Red Mascots: Negative Stereotypes

Teams that have the name like Redskins, Indians, and Red Raiders are racist terms used as mascots. Interchange the name with the Negroes, the Jews or the Asians and that sounds even worse but, it all means the same thing. They are all racist terms that no one should use to represent something like a team name. According to racismagainstindians.org, Native Americans were banned from practicing their own religion and would be often thrown in jail if they were caught all the way up to 1978. But when nonnative people at sporting events would dance and sing their songs it would be completely okay. This makes no sense,

The controversy over the naming of sports teams after ethnic groups has been boiling since the mid-twentieth century. Sports teams in America, ranging from Pee-wee leagues, high schools, and colleges to Professional sports, have used any enumeration of nick names and mascots by which to represent their team with pride and sometimes even comedy. However, the lines of political correctness have been greatly and maybe even intentionally blurred in terms of the use of specific ethnic groups within team names and the use of the stereotypical image of those teams’ caricatures, the native-American in particular. Of the four major professional sports team franchises included in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL that do possess ethnic monikers, only two are of Caucasoid based ethnicity, whereas the other 5 are direct references to Native American ethnicity or stereotypes

The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team that is based out of Washington area and currently play at FedEx Field in Maryland. In 1932, the name Boston Braves emerged when the football program began to arise. The following year, the name the Boston Redskins replaced the original name of the Boston Braves. In 1937, the team changed locations to Washington, thus making their current team name the Washington Redskins. Unfortunately, a problem arose around the 1990’s when the Native American people began to feel “disrespected”. The reason the Native American people have such hatred for the team is due to the fact that it portrays and offends the Natives skin color with the name, “Redskin.” The Washington Redskins debate plays a significant role in professional sports team history due to the demoralization amongst Native American Society. Factors that contribute to this debate include, but are not limited to; religion, economics, and politics.

The debate about whether or not the Washington Redskins should change their name has been a topic for a long time. Some Native Americans have often considered the name a racial slur and think that the league should get rid of the name as it doesn’t represent Native Americans in the best way possible. In 1937 the Redskins moved to Washington and decided to retain the name even though it had faced backlash then. Since then the team has over time shown more caution on using slogans that may disrespect Native Americans. Some slogans they did use include “On the Warpath, with a cartoon drawing of an angry Indian, and another called “Teepee Talk, featuring a clip-art Indian sticking his head out of a tepee” (Shapira, 2016, Para.5). There will always be a debate if the team should get rid of its name but for right now Washington’s football teams name is the Redskins.

The names used by professional sports teams are offensive and perpetuate a blatant categorization of Native Americans that further Marginalizes them. Professional teams are the highest level of sport and therefore set an example for the rest of the industry and Americans themselves. By holding offensive names these teams are enabling a culture of racism in America that people learn to idolize and thus overlook. Numerous Native American organizations including the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), United South and Eastern Tribes Inc. (USET), and over 40 individual tribal governments across the country have spoken out about these professional teams and the disrespect they generate. (Ending the Era) “Redskins” is a term defined in the dictionary as a racial slur. It refers to the bloody scalps of Native Americans who were hunted and killed, then sold for bounties. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recently canceled several of the Washington NFL team 's trademark registrations because they were found disparaging to Native communities. (Change the Mascot) Braves is a term that has been used to disparage Indian men by characterizing them all as fighters, it is a similar

The controversy of Indian mascots is a widespread issue seen across the U.S.;is it racist , or is it justified? From different viewpoints from many people the answers vary from group to group.I believe it is not racist and believe that it is honoring. Natives should have the final say, but regular americans still step in and want a say in the whole issue. The Indian mascot has been used all across the U.S. ranging from elementary schools all the way to college and professional sports teams. “In fact Over 2,128 other teams use indian referenced team names not just professional”.(Munguia, Hayley)Ranging from many racial terms to regular tribe names. The main focus of the controversy is focused on the professional sports team the Washington Redskins.Many people see this team as racist and degrading to Indians. Some say it is similar to the racial slur n***** to African Americans. I believe the Redskins, may be politically incorrect representation of the Indians but not all indian mascots are racist or wrong. Indian mascots bring history, power, cultural, education and strong images of Indians to Native Americans and all American people. .

