Jackie Valdivia “Racism American Style and Resistance to Change: Art Education’s Role in the Indian Mascot Issue.” By Elizabeth M. Delacruz. For many people the debate on having a Native American as a mascot in schools continues, on whether having one is being used or viewed as a stereotype or as a tribute. Now the question is should the Native American mascots be banned? Yes, as said in the article it is seen as a disrespectful, racist and stereotype to display our Native Americans in such a vulgar way. Native Americans should not be used in that way to be honored. Ban Native American Mascots and their Logos. While many may believe that Native American imagery in sports can be a way to honor our first inhabitants of our country, …show more content…
when used in such a disrespectful and tasteless way tension and potential violence can be created between those who oppose and those who support the use of mascots.
For instance, a Native American mascot with a feather atop of his head. In many Native cultures eagle feathers are considered to be very scared and are to be worn by those who have earned them in a spiritual way. Ceremonies and traditions such as these can cause shame and show a lack of respect towards the Native Americans, when their traditions are taken out of context and background knowledge. Keeping Native Americans as mascots, logos, etc is a problematic issue that needs to be fixed. Using Native American pictures and names in sports has been a topic of controversy in the United States since the 1960’s. Another reason as to why all sports that use Native Americans as their mascots, team logo, etc should be banned is an American sociological association banned the use of the Native American logos, mascots and nicknames in sports because it harms Native American people in educational and social ways. When such cultural abuse is supported, it causes harm to Native American children and tells society and the Non-Native American …show more content…
children that it is okay to participate, cheer on, and give support in cultural abuse behavior. Children spend a great deal of time in school, school impacts children’s everyday lives so it impacts their development. This could set up potential barriers to the children affected by this throughout their school experience. People do not understand how offensive, racist it is towards their culture and how badly it affects it by having a Native mascot. Not only do sports teams have Native American mascots but the football team in Washington state is named the Red Skins for their mascot. Mascots were made for entertainment, and for good luck not for mocking. Our society is supporting negative stereotypes and racism without even acknowledging the great affect it has on others. For example, the Red Skins name itself is a very racial slur for a football team or any kind of group, team of some sort.
Most people do not know where the term “Red Skins” originally came from. According to the article “Racism American Style and Resistance to Change: Art Education’s Role in the Indian Mascot Issue.” By: Elizabeth M. Delacruz states that the term “Red Skins” was originally used by white settlers as a way to count the number of Indian scalps collected by Indian exterminators. People put these names without even knowing any solid, basic background information. The dictionary defined term of the word “Red Skins” is defined as a racial slur,that should not be used in sports. Given all that information on why Native American mascots should be banned people still do not understand, nor understand the effects on the Native people. Thousands of fans mock Native American culture in Braves team from Atlanta. At some point there needs to be a line drawn to what is okay and what is offensive towards others. Furthermore, it wouldn’t be okay if the Washington State football team decided to have their team called the Washington Negros. The majority of people are well informed of the dark past of the African Americans, therefore no one would cross such a line and go as far as naming their team after being aware of such a tragic, dark past of the African Americans. As for the” Red Skins” it is just as racist, and and offensive as the slur word for African Americans. All
these issues with the mascots, team logos can be resolved by just removing all Native Americans as team mascots from all sports. The Native American community has worked hard to banish images, and names like the Washington Red Skins, Kansas City Chiefs, Chief Wahoo and the Atlanta Braves. Schools, colleges, and universities believe in keeping the nicknames, logos, and mascots many school officials believe that they are honoring them and insist that their school activities are not offensive in any way, when in reality much offensive is taken. For instance, in the article “Racism American Style and Resistance to change: Art Education’s Role in the Indian Mascot Issue.” By: Elizabeth M. Delacruz states that during a halftime game, an athletic, white male, bare footed and dressed similar to how Native Americans dress, wearing a feathered headdress made out of turkey feathers with a painted face attempts at dancing a “fancy” dance to the marching Illini’s school band. While that occurred a mother noticed her children’s reaction, her child’s reaction was thinking less of him or herself. “Chief Illiniwek” is a seventy-five year old tradition. The way the mascot Chief Illiniwek is dressed shows how stereotype the team is the and how racist it is. As well as not representing specifying in any Native American. He was making a general statement with his physical appearance, basically saying that all Indians are the same. However, I argue that it is in not in any way shape or form “honoring” the Natives. Behavior like this makes a mockery of their culture. Education plays an important role in having a mascot as a Native American. In order to be able to honor them a great amount of knowledge for different tribes will be needed, in order for any school activities not to offend anyone. In conclusion, Native Americans Mascots should not be kept. Especially if there is not a decent amount of background information for the different tribes that belonged to the Indians. All Native American logos, nicknames and mascots should be banned.
