The Contaversy of the Redskins

Being in the twenty first century, the United States has overcome an extreme amount of racism in its history. However, the issue of race is still a delicate subject when addressing those who feel as if they are shadowed by their ancestor’s dark past. Addressing one by the color of their skin can be used to degrade them. The NFL has a history of having multiple teams named provocatively inferring a racial slur. One of the most current debates is over the Redskin’s name and whether it should be changed. Their name can be taken as an insult to a Native American’s seeing as a professional athletic team was named a racial slur that is commonly used to insult them. Looking back at the United States past, it can be understood that we are ever changing and evolving towards the ideology of a nation made up of differences. African Americans, woman, Native Americans, and now even homosexuals have gained rights as individuals in the United States. The United States was born on the ideals that it would be a place of freedom for all. Therefore, a degrading racial slur towards our own citizens demeans the ideals of the United States and undervalues all we have become.

            Many people argue that changing the name of the Redskin’s would be a negative action to take. The Redskin’s having been founded in the year 1937, have survived through decades creating a history and identity that not only the players can identify with, but the fans and Americans as well. Along with the fact that changing the name would mean ultimately taking away years of character, it would be tremendously expensive. To most, the price and importance of history undermines the fact that it could be taken wrongly by some. As much as the team means to so many Americans and the history of the game itself, Native American citizens should be able to feel respected while they take part in the famous American pastime as others are. There are no other known mascots or team names discriminating against other races. Therefore, this directly targets the Native Americans. There are many other teams as well in college football and other sports that do have Native American slurs as team names. As a consequence, the overwhelmingly amount of team names in sports emphasizes the targeting of Native Americans ethnicity and can lead to them feeling discriminated against. Seeing as the United States of America is built off of different beliefs, morals, races, and cultures, changes to society in legislation, and even now team names is a necessary evil to make society a better place for a nation built for all.

            Although many people argue that the Redskins honors the history of the United States, recognizing the history in such a degrading way could insult Native Americans. The name and mascot of the team does not serve its supposed purpose of honoring anything, it reminds all of the terrible actions that early Americans took against the Native Americans. Having a mascot running around a field in a headdress could be seen as mockery towards the culture that we once pushed from their homes. As the United States continuously grows towards individuals acceptance in society, the riddance of any harsh past is necessary to ensure that the United States lives up to its original purpose and meaning; a free union for all.

controversy on mascots

Redskins, Savages, Chippewas, Seminole...

Why are these names so offensive to some groups?

According to the article on "The Final Call", The bill called the Non-Disparagement of Native American Personsor Peoples in Trademark Registration Act of 2013 was introduced in the House of Representatives in March 21. If passed,  the Washington football team of its trademarked name would be stripped and put a stop to its exclusive profiteering from using the racist slur in its logo on sweatshirts, tee shirts, caps, coffee mugs and dozens of other products flooding the market.

The reason why this bill was introduced is because there are plenty of controversy over these team names and mascots because various groups with American Indian background view them as offensive and disparaging. Some groups view them as offensive because many of them do not know about the innocent history of the word redskin. According to Smithsonian linguist Ives Doggard, European settlers in the 18^th century had adopted the term from Native Americans. They used "red skin" to describe themselves and it was generally to name themselves, not to insult themselves. However, over time, it became less innocent and more ambiguous. And the fact that the history of the word "red skin" is innocent cannot be an excuse. So the term should not be used anymore because time has passed now and it is not like that 'innocent history' make any groups feel better. 
One of the issues is the use of these offensive names as school mascot for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.  It is a bigger problem for the young students because they say these names without knowing their actual meanings and what they are referring to.  It might be better to say these things without thinking about the demeaning and disparaging meaning of the terms but it is still offensive and disparaging to various groups with American Indian background.  The meaning does not go away even if the word is used more benignly.
 There are many names, terms, and words that are made to be offensive and racism toward different groups with different racial backgrounds.  Sometimes those words are used as slangs and as nicknames with close friends or among the same races.  However, it is wrong to name sports teams' names with racist words because they are supposed to be representing each States and the United States of America.  Fans from other countries who know the names are probably calling the team names without even knowing the history or background. This also could be offensive to those groups who view them as disparaging because people from other countries say these names without knowing the meaning which is disrespectful.  Therefore, there the bill, the Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act of 2013, which would prohibit any future trademarks that use the offensive term, should be passed.

