Analyzing Team Names and Mascots by S. L. Price's Article, The Indian Wars

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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. S.L. Price wrote this article for the magazine Sports Illustrated, where he examined the confusing topic of the use of Native American mascots and names in sports in high school, college, and professional levels. “The Indian Wars” serves a wide range of different people’s viewpoints. What names and mascots are used and whether or not they honor or defile the Native American population. The question presented is whether the historical context of a word like redskin should matter when being used today. Data had been collected and a majority of Natives are not offended, yet a big amount has voiced their opinion of this controversy. The NFL team Redskins is debated on, yet still the name is in use. The author wonders why they are so stubborn to make a name change because he believes it would be good for business. The author offers the reader a wide range of points and evidence gathered. This strengthens Price’s claim that this is a very confusing subject matter. He offers a variety of indigenous d... ... middle of paper ... ...should be out of free will and for understanding of the issue at hand; not because they will be offered compensation for the change. I do agree with the author that it is a difficult and challenging issue to come to an understanding of. Even though there are parts of the article that I agree or disagree on, this article as a whole is a good resource to approach when curious about the controversial Native American mascots in sports. Sport teams use of indigenous symbols can be taken as a way to honor Native Americans and a way to insult them. The author is successful at getting the reader to understand the topic at hand in the sport world. Price does offer a wide range of evidence and historical background even though he struggles with defining terms and validating the data. S. L. Price tackles this confusing subject in “the Indian Wars” for Sports Illustrated.

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