The article, “The 2,128 Native American Mascots People Aren 't Talking About” written by Hayley Munguia gives a massive overview of not only the Redskins, but the 2, 129 other teams representing the controversial Native American mascot references. Munguia begins the article by sharing that a little boy does not even realize the connection between the Redskins and the Native American innuendo. She that this is not just the issue of an NFL team, but about all the other teams in High School, College, Semi Pro, and Pro athletics, and how “8.2% of college have Native American team names. Munguia goes into an interview with a high school coach from the Estelline Redmen. He claims that the name is for the “color they

As a native american myself, I can relate to why people have become upset over the name. People feel that this term is not a true representation of who they are or where they come from. In an article written by the huffington post, Travis Waldron writes that, “In 2014, a judge ruled that the team cannot legally register trademarks for its Redskin name” (Waldron 2015). This ruling became a huge victory for the native american community. Many members have tried to fight the trademark name as early as 1992. In fact, an attorney associated with the native american group said, “a victory for human dignity and for my courageous clients who have waited so long for this ruling” (Jesse Witten 2015). These native americans will finally get the respect they deserve. Many of them believed that the name ‘Redskin’ was a mockery of not only their appearance, but their

Chiefs, Redskins, and Braves. All names of popular, professional American sports teams, all are offensive terms for Native Americans. It is time for these teams to make a positive change. The names are insulting, not just to Native Americans, but to all Americans. Furthermore, the names and images of mascots encourages negative stereotypes that don’t represent our nation's history. Sports are supposed to bring us together, but the use of these names keeps us apart. It is in the best interest for all American sports team to abolish the use of ignorant names that are reminiscent of the mistreatment of Native Americans in our nation’s history.

In the last few year, one of the biggest controversies throughout the media was controversy over the Washington Redskins’ name. The Washington Redskins, a National Football League (N.F.L) team, has had their name as “Redskins” for eighty-one years. Then, a lot of critics say the team name itself has historical beginnings as a racist tag which is offensive to Native American while some arguments say in their context, “Redskins” is just the name that means respect and honor. Consequently, this controversy has become a study topic in many schools and colleges in term of what is the term of Redskins to Native American and how is the Redskins name offensive to American Indian?

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

First you have to know what the agreement is all about. My research is found from the a article called "The battle over Indian mascot". Some say that when fans chant war crimes during games, it makes Native Americans seem like savages. Now first let me start by saying this I'm not trying to persuade you that teams should change their name, this quote is an agreement that could setup one side of an argument. People don't like the way teams make Indians appears, with the war chants and

“As the nation’s oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization, NCAI has long held a clear position against derogatory and harmful stereotypes of Native people—including sports mascots—in media and popular culture” (“Ending the Era of Harmful ’Indian’ Mascots” 1). Native Americans have been used as mascots and names for several high school, college, and professional teams such as the Washington Redskins with their Native American mascot. The term “Redskins” or any other term about Native Americans should not be used for any sports teams at any level, because it implies a snide nature, that it damages how people perceive their culture, and how Native American children perceive themselves.

In the recent years the media has sparked a controversy weather names such as the “Redskins” should be changed and this debate still rages on because there is no clear cut answer. I am on the side that Native American mascots should not be changed. First, Native American people see this as a chance for dialogue and conflict resolution. Next, This gives people to have an insight on Native American culture. Finally, many Native Americans feel that the names are not offensive.

“The use of the Redskins nickname was conducted among a random sample of 504 Native American adults. Ninety percent of respondents said they are not bothered by the Redskins name, and 73 percent of respondents said they do not find the name disrespectful” (Eitzen and Zinn). Native American logos are a very controversial topic but, what most people do not know is how the Native American population feels about these logos. Sports teams should not get rid of Native American logos because they represent Native Americans, the logos represent freedom of speech, and most Native Americans support the logos. “An agreement with local Native American tribes features a hockey arena, the Ralph Engelstad Arena, and the attached Betty Engelstad Sioux Center,