Native American Mascots Must Go

There would be an uproar of anger if there were ever a team wearing a black mask and its mascot was the Niggers, and hell would definitely break lose if there were ever a team with a white mascot known as the Crackers. So why is it okay for there to be numerous sports teams that have mascots whose names are offensive to Native Americans?  The answer: It is not okay, and it never will be. There are elementary schools, Middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities, and professional teams who all use offense Native American names such as Savages, Braves, Squaws, Chiefs, and Redskins. Each of these names are degrading words used towards Native American in the past such as the word “nigger” was used to degrade African Americans. For example, Southeastern Oklahoma State changed their mascot from the “Savages” to the “Savage Storms” after being informed of how offensive the word savage is to Native Americans. Native Americans were thought of to be blood-thirsty, uncivilized, savages by European invaders only because the Native American society was foreign to them. Braves and Squaws are also disrespectful terms used toward Native Americans. These terms are used in sports teams that are widely known such as the Atlanta Braves and teams not widely known schools such Belmont High school in Decatur, Indiana, who’s mascot is the Braves and Squaws. Braves is a word that was used by Europeans to dehumanize Indian Americans and patronize their women and men. Squaws is an awful word to Indian American women. It is equivalent to the word “cunt,” that is used today to degrade women. The word squaws is taken from an Algonquin word which made reference to female genitals. The word was taken and twisted by European immigrants who would rape Native American women, which they called squaws. One of the most popular Native American mascot names used in American sports are Chiefs and Redskins. Although the Kansas City Chiefs and the Washington Redskins may be very popular mascots in America, they are not popular to Indian Americans in any way. The word “chief” may sound like a respectful name to Americans, but to Native Americans it is not. Indian Americans never called themselves “chiefs,” only headmen or clan mothers. Chief is more of an American word, and since Native Americans were highly disrespected by the United States and Europeans, calling them “chiefs” only continues to disrespect them. Lastly, one of the most offense words used in American sports today is “redskins”.

Many Americans do not know where this word originated. Redskins refers to the torn, bloody scalps of Indian children, women, and men that were sold for bounties in the America alongside other different animal skins. At a period of time, were Native Americans were hunted as if they were animals by bounty hunters. Once the Native Americans were killed and scalped, their skin would be traded in for money. Bounty hunters received payments for deer-skins, beaver-skins, raccoon-skins, and red-skins.

I have only listed a few reasons why Native American Mascots should be banned in American sports on all levels. These names are discriminating and cruel. Niggers, Crackers, and Pan Faces would be unacceptable names for mascots, so names such as Reds**ns should be unacceptable as well.

Redskins Controversy

When you hear team names like Redskins, Blackhawks, Chippewas and Seminoles you may not automatically think of the racism behind the names. However, does this make it any less offensive to someone else? For many decades Native Americans have had to deal with racism in the name of sports teams. Many of these teams in the past have changed their names, however the Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder simply refuses to do so. The debate over changing the Redskins controversial and racist name is an extremely hot topic, and it seems now a days that everyone has their opinion on it.  There are many very different yet very arguable claims.

The most popular opinion on the name change is that the Redskins have been around since 1932 and that changing the team name would also change the legacy of the team. Money also plays a huge factor in why many people side with the owner on not changing the name. They say that spending all the money to re-brand the whole name would be too much of a hassle. However, there have been many sports teams in the past that have changed their racist names many years ago. There is no excuse for such ignorance and selfishness; we, as a nation, should not still be having this debate in 2013.