In a generation focused on social justice and the elimination of prejudice from our society, there is still a use of offensive language and terminology in the area of professional sports. In “The Indian Wars” by S. L. Price, Price attempts to make the reader aware of sports teams that use derogatory terms as their team name and their mascot. He does this by highlighting football, and trying to determine whether Native-Americans are offended by team names in sports, or more specifically, the Redskins. Price’s essay is ineffective because although he raises good points, he doesn’t help the reader to form an opinion by adding historical context to the derogatory names used. He also uses inaccurate poll results to make assumptions about the feelings
Redskins, Seminoles, Tribe, Indians, what do they all have in common? They are all athletic team names under scrutiny by people who deem them as being racist. For years, people have argued over the fact that these names and/or mascots are being used in a negative way. Some have been changed while others are still being argued over. Teams with these mascots should not be forced to change their names because the majority of Native Americans are not even bothered by these sports names.
Cultural stereotypes have always existed and while they may have been acceptable to society in the past, that does not compel us to accept them in today’s society. One such stereotype which is used is that of Native American names and imagery for sports teams and in particular The Washington Redskins of the National Football league. While for many people, this is an argument that has just recently arisen, in actuality, the debate over the use of native names and images has been an ongoing issue for over 50 years. The subject of the Washington Redskins name has been debated across politics, media, academia, religious backgrounds and in the public square for many years.
Teams in every sport, at every level of competition, have a mascot. It is the mascot that represents the competitive spirit and team identity, motivating players and fans alike. Does the symbol chosen have any impact on whether a team wins or loses? Unlikely. But the choice of a Native American mascot continues to ignite debate and controversy among athletes, fans and alumni, as well as those people who might otherwise be disinterested in sports. Utilizing an Indian mascot is nothing more than a veiled attempt at hate speech.
...ers' evolution from mother and student into a leading voice against the merchandising of Native American sacred symbols -- and shows the lengths to which fans will go to preserve their mascots." In keeping all the Native American Mascots in schools, colleges, and professional sports teams we are showing a lack of respect. The Native Americans have voiced the lack of honor these names are bringing to them. "The fact that history has ignored the incredible pain we have inflicted on Native Americans does not now give us the right to ignore their largely muted call." Americans need to take a step back think about how they would feel if there ritual and or sacred tradition was misused. "We feel that we are being put in a position of sacrificing our dignity and pride and will never be treated as equals in white society as long as the use of Indian symbols continues."
Privilege is thinking something is not a problem because it’s not a problem to someone personally. It’s difficult to see a situation for what it is when it’s not specifically affecting a person. In the article “Indian mascots — you’re out,” author Jack Shakely discusses that the cultural appropriation of Native American mascots in college and professional sports teams is treated like a minuscule matter, but removing the mascots would be “the right thing to do.” Shakely expounds his first experience of conflict with his background and supporting the Cleveland Indians. The article is an opinion piece from Los Angeles Times, published on August 25, 2011. Although it isn’t recent, it’s indubitably timely. The appropriation of Native American culture
Throughout the 1925-1975 period, the Native American population of the United States has faced many obstacles. Just a few years before, they had been suppressed by the federal government’s “Anti-Long Hair” policy for all Native American males. This would set the stage for future cultural restraint on the Indians. However, they continued to fight for equality. All through this time period, the experience of the Native American culture has been a struggle for equality in their homeland.
Issue of whether to keep Mascots in schools or not, started in late 1970’s and from then this debate is going on. Most of the schools have Indian Mascots in place for half a century and suddenly it become problem to use Indian Mascots. Over 500 Native American organizations also announced their support for the removal of those mascots and over 1200 schools across the United States have changed the name of their sports teams and some school refused to play with those schools using Indian mascots. But some school still think that using mascots are just paying homage to the Native peoples and it’s just another group claiming to be offended. Sports teams used those mascots to promote their team’s athletic powers, like wolf, lion and eagle etc. How portrait of an Indain wearing hat with feather or headdress can be offensive or racist? One thing which never be done up to now that is to view our history from Native eyes. First of all, learn about their culture and their living style from their new perspective not the one which is given in our history books. From last hundred years we taught our generations that this is our country and we had a very long war with Indians which won. We also tell different kind of stories like burning of Fort Pequot Indians because they had trade relationship with British company. Can stories like this possibly be related to mascot issue? Using mascots are really a problem or just a political incorrectness.
