This whole subject has been a controversy because there is basically two sides to the issue. One of the sides is in agreement to keep these imageries who “honor” Native American people, supports nostalgic feelings, and saves funding. The opposing sides believes that if these images are kept then they are being offensive and degrading Native Americans since perpetuates negative stereotypes about Native Americans. One thing we do not pay much attention to is the way the Native Americans feel due to this. They obviously are not okay with the idea of them being used through logos and mascots and has caused a negative self-esteem effect on Native Americans. Native Americans are being dehumanized and misconceived through these images being put out to the audience. Furthermore, in Image 1 it shows how it would look if other races were being used the same way the Native Americans are. This demonstrated how passive we are on the whole subject and through Native Americans as a whole. If it was any other race being represented in this way something would have been done about it already. The main issue with Indian mascots and stereotypes is that they are presenting a misleading image of Native people and feed historic myths to an audience which then is used to whitewash a history of oppression.Although people think that Indian mascots are meant to show the good qualities of American Indians they do not. “Indians sport brands used by professional teams were born in an era when racism
The use of the mascot, as well as the ignorance towards the American Indians feelings towards its use, furthers the oppression of the minority group. This oppression in question began in the earliest beginnings of the United States of America with the very first violations of Native American rights. The idea of taking what is available regardless of who is control of what is said available is seen with the taking of the Native American peoples honor. This honor is taken through the University’s use of their own views of the culture, heritage, and traditions of this group. The use of Native American mascots and logos furthers the cruel and unjust actions towards the Native Americans.
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.
Is it okay to have Native American images as mascots? Some of the mascots names are Red Skins, Braves and Cleveland Indians. They chose these mascots because they thought that they would be intimidating to the other team. Imagine having a pink bunny for a mascot; other teams are not going to think that that is intimidating. Using Native American images and names in professional,collegiate and high school sports does not reinforce and perpetuate stereotypes because it is not harmful and it only it representing school pride.
Do you feel having Indian mascots for sports teams take part in racial discrimination? In the sports world, representing a Native American is showing honor and respect. In society, communities take it as offensive and racist towards Native Americans. The government recognizes the positive representation of Indians and has given them more rights than state citizens. Considering the history, what it means, and general attitude, Indian mascots should be allowed.
The year is 1991. The Atlanta Braves had just completed their first trip to the Fall Classic in four decades, and the Washington Redskins were undefeated, well on their way to their third Super Bowl title. All across the eastern seaboard, sports fans were tasting success - while American Indians were in an uproar. This year witnessed the peak of the protests over the use of mascots with American Indian themes. With two of the major professional sports teams in question making front-page news across the country, many of us heard American Indians' complaints for the first time. Suddenly, thanks to the cries of thousands of demonstrators, the names of many Americans' favorite teams had become synonymous with "nigger."
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
Many people do not consider themselves supporting Native American mascots that depict them in a bad manner. But when people walk around with a Atlanta Braves shirt on with a Indian with a tomahawk in his hand, it is degrading to the Indians. It is stereotyping them. School mascots and Sports team’s mascots are named after groups of people for no reason known. Notre Dame was founded by Irish Catholics, but their sports team was named the Fighting Irish. The name Fighting Irish has nothing to do with the Irish Catholics, it depicts them in a wrong way.(Price, 3). Team names can be changed to similar names that do not depict certain groups of people. Like the Redskins can be called the Red Hawks or the
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.
Almost everybody loves going to sporting events and seeing all the excited fans as well as the energized mascots. There has been quite a variety of mascots and logos seen in schools whether it be high schools or colleges and in professional leagues. According to a search done by an ESPN FiveThirtyEight reporter through a database known as MascotDB, out of the 42,624 teams in the database at the time there were 2,129 sports teams that have reference to Native Americans (Munguia). That’s about a five percent of all mascots while Native American only make up roughly two percent of the population of the United States in 2014 (US Census). There has been much debate and controversy around mascots and team names that reference Native American throughout the years and gaining more attention especially with the most public debate regarding National
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
Paola Reynua History 1301 September 28, 2016 In the article “Racism American Style and Resistance to Change: Art Education's Role in the Indian Mascot Issue” states how the author, Elizabeth M. De La Cruz, was happy and excited to attend to the University of Illinois. She was full of dreams with her expectations high about that university, but as soon as she arrived there everything was the opposite. Native Americans were using a tradition of Indians for their Mascot but not only that also a white male interpreted and Indian on one of their football games. She couldn't believe this was happening, if Americans love their Indians to death, how they could be using them as a mascot and also how Indians were just ignorant about all this
My perspective with the Indian Mascot debate before reading and watching testimonies, indicates when high school, colleges, and also the Redskins professional football team using the logo of a Native American, or a Indian mascot, impression were not used has a oppress, but to be used in a positive way. When I think of a Native Americans I think the term warrior – “a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness, as in politics or athletics.” Found from www.dictinary.com.
Use of Native American names as sports team names and mascots promotes unfair and untrue stereotypes on a grand scale. By continuing this practice we keep Native Americans in the past and do not highlight them as a culture today. Some of these names have even been recognized as racial slurs by the U.S government. The U.S patent office
Many races are unjustly victimized, but Native American cultures are more misunderstood and degraded than any other race. College and high school mascots sometimes depict images of Native Americans and have names loosely based on Native American descent, but these are often not based on actual Native American history, so instead of honoring Native Americans, they are being ridiculed. According to the article Warriors Survive Attack, by Cathy Murillo (2009) some “members of the Carpentaria community defended Native American mascot icons as honoring Chumash tradition and the spirit of American Indian Warriors in U.S. history and others claimed that the images were racist stereotypes” (Murillo, 2009). If people do not attempt to understand
Imagine thousands of people mocking your culture everyday. Well that is what happens to the Native American population. Sports teams falsely portray what Native Americans act and look like, fans mock and shame the culture and unknowingly scream racial slurs toward them. This is why Indian mascots should not be banned. ‘‘Redskin’ Is Officially a Dictionary-Defined Racial Slur—in all cases.”