The Washington Redskins Name And Mascot

When I think of names such as Redskins, Braves, Warriors, Indians, I think of just a logo. Perhaps looking a bit deeper I see the imagery behind the name; a strong-willed relentless character. Despite how many people may feel about the this highly debatable topic it will ultimately come down to how you view the usage of Native Americans in sports. It is also important to consider, while making that decision, the cultural and historical significance of the native people.

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 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

The author S. L. Price of the article “the Indian Wars” analyzes the confusing subject of Native American names and mascots used in sports teams in high school, college, and professional levels. The article is written for Sports Illustrated and offers readers an insight into this debate whether indigenous symbols in sports are honoring or insulting in Native Americans. The author addresses this topic with evidence of both sides of the issue, and leaves the reader aware of the topic and its unclear stance in today’s society. This article examines the controversy of using Native American names and mascots by sports teams, even though the author provides two sides to the issue, the different evidence blinds the argument he is trying to make.

Native Americans are often offended by racist nicknames, logos, and stereotypes in sports. The Washington Redskins and many other teams are facing this.

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.

“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.

Native Americans see this issue of mascots as a topic that needs discussion. This discussion is seen by Native Americans as a way to learn about their culture as written by Paul Lukas in an interview with Frank Cloutier, a Native American man,

In 1932 a football team was founded with the name Redskins. Redskins being an outdated contemptuous term used to refer to Native Americans. This term has always been offensive and as time progressed it's become more controversial. Now, 85 years later, the name is continuing to stir up trouble within many more communities. Christine Flowers fans these flames of controversy through her writing. In the article “Amid so much real trouble, who has time for the ‘Redskins’ crisis?”, Native Americans are marginalized through the use of association, microinvalidations, and dismissive framing.

Currently in the NFL, the Washington Redskins are being faced with a staggering controversy: Should they change they change their mascot as a result of Native Americans viewing it is a racial discriminatory (Angle 2016)? Dating back to 1933, when the Washington NFL team abandoned the original title of “Braves” and adopted “Redskins,” the debate has since been longstanding (Hylton 2014). Native Americans are challenging the team to rid them, along with all team mascot names relating to their culture countrywide, of their title, but the mascot names have no negative connotation and should not be protested against. The controversy relates back to the 1900s when Native Americans began to feel oppressed and teams began using their titles as mascot (Brady 2016).

The first reason sports teams should be able to keep their mascot and logos is the argument that by schools using these logos, it’s honoring the Native Americans. One of the more popular teams that has gotten heat from many people are the Redskins. The owner of the Redskins made a statement about the intentional meaning of his team’s name. Redskins owner, Daniel Snyder, wrote in a letter posted on the NFL website that states “Our team name captures the best of who we are and who we can be, by staying true to our history and honoring the deep and enduring values our name represents.” Many other owners and coaches agree with Snyder that these names aren’t made to offend Native Americans, but to honor them. Many Americans across the nation I find strength

The Washington Redskins is just a football team name. It is not a big deal. This discussion for Erik Bickel “is very similar to the situation when people had to stand up for civil rights, a woman’s right to vote, or gay marriage. But a team name is not discrimination because it doesn’t prevent anyone from anything on the basis of being in a certain group or category”. More specifically, the discrimination that could be used for the expression Redskins has no fundamental evidence because it does not cite and relate directly to the Native Americans when used as a team

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

Despite the team’s owner, Dan Snyder, claiming that there are many Native Americans who are not offended by the name, there are still enough who are (Crowe ). Major organizations, such as the American Sociological Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, have even decided to support a change, (Crowe ). There has even been a campaign made called “Change the Mascot” specifically against the Redskins (Crowe ). Dr. Philip Suarez also argues that the term “redskins” is not a racial slur (Crowe ). Yet, the name was given by settlers and not Native Americans themselves (Crowe ). As Macarena Hernandez states, “The people from those ethnic groups have every right to demand the labels they want to be associated with or find appropriate,” (Crowe ). This quote means that since some Native Americans do not find the name “Redskins” appropriate, and that they are the ones associated with it, the team should change their name. Still, people like Dr. Suarez find it hard to understand why the name is offensive. He states, “It is a symbol of everything we stand for: strength,

There is no legitimate argument for why an arrowhead on the side of a football helmet, a logo of a Native American chief’s head on the side of a school or even a tomahawk on a basketball jersey is being reverted to as degrading, but the controversy still continues. Some names can be offensive such as Redmen, Savages, etc. But if it is the name itself that offends, it needs to be argued that way and not toward the Native American mascot as a symbol. Arguing a mascot as degrading when really it is meant the name is disrespectful in itself because a mascot is a symbol of a team, not the name; it is also the strength and core of a team. Mascots are purposely portrayed as being ethical, complementary, and respectful, in fact “tribal names find their way onto all kinds of consumer products, such as the Jeep Cherokee and the Dodge Dakota. For the same reason, Indian images appear on U.S. currency, such as the old Indian-head nickel and the new Sacajawea dollar. The Army even names its helicopters after tribes: the Apache Longbow, the Kiowa Warrior, the Comanche, and the Blackhawk. If we were” to let the minority side of this argument change Native American mascots, then “a number of cities (e.g., Chicago, Miami, and Milwaukee), plus about half the states, would have to be renamed (Miller 2001). Mascots are symbols, symbols of spirit, and symbols of strength.