Indian Mascots You Re Out Analysis

In the article, “Indian Mascots-You’re Out!”, Jack Shakely talks about the use of Native American mascots in sports. The author describes the use of Indian mascots in the course of history of sports. He talks about how this bothered some people. The way sports can use Indian mascots can be very discriminating. He talks about how the mascots look dumb and does dumb things in front of the fans. “In a 2002 study on the subject, Sports Illustrated reported that 84% of Native Americans polled had no problem with Indian team names or mascots” (521). The author says that if 16% of a population finds something offensive, that should be enough for deep concern. The author makes his argument by using the thesis statement: “Removing Native American names and mascots from college

Shakely uses a personal experience to appeal to the audience. “my mother took one look at the cap with its leering, big-nosed, buck-toothed redskin caricature just above the brim, jerked it off my head and threw it in the trash” (520). The author wants the audience to see just how offensive this type of behavior is. Jack Shakely’s mother coming from a Native American background was hurt by this representation of Native Americans. The author’s ethos is that he is Indian himself and his mother did not feel like Indian mascots were acceptable. He shows just how vulgar it was by saying, “I was only 10 years old, but the look of betrayal in my Creek mother’s eyes is seared in my memory forever” (520). Shakely’s mother had been fighting against Indian stereotypes all her life. Jack Shakely uses pathos by making people feel that Indian mascots are unpleasant to have because they are portrayed as fools. “It was that cringe-worthy Chief Noc-A-Homa who came stomping and war-dancing his way out of a teepee in center field every time the Braves hit a home run that got to me” (522). The author feels that Indians were being portrayed as village