...Native Americans, Struggles, Mascots, and Controversy There has been a national debate for years over Native American athletic mascots. “Members of the North Carolina Mascot Education and Action Group and the Guilford Native American Association, however, repeatedly told us that they perceived the use of Indian mascots, logos, caricatures, and similar images by our schools as a clear form of institutional racism” (Grier 2005: 51). In this paper we will discuss the controversial impact of the Native American stereotype used as mascots. In the early 1900’s when the threat of colonization was abolished Americans started to use the Native American mascot to show their acknowledgement of their struggles. Although this was symbolic it has been an ongoing controversy within schools and sports. California is the second highest state that uses the most Native American imagery and symbols. The importance of this contemporary issue is an ongoing debate in California that has impacted the true history of Native Americans and the battles they went through. The truth is crucial because their imagery and interpretation is misunderstood in American history. In the early 1900’s it became acceptable to use Native American imagery for advertisement. “One of the reasons why most Americans find the mascots unremarkable and do not turn a critical eye toward the mascots is because of the prevalence of similar images throughout U.S. popular culture” (King, et al 2002:391). Although years later...
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...ENGL 250: #4 Documented Essay Suggested Topics For the Assignment #4 Documented Essay, you will present multiple viewpoints from a currently debated issue. You need to draw your topic from the issues and controversies discussed in Rereading America, or a current debate in anthrozoology (human-animal studies). Here is a list of suggested topics. You may choose one of these, or create your own with instructor approval. Look through the table of contents and chapter introductions in Rereading America and find a debate or a controversy that interests you, and develop your topic in the form of a question that could have multiple answers. Your topic must be narrowly focused enough to cover adequately in a 5-7 page paper. Family & Relationships: * Do children need to be raised by both a mom and a dad? * An increasing number of people are opting not to become parents. Is this bad for society? * Can a parent who uses marijuana recreationally still be a good role model? * Does lifelong monogamous marriage represent the ideal partnership? * Should prostitution be legalized? Is it wrong to pay for sex? * Should the government prohibit genetically engineering babies? * In what circumstances, if any, should assisted suicide be legal? Education: * Should colleges require classes in history, arts, and humanities? * Do too many kids go to college? * Should student loan debts be forgiven? * Should the government fund college educations...
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...Zachary Hagan-Sanchez Should the Washington Redskins Change their name? No, the Washington Redskins should not change their name. They have had the name since the franchise was born in 1937, which is 80 years ago. If people want to change the Washington Redskins name and mascot then there are going to be lots of other teams in professional sports as well as in colleges and high schools that are going to have to change their names too. The Oneida Indian Nation has started a campaign for the NFL to stop using a racial slur as the name of Washington’s football team; they also want the mascot changed to something that is not offensive to Native Americans. They are not wrong about the meaning of the word Redskin, if you look it up in the dictionary it is defined as “Used as a disparaging term for Native American.” The name was not picked 80 years ago to be offensive and a slur and for many decades no one had a problem with it until now. Whether or not the name gets changed there are still going to be people on both sides of the fence that are either going to be happy or upset. I personally think they should just leave it alone and move on. There is always going to some kind of problem whether it is racial or something different, what people need to remember is that we are all human regardless of the color of our skin or the name of a team or what a mascot looks...
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...Everyone has heard of at least one team named the “Indians” or “Redskins” or some form of Native Americans, you grow up watching them on ESPN and get accustomed to it. You don’t think that there is anything wrong with a type of person being a mascot; you weren’t raised to question it. Before this week's lesson I didn’t think that there was anything wrong with Indians being a logo for a school, I didn’t think about the fact that the term “redskins” was a racial slur and could be considered offensive. In class we were presented with evidence supporting both sides, should be not have Indian mascots or should there still be Indian mascots. I believe that we should not for the reasons that it is offensive to some Native American tribes. I myself...
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...The Legend of the Fighting Okra Since the establishment of Delta State University in 1924, the Statesman has always been the official mascot. Around the late 1980’s some of the baseball and basketball players grew suspicious that this mascot did not “represent” Delta State or “intimidate” the opposing teams that they were to take on. After all, a mascot is supposed to be intimidating, right? The Statesman just was not making the cut for these athletes. They thought hard to create a picture in their head for what could accurately describe the teams. A potential mascot was maybe the Fighting Algae. The color of algae fit but some of the mates were not sure if they were ready to be called “Pond Scum” by the opponents (Mizell,2004). That’s when Bob Black, Delta States baseball pitcher, came up with the Fighting Okra! With the okra having a green color and having such tough skin, it was a perfect match for the University. The baseball players arrived at one of the basketball games and began to chant, “OKRA! OKRA! OKRA!” Unfortunately, the baseball players were removed from the game but the chant stuck and eventually so did the fighting okra. After becoming so popular, the college students put a face to the Fighting Okra which was mean and always ready for a fight. The first official mascot costume was from a male student who took a green sleeping bag and sewed into the Fighting Okra (The History Tavern, 2011). Delta State refused to adopt the Fighting Okra as the...
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...End of an Era for Harmful Mascots Professional athletic organizations should have to ban all Native American mascots. Native Americans have dealt with racism and oppression of their people ever since the pilgrims had landed on this continent. They pilgrims started with a slow, methodical push to the Native peoples then started to move them cross country to private ground specified for them. These Native Americans were moved out from their homes. Now, they are expected to respect the use of their own people through mascots. Native American mascots have been used for decades...
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...In the article State to Reexamine Schools’ Use of Native American Mascot Names the author’s believes that Oregon schools should change their Native American mascot. The author gives many convincing points such as some see the use of Native imagery as an offensive stereotype or a racist practices. He points out that Native American have pushed for the state to do something about the issue. It is very clear where the author stands on this topic. Although the author gives many arguments for his side of the subject, he gives ment counterarguments as well such as the names and mascots may be embedded into the community or that changing the mascot will cost a lot of money because they would have to change gym floors, uniform, signs etc. He brings...
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...Mascots Can some mascots be racist? Mascots can be very offensive towards Indian/Native American races because they form stereotypes about different races. These mascots need to be changed, because it is bad for the people being offended, and the community as a whole. People argue that this doesn't hurt the people, but it does, constantly. Everywhere they go there are stereotypical things around