Le Redskins Controversy

Redskins, Blackhawks, Braves and Chiefs…what do these all have in common? Before anyone makes the witty comment, “They’re sports teams, durrrrr,” these teams actually have a shady secret behind the famous façade. Whether it is in the name or the logo, these teams have racism rooted deep in their history that is still strong today. I guess you can say that in professional sports, some sort of Native American representation in the team is pretty mainstream. However, in the past many teams have jumped out of the bandwagon and changed their names or logos to something less offensive like the Kansas City Chiefs and their arrowhead logo, which was formerly an Indian chiefrunning with a tomahawk and football across the Midwest. So, if the Kansas City Chiefs and many other teams were good sports and changed their representation to be less offensive, why haven’t other teams changed?

The Redskins’ racist name controversy has been a popular topic recently and it seems as though Dan Snyder is hell-bent upon keeping the team’s name because “it stands for strength, courage and respect – the very values that are so intrinsic to Native American culture.” I can understand strength and courage for having the gal to keep such a controversial name but respect? Unbelievable, what this man is doing is not out of respect, but the complete opposite. Keeping the name ‘Redskins’ out of respect to the Native Americans, who were here long before we colonized and befouled their sacred grounds for our own gorespect. Basically we are just insulting them by magnificently rubbing in the fact that we stole much more than their land but their cultural dignity.

od, is like some guy flaunting around your wife after he stole her from you just because he wanted to show you some

In an era of change and understanding, we do not need any culture or anyone being ridiculed anywhere, especially in America. The African American community used to be labeled with the title nigger, stereotyped as a cotton picker, and ostracized in the past. The LGBT community was stuck with a bunch of derogatory terms like fag or dyke. Even women were once ridiculed and labeled with stereotypes from “the only place for you is the kitchen,” and many more. If African Americans, women communities have had civil rights movements and the terms that stuck to them were relinquished and the LGBT community is continuing their fight for civil rights, then the same should go for the Native American community. Since derogatory words toward women, African Americans and the LGBT community are no longer accepted, then words targeting Native Americans should not be accepted either.

My opinion is that the founding of the colonies was the founding of racism. The deepest roots were back when the colonies were founded and the way we, as Americans, treated Native Americans, foreigners and slaves have is can only be described as humiliating. Racism is still growing strong, whether it is in sports or in songs like Alison Gold’s ‘Chinese Food,’ but we should not be proud and allow it to grow into a weed that will cause the downfall of America. We should take action and concentrate on changing the way we are to respect other cultures; like the way Dan Snyder should take action and change the Redskins’ name to properly respect Native Americans.