The author Justin Angle says how in a study the mascots and names were shown to people unfamiliar with Native American culture and the sport teams, in the end of the study most of the participants viewed Native American’s as “war like”, which can carry negative consequences in the real world affecting the views of some future employers, creating a view that though Native American’s can be seen as strong and bold they can also have been perceived as violent and irrational. The uses of Redskins also create the belief that it is culturally appropriate for the constant use of Native American culture this has led to thousands of schools and sports teams to have questionable mascots and names. Such as the Savages from Salmon High school and the baseball team the “Indians” whose mascot was a hooked nose red skinned Indian with bucked teeth. Comparing this to the now frowned upon depiction of African American as black red lipped stereotyped popular in the 1920s advertisements does it not show similarities in a cultures becoming a caricature. While one is view as racist the other is view and honorable due to it representing one of the greatest passtimes in America,
Putting Indians on a helmet shows how America “owns” them. “Not only do Indians have to deal with the fallout of being ‘conquered’ people...the shame of being men who descended from those unable to protect our women...the shame of being women who descended from those raped and tortured…” but they also have to deal with being reminded of the events that happened in the past. Constantly being reminded of these events is disrespectful and torture. In the past, the Indians were helpless against the pilgrims and were unable to do anything to protect their people. Since the name of the mascot is broadcasted visually, Redskins just reminds them that they were owned and still remain to be. Just like corporate America copyrighting their inventions, in Dan Snyder’s position in his letter to the Washington Redskins fans, he continues to want to “own” the name Redskins. Snyder’s action of keeping the team name shows his power of “sustain[ing] long term success if this franchise.” American Indians are being disrespected in this manner by being seen as a franchise instead of a group of people. Especially since such a big issue like this is just for a sports game, it is demeaning for American Indian’s
Team mascots that depict a certain type of group is wrong and should be changed. It is degrading and hurtful to far too many people to keep them from staying the same. Native Americans or any other race or ethnicity should not be stereotyped in a way that degrades them in any way. All teams that have mascots that are named after a certain race or ethnicity should be changed.
Sports organizations that have ethnic team names and mascots have been a controversial hot topic for decades. Professional sports franchises like the Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, and Washington Redskins have maintained significant presence and fan base in their respective leagues, but disputes over the perceived racial offensiveness of their names has surrounded them. Some Native American activist groups and political figures think ethnic team names and mascots are disrespectful to their culture and defame the historical legacy of their ancestors. They view the name “Redskins” as a racial slur, and the cartoonish-looking Chief Wahoo mascot for the Cleveland Indians as mockery rather than flattery. Despite the fact that sports franchises know their brand is offending ethnic groups, they have refused to change their team names. Native Americans have experienced psychological distress, lower self-esteem, and a lower sense of achievement because of the offensive and stereotypical names/logos of these teams ("Washington Redskins: Do Offensive Team Names Endanger Public Health?"). This begs the question, should sports teams with potentially offensive names and mascots be required to change their identities in order to be more racially sensitive and politically correct?
With that being said, all Americans should be allowed to live in a country where they feel safe and free of hatred. If a historical symbol fuels hatred, violence, and fear then the display of such a symbol would only misinterpret the meaning of the land of the free.
The first amendment is what makes America work, so when Mariner management tried to tell fans they couldn’t wear a belief on a tee shirt, it sent mixed messages to the fanbase. It is well known what words are truly obscene in today’s world, but the word “suck” has not been truly offensive since “Ozzie and Harriet” was still on prime time. To say that the fanbase would be offended without taking a census of some sort or another was censorship in a way. A fan wearing a shirt with the f-word not being let in is different than a fan wearing a “Jesus Rules” shirt in.
The next reason we’ll be looking at are the stereotypical images commonly seen in literature and mascots. Mainstream media such as “Dances with Wolves”, “The Lone Ranger”, and “The Last of The Mohicans” and mascots in professional sports teams like Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Blackhawks all include representations of Native Americans that for some, are offensive. With this in mind, ...