Some people feel the name does not need to be changed simply because most people do not think that the name is offensive in any way. However, many people also argue that if it does not affect you personally, then you will not be offended by the name. Some others suggest that only non-Native American people are interested in the name change, however from the pictures I have seen the Native Americans seems to be pretty active in the protests and debate. Personally, I do not feel offended when I hear the name Redskins simply because of the fact that I am not Native American, but that does not make this injustice acceptable in society. We should make each and every race feel welcome in this country. We should not keep offensive names just because no one else is offended by them or because the team name is classic. This debate is extremely ironic as well especially because we are the foreigners and the Native Americans are the natives in this country.  

Native American Team Mascot Controversy by Najae Lamar

HONOR OR AFFRONT?

The Native American mascots that have been adopted by some professional sports teams are extremely offensive and racists. The names are making a mockery of the struggles Native Americans faced in the history of our country and the ones they continue to face by claiming that they stand for "strength, courage, and respect." Because the Native Americans possessed these qualities and didn't want to give up their homeland, they were unfairly forced to relocate. There is a great amount of irony in the Atlanta Braves team mascot considering that the Native Americans that resided in Georgia were pushed further and further West. They did not want the Native Americans to live here, yet they desire to have a Native American mascot. Being that there is a serious lack of Native American professional sports players, the "empowerment" of the names are questionable. The feelings of the Native American citizens towards these names were never thought about. How do the owners of teams with Native American mascots know if these citizens find them offensive?  A number of sports teams on the collegiate level such as St. John's and Marquette have come to the realization that the name are in fact offensive and have dropped their Native American mascots and have changed their team nicknames. Other schools such as Bradley and Illinois have retained their name, but dropped their Native American imagery. If other American sports teams have realized that these Native American mascots are offensive on the collegiate level, why are they continuing to be defended by professional sports team owners? The professional sports teams such as the Washington Redskins should make these changes as well. The process of making American sports respectful to everyone is something that should be done collectively by all divisions of American sports. The NFL is the most popular sports league in America. Millions tune in every week to watch their favorite teams play and hundreds of millions throw parties or crowd in bars to watch the Superbowl. Because the NFL has a very diverse fan base, the team names should reflect this and not be offensive to anyone. It is now 2013 and there is no reason that there should still be discussions on whether things that are nationally known are racist. If there were a team mascot that was offensive to Caucasian people, the name would have been changed almost instantly. It is not fair for a National sports association to simply ignore the opinions of the people who

are directly impacted by their team's name. However, it is understandable how someone would not think that Native American team mascots are racist. None of the teams are intentionally doing anything to offend anyone who is of Native American descent. In fact the only thing that even relates any of the teams to Native American culture is the mascot. Changing the name could somewhat spoil the tradition of a team such as the Redskins. If there are not any personal attacks against Native Americans why change the name? With all of this in mind, I still feel that the names are offensive to the many hardships faced by Native Americans in our country's history. Perhaps some Native American citizens should be consulted on their opinions of these team mascots. If everyone is in agreement that the names are not offensive then they should remain the same. However, if anyone of Native American descent objects then the team mascots should be changed.

Washington Redskin Mascot Controversy By: TeErica McClain

 

                    “Racism is a refuge for the ignorant. It seeks to divide and to destroy. It is the enemy of freedom, and deserves to be met head-on stamped out.” (Pierre Berton) Nobody should ever feel like they are being discriminated against because everyone is equal, and if they believe something they should stand up for what they believe in. This is the case in the Washington Redskin Mascot Controversy.

      During the biggest game between the Redskin and the Cowboys, a lot of people were trying to figure out whether the term “Redskin” slurs Native Americans. Today, there is a loose campaign afoot pressuring the Washington Redskins into changing their name. Many Native Americans believe the term “Redskin” is offensive to them because this is not an Indian sport and this something not dealing with the Indian history. I agree with the Native Americans, the Washington mascot name is an ethnic slurs and is deeply offensive. I believe that anyone would have a problem if someone were to call them out of their name like “Cracker, Negro, and so on”. What the owner fail to realize is that what if he was on the other side of the fence and it was his race being discriminated against. He would be upset if the Washington football team were called the Washington Yids and he know he wouldn’t be worrying about the Washington team traditions.

