Throughout ancient times, many names have identified as racial slurs. Most recently, controversy has surrounded multiple sports teams such as the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, and the Washington Redskins; however, some may believe the Braves and Indians name is more to honor them, instead of discriminate against them. The conflict of the Washington Redskins seems highest compared to other teams. This kind of denigration has both visible and unseen consequences for Native Americans (Keim 2). Throughout this paper opinions on the argument has been voiced, polls which have taken placed, and protests have developed for both sides of the argument will be taken discussed to find a resolution for the potential name change of the Washington Redskins. …show more content…
For example their old fight song shouted, “Scalp ‘em, swamp ‘em- we will take ‘em big score/ Read ‘em, weep ‘em, touchdown! -We want heap more!” On the other hand, publishers post articles that compose prejudice titles. After a 1998 game versus the Dallas Cowboys, in which the Redskins lost, a story headlined, “Cowboys scalp Redskins thirty-one to ten; Improve to three and two (King 30).” People have not done anything to help the issue. Native Americans should not be treated as targets of slurs or mascots (Keim 2). No matter how the word was used eighty years ago, it carries invidious connections today (King 5). Times have changed in the twenty first century and everybody should be respected as equals (Keim 2). Some argue that fans attach to the Redskins name and identify with the team; they internalize the rituals and traditions associated with both. People would not like having mascots like the Fighting Jewish, Blacks, Latinos, Orientals, Caucasians, etc. Making the situation even worse, this nasty label belongs to, according to Forbes magazine, the third most valuable NFL franchise. Today, the team appraises for $2.4 billion dollars. (King
In a majority of cases, this view is even endorsed by the tribes themselves (Morrison). They argue that the restriction and ultimate elimination of the Native American mascot would also abolish the nation’s historic view of this cultural entity as characters of strength, determination, boldness, resourcefulness and courage. They contend that these same positive attributes are not only required by athletes, but are held expectations of the sporting community. The pursuant argument entails that there is an inherent oddity in the suggestion that naming a team after an Indian tribe is a calculated insult.
Nowadays we do not see the Indians or Redskins as a negative way of describing a race or culture. We see them as professional teams that play hard and get our spirits up. Out of all teams, I would say that the Redskins is probably the most racist of all names because of the term it was used years ago. I would change the name to something more honorable towards Native Americans. Braves is actually more honorable than Redskins because they are identifying Native Americans as Brave rather than a negative stereotype of a name. The team name, Redskins, has actually received backlash for many years because it was seen as insulting and offensive to people of Native American culture. After many polls of whether to keep the name or not, 83 percent of people chose to keep the name as it was not used as racial slur. At this point, the team names are not meant as a racial slur so there shouldn't be any
Since the mid-1900s, the questionable legacy of Native American names used as sports mascots has sparked debate across the United States. "After 81 years, the Washington Redskins name continues to hold the memories and meaning of where we come from, who we are, and who we want to be in the years to come," Washington’s NFL owner, Dan Snyder, declared when faced with condemnations of the controversial name. While many uphold Snyder’s statement, others are offended, and are determined to eliminate all team mascots with Native American symbolism. However, the Washington Redskins are not alone in the debate against Native American logos and mascots. Any sports team should be allowed to represent themselves by using Native American words.
“The Center for Indigenous Peoples Studies at California State University in San Bernardino surveyed 400 individuals, 98 of them Native Americans, and found that 67 percent of Native Americans agreed the "Redskins team name is a racial or racist word and symbol."” (Steele). Some mascots are offensive and racist to certain cultures and races. In, 2005, the NCAA banned schools with Native American mascots from hosting a national championship game (ProQuest Staff). Changing the mascot won’t change the history of the school or team. Some people feel unwelcome because of certain mascots. Some mascots should be banned because they are stereotypical, dishonor cultures, and are offensive.
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."
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 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?
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.
The big overall issue here is that an overwhelming majority of Native Americans do not consider the issue of the name “Redskins” very important. Most will say they don't mind it, and some will even say they like it. Native Americans will call other natives ‘Redskins’ as well.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines mascot as, “a person, animal, or object used as a symbol to represent a group (such as a sports team) and to bring good luck.” Hopeful sports teams around the United States rely on their mascots to bring in positive energy as motivation to help win the game. The mascot often serves as the face of a team, and acts to define the team’s character to their opponents. The mascots represent the community that the team belongs to, and that is a big role. When a mascot is offensive or isolates a particular group of people, the mascot can also bring negative attention to the team. The negative publicity will often result in a mascot change.
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
For years Native Americans have been ridiculed, abused, oppressed, and much more. They’re typically the butt of everyone's jokes and have been for some time. Many try to argue that Native American mascots should be looked at as a symbol of respect and that they’re honoring their rich culture, some flat out say it’s senseless humor and that they shouldn’t be offended by it. But what many people fail to realize is that costumes, mascots, imitations, and jokes are all dehumanizing and extremely offensive. Sports teams with Native American mascots contribute heavily to the dehumanizing of Native Americans by associating them with savagery and war.
Altogether sports, groups use mascots with representable their team’s pride, strength, and will with win. The part the mascarpone assumes will be a intimidation factor, and also something with inspire the group. Groups will need mascots that range starting with anything, starting with an creature on a spiritless object, like An hammer alternately a orange. Mascots infrequently fall under scrutiny, but to the mascots that representable local american tribes, individuals alternately societies. A significant number schools and groups use A percentage sort local american reference Similarly as a mascarpone. The local american mascots utilized extend starting with names like those Indians, Chiefs, Furthermore Braves, which would a few of the that's
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