Native American’s, Stereotypes, Discrimination, and Ethnocentrism

Hollywood’s leading animation studio has had many instances of stereotyping and being racially insensitive. Two main examples of their racism towards Native American tribes have been Peter Pan and Pocahontas. In both instances, there have been controversial songs that have the Native Americans at the center. Both depict the stereotypes that are not necessarily true of the tribes.

The American Psychological Association had found that using representation of the mascots “undermines the educational experiences of members of all communities- especially those who have had little or no contact with Indigenous peoples” (APA). When people view a culture being paraded as a mascot, it can become their singular view and knowledge on the ethnic group. There is nothing to stop the formulation of what students know about Native Americans when there are few natives around. With the allowance of mascots to represent Native American in a way as they do now, wearing headdresses or war paint and using “peace pipes” has become a trend and something “cool” to do. Headdresses are traditionally a part of the Plains tribes and are considered sacred. Only revered warriors or significant people could wear war bonnets or headdresses. Feathers, especially eagle feathers, are very sacred to Native Americans. These appropriations continue to be a negative and demeaning aspect of using Native Americans as

Imagery that are “hostile and abusive” to Native Americans, some tribes sanction symbolic use. When the National Collegiate Athletic Association issued letters to schools that had Native American nicknames and mascots, few would have predicted the massive changes that would occur. The year was 2005, and 19 colleges were informed that their nicknames and mascots were potentially “hostile or abusive to Native Americans.

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.

And I tried to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and see where they were coming from, but seeing as we don’t have any actual Native Americans in class that could give us an expert opinion it made the situation a lot more difficult. I personally feel that if you’re going to use Native American mascots and images you need to educate yourself and others about their actual history, not the whitewashed version we’re taught in school. Talk about how the land that they found was taken from them and how they were subject to one of the largest genocides in America, and how in 2017 they’re still treated as second-class citizens and still discriminated against. It’s 2017 and people still think it’s okay to paint their faces red and imitate Natives without anyone saying anything to them because they’re “supporting their favorite sports team”. Nothing about that is respectful, it’s blatant disrespect and

The issue of whether or not it is morally right to use Native Americans as mascots has been prevalent for several decades. Some argue that it is an honor to use their images as symbols of a school or team’s ideals, while others say Natives are a people, not a mascot. I hold the position that unless a tribe explicitly states they are not against their image being used, the depiction of Natives as mascots is wrong, especially for largely white areas and/or schools. The idea that the race who marginalized, relocated, and murdered another race that was native to this country and then, in some cases only a century later, proclaim that they “are an Indian” and are proud to call themselves such is unsettling. A century may seem like a large amount

Native Americans value and cherish their culture. It is something that has been learned and passed down from generation to generation in the Native American community. Using Native American mascots creates a misinterpretation of the Native American culture. Many Native American tribes are offended by the use of Native American mascots because, “The symbols connected with NA mascots (tomahawks, war paint, leather loin cloths, and feathered head dress) represent a collective image of Native Americans”, that, “inaccurately portrays the diverse natures of ritual, ceremony, and culture of the many and varied NA tribes” (Arthur 2012). These symbols are important to the Native American culture, and by using them to represent a mascot for a school, college, or some other association is disrespectful to the tribe and culture. Cummings (2008) believes many people think they have a right to use Native Americans as mascots because, “To some, American Indian mascots represent strength, power, reverence, and dignity”. People need to look at the perspective

To begin, Native American mascots at schools should be allowed because consequentialy it is right. In Phil Hands political cartoon about the use of racial groups as mascots, he explains to caucasians that people are offended easily. Native Americans are offended by mascots. In the cartoon, the Native American explains that he is

Native Americans have been in this land long before the European explorers stumbled upon it. With the discovery of the “new world”, people from all over Europe were sailing over to America for new opportunities. The result was that the Native Americans already living in that land were almost wiped out. Now, only a small percentage of what once was remain. Even though Native Americans are a small minority, they get a lot of attention in the media, especially in sports. Many sports teams have a name related to Native Americans, like the Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago Blackhawks. They usually also have a Native American mascot, which is often the image of a chief wearing feathers. Some people find this to be offensive to Native Americans and they want to change it, while others say that it’s not offensive. But the truth is somewhere in the middle. Using Native American names and mascots can be harmful or honourable

We believe that all men were created equal, and you have not shown us that. We believe that we should be treated with the same respect you treat your friends and kin. We are the same. We were created equal in God's eye. We are exactly like you, spite a few minute differences. We value you, why can your not value us?

By dispelling myths and stereotypes, people can able to get true knowledge about Native Americans, we should teach our children what really happened to Native American, how they survived in hardship, they were the true owner of this land. Gaining correct and true information will remove misconception that we have in our minds for different cultures, and

Uses of icons, symbols, and illustrations of Native Americans have changed ever since Europeans have made contact with the new world. Between various types of media such as art and eventually theater, film, and other forms of entertainment, depictions of Native Americans in the U.S. have seen an evolution over many centuries. Past the beginning of the 20th century, illustrations of Native Americans have seen an evolution in behavior, becoming more culturally aware and sensitive throughout multiple forms of media, but while some depictions may still harbor offensive and insensitive depictions, there are still some forms of popular culture that have either changed their use of Native American illustrations or have become more aware of their motives.

Until fairly recently the popular culture of American literature and film did not attempt to study the true representations of Indians in North America. Instead they chose to concentrate on the romanticized/savage version of Native people: which is an idealistic view of a Native with long, beautiful flowing hair riding on a horse obsessed with chanting and praying to the savageness of a rowdy, wild Native causing unnecessary mayhem to the white people. This portrayal of Native people in mass media had led to the stereotyping of Natives, which in turn had ricocheted into real life. Not only do non-natives succumb to these ideals, but Natives do as well.

[1] Native Americans were part of this country long before our founding forefathers. They were the people that Christopher Columbus found inhabiting this land. There is even evidence to show that they have been on the American continents for thousands and even tens of thousands of years. Yet, somehow the European powers dominated these people, forcing them from their land to make it “ours.” In the early part of the twentieth century, a new industry began to develop; we call it the film industry. Along with the industry came movies that were made and are still made for the amusement of a mass audience. Some flaws did come with this industry, and among them was the

Stereotyping and ethnocentrism shares similar themes, but are separated from an enormous distinction that which can lead from a tasteless joke to genocide. Stereotyping is simply an overall widespread generalization. They are formed from second hand information from close community member that use outdated information or are not an expert with that particular culture/community. Stereotypes are usually formed in situations when a person would suffer from information overload and in some cases, can accurately capture cultures or even celebrated within them (Neuliep, 2017, 191).