for Snyder to finally change his mind. Until then, the Washington Redskins will remain to be a looming, negative presence in not only the football world, but American culture as

In the video "Fighting Stereotypes of Sports Team Names," DOTSON said “ For most fans it was simply a way to act like a kid at a kids' game. For some American Indians it became a question of respect.” (1991) Which some people want to cling on to any chance they can act like kids because there is no time for that when they work most of the week. In the video, “The Fightin' Whites: Battle Over Stereotypes in Team Mascots," it was said “And there's some evidence not all Native Americans worry much about sports mascots. A Sports Illustrated poll of Native Americans reports that only 23 percent think Indian mascots contribute to discrimination, 75 percent do not. And when asked about the famous tomahawk chop, 28 percent of Native Americans polled said they liked it, 23 percent object, and 48 percent don't care.” (2002) This shows that most either does not think it`s discriminating or they don't care that it discriminates In the same video Mr. DAN BEAUVAIS, a

Sports teams across the country are all represented by a mascot. A mascot is used in a variety of ways, but mainly to represent a team’s identity and motivate both players and fans alike to bring out the competitive spirit. Many teams are represented with normal names and themes, while some are more controversial such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Blackhawks, Cleveland Indians, Florida State Seminoles, Atlanta Braves, and Washington Redskins (to name a few). A prickly topic for years, even decades the usage of Native American mascots continues to strike controversy in fans, players, alumni, as well as disinterested fans. Depending on who you talk to, it’s a stain on the organizations it affects or is it a way of honoring those who

Some Native Americans feel oppressed by the amount of supposedly offensive sports mascots. “The country’s more than 2 million American Indians face high rates of poverty, unemployment, and health problems,” (Laura Anastasia 2014). This shows that the US Native Americans are still feeling oppressed and not equal to the white american population. Also in paragraph six of the second section (in the same article), it says, “After seeing American Indian mascots students reported having low self esteem. They were also less likely to predict that they would get good grades, graduate, and find a job.” People still feel low or unworthy when their people are portrayed as a mascot or something of lore. They feel like they won’t succeed and are a thing of the past.

The Redskins logo, that the NFL presented to Washington, in Native American terms is different than what they think it means. The Washington Redskins, NFL team, isn’t what they think the term Redskin really means. The term Redskin means “The scalping and killing of Native Americans”(Charli Eaton). When terms like this go too far they should listen to the Native Americans and respect the Natives of the land of America.

In 1991-1992, sports teams would have Native American names, logos, and mascot. Native Americans were outraged. They would protest for the branding to be changed. It is stereotyping the indigenous people. Native Americans had planned to put a stop to the use of Native Americans nicknames, logos, and mascot. The sports teams should be more careful, ask the tribe for permission, and be more creative with their team title.

The practice of NFL, and College football teams using Native American names and symbols as mascots is a sign of disrespect to their culture. These symbols are highly respected throughout society because they hold a rich history. The continued degrading by these teams is giving them a bad reputation within our society.

These names and mascots that sports teams are using have been negative and stereotypical towards Native Americans. Sports teams have used names like braves, redskins, and chiefs. The word braves has been used to “dehumanize the Indian make and equates him to something less than human.” The word redskins refers to “the bloody

. .called ‘redskins’” (Harjo). Natives were hunted and slaughtered, their skin treated like trophies. Calling someone a ‘redskin’ is not a compliment. It is a painful, derogatory name for Natives, a tragic reminder of their history that sport teams and fans remain unaware or unbothered by. Additionally, the NCAA agrees that sport teams with names and logos that demean Natives should not be allowed to compete. NCAA protests that schools or sport teams with “a nickname or logo considered racially or ethnically ‘hostile’ or ‘abusive’” (NCAA) will not be allowed to compete in post-season games. NCAA is taking a long awaited step in addressing the slanderous image American sports have painted of Natives. NCAA is a powerful force in the American way of life. They are finally telling America that the current treatment of Natives in sports media is not acceptable and they will not except or support it. If NCAA has decided that logos and names abusive towards Natives have got to go, then maybe we should take that into account. Though, NCAA and Americans have only just begun to seriously address this matter, it is important to remember that this issue has been around for much longer.