Native American Mascot Persuasive Essay

It has been decided by the California State Legislature to approve the ban on use of Redskins as a mascot for Calaveras High School. By 2017, four high schools in California will have to phase out of their use of the Native American mascot. To some this is doing justice in defense to the Native Americans, but to others it is taking away a proud tradition of honoring them. For one to be reasonably offended one must understand both sides of the argument. As Calaveras High School, we are using the name in honor, pride, and respect but to others we are “politically incorrect.” Calaveras succeeds in showing the respectful and proud side of honoring the name Redskins, established relationships with the local Native Americans, and they have presented us with gifts such as the beautiful baskets that are still present in our front office. Everyone has their own way to define words and is entitled to their opinion including the group of people that have a negative definition of Redskin. Their belief is that the term is mocking, offensive, and racist. In 2005, a Native American Intellect named Ives Goddard of Smithsonian Institution studied and found

evidence that the name Redskin was what Native Americans would identify themselves as when the English and European settlers came. The Natives called themselves Redskins proudly and this word did not emerge from European or English language first. Goddard says that “the actual origin of the word is entirely benign”
A Native American student from Argonaut high school claims that he is “offended by our school using the racial slur as a mascot”.

I asked Blake Wilson ‘18, if this student came to Calaveras himself, do you think his opinion would change? He replied “I really do think it would change his mind. He would see that we in no way offend anyone. We don’t make fun of the term Redskin, he’d see that and it’d change his opinion on the whole subject. I feel the name change is unnecessary. There’s a very defined line between offending and honoring. So far, I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who thinks this, our school never crossed over to the offensive side. Redskin to me means a lot. As a little kid growing up I always excited to become a Calaveras Redskin. I take pride in being one and no matter what I will always consider myself

one”.
The majority of Native Americans think that there are bigger problems that they wish we would put in the spotlight such as poverty, crime on the reserves, and many more but instead society chooses to regard these dark conflicts and aims their attention to schools that honor their local Native American tribes. Native Americans have one of the highest below poverty rates in the United States. In 2013, an average of 30% of Native Americans live below poverty according to American Community Survey Briefs. According to 2011’s Federal Data, The Justice System ignores approximately two-thirds of sexual assault cases and only charges 52% of the murder cases that happen. Why isn’t society focusing on these serious conflicts?
Sophomore Leah Dempsey addresses this topic by saying that “I don’t take offense or think it should be taken in offense because we all respect the mascot and carry it with pride. To be a Redskin to me means to be strong and always give 100% whether it be in attitude or performance”. Calaveras brings that 100% attitude and pride to education, sports, and music. We simply wear the name with pride and excellence. The state may think they can take away our name away by not allowing us to no longer use it but the truth is even though the are making us change the name on physical things like our scoreboard, they can never take our our spirit and our history that we will always remember. We will carry this Redskin pride throughout our lives in our hearts no matter what hardships we may have to face.