Schools Should Keep The Redskin Mascots

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Over 80 high schools in the United States once used or currently use the Redskin mascot. 56 currently use the mascot for their schools in California and four high schools bears the Redskin name. Students, alumni, community members and staff all carry the Redskin name with honor and dignity there's no “misappropriation” of the mascot, from small communities to large districts. Even though some Native Americans find the Redskin name offensive, schools should keep the Redskin mascot because the students, staff, and community members take pride in their mascot and removing it with AB 30, violates First Amendment rights and does nothing to prove the lives of Native Americans. Regardless, a mascot is any person, animal, or object thought to bring …show more content…

In her article, Hoffman explained how there was never a time that her and her community thought of their “Reddy Redskin” and a derogatory slur. In Hoffmann’s community, Chowchilla, the town derived from the tribe of the Chaushila Yokut Indian tribe, meaning bravery. She owes a large part of who she is to her heritage of being a Chowchilla Redskin. Local school district Superintendent explains “We don’t call those offended by the term Redskins, Redskins. We call ourselves Redskins. We use the term as a sense of pride, respect and honor. We don’t use it in a derogatory way (Hoffmann).” In small communities, like Chowchilla, with generations of Redskin alumni, the Redskin name change is widely opposed and makes it an even more sentimental topic. The pride these High Schools have for their Redskin mascot isn’t “Warpaint and racial slurs” it’s pride and honor for the Native American tribes that once walked and ruled the …show more content…

“Nobody came to our town, asked us if anyone was being offended or upset by this," said the mother and Gustine alumni Sherri Marsigli. Marsigli calls AB 30 ambiguous and flawed and believes it will affect more schools in the future. She also thinks it will negatively impact current Gustine students. "Warriors, Braves, Chiefs, they're going to go after everybody and it's absolutely ludicrous," Marsigli said. "I don't want to lose our mascot, it's a part of me," said Gustine cheerleader Nicole Cunha. "We're going to be graduating as Redskins, and after this, there's no more if we lose it. It's not going to be the same." They say the name represents pride, not racism. "We always say redskin pride, together we come together as one tribe," said Gustine student Sebastian Figueroa (Johnson). Students, staff and community members exemplify unity and respect the moniker that is found offensive. There wasn't a time where Governor Jerry Brown or Assemblyman Luis Alejo, or any government official for that matter, ever came to visit any of these schools and asked students, employees, and community members about how the name is represented in these towns

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