       However, the NFL team and the owner totally disagree that the term is a racial slur. The team owner Dan Snyder, stepped up his game to defend his team the best way he can. He talks about traditions and how "after 81 years, the team name 'Redskins' continues to hold the memories and meaning of where we came from, who we are, and who we want to be in the years to come.” Which I totally understand “tradition cannot be a defense if the tradition is wrong.”  When someone make up a mascot name they don’t think about the how it can affect someone because situations like this can damage someone identity and how they view themselves. The whole mascot controversy has split the whole country into two different groups, they people who believe that the Washington Redskin should change their name and those who believe they shouldn’t. The people that think Washington should change their names believes that “the word was born out of hatred and often referred to the long, ugly history of the Native Americans” and how they were treated when they were first colonized by Columbus. Then, the people that thinks Washington shouldn’t change their names believes that the name is based on traditions and they sing "Hail to the Redskins" because "it's a song of honor and it's a song of tribute. 

     In my opinion, traditions sometimes need to be change especially if it is the solution to a big problem. I understand both sides of the argument, but I have to go on the side of the Redskins needing to change their names because it is offensive to a race and if this situation was to happen to me I would want that team to change their name to. However, the Redskins are not the only U.S. athletic team that has a Native American mascot as part of their names and so Washington shouldn’t be gained up on by everyone. But this is a way for Dan Snyder to stand up and show leadership so that other teams with racial mascot names can change their names to, and this can cause the United States to get back to being one.

Why Is It Taking So Long?

"But many Native Americans contend it's incredulous that a major sports team in the nation's capital fails to see the word's offensiveness..." writes Micheal Martinez of CNN. This is yet another extention of the very long and ongoing Washington Redskins controversy. The same thing that the Native Americans are wondering is the same thing I am taking a stance on. Why are so many people not understanding the negative impact and the negative connotation of this word Redskins? If Native Americans take offense to this word, among other racial terms, that should be enough for us as decent human beings to stop referring to them as such. We definitely should not be plastering those derogatory nicknames that represent our American sports teams. Such as: Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Blackhawks and more. We display these nicknames on a daily basis all over America and we are sending the wrong message. The message that we are sending is that these names are alright, that these names are cool to say and they are not. They are absolutely not alright to say.

The Native Americans find "Redskins" the most offensive word to be referred to as. So what is the problem with changing the team's name? I'm sure I am not the only one who feels this way. The owner for the Washington franchise, Daniel Snyder, refuses to chnage his team's name out of "tradition". Can you believe it? Tradition? What tradition are they talking about? The tradition of reminding the American people, as well as the Native Americans who live in America, how we stole this land away from them so many years ago. How we ran them out of their homes to make way for the "New" america. How we had no regard for their lives or livelyhood in general. Or the tradition of insulting those same Native Americans for the last 70 years by using this racial name to describe a pro fottball team in Washington D.C..

 Nobody wants to be ridiculed or made fun of or discriminated in this age of understanding, if you will, in America. Where African Americans are being shown more respect with their derogatory and racist terms. Racism is not escaped African Americans, and some would agrue that it never will, but the sensitivity of the N word has come to light in many situations in America recently and has been dealt with in a pretty gemtle manner. As well as the homosexual community. They are still fighting for civil rights that they deserve as ameican citizens as well as human beings. The F word for them is just as hurtful as the N word for African Americans, which is just as hurtful as the R word for Native Americans. The N word is no longer accepted in this new society. The F word for homosexuals is no longer acceptable in this new society. The same should also go for the R word for Native Americans.

I want to harp back to one of my statements that I made earlier about tradition. This country, in my opinion, were the founders of racism. They were the creators and teachers of racsim. The way Americans have treated people for centuries is just disgraceful to say the least. The way we've treated African Americans, the way we've treated Hispanics. The way we've treated Native Americans and the way we've treated immigrants who have come to this country. We should not be proud of our tradition, we should be focusing on trying to change it. Just like Dan Snyder should be trying to change this name and his team's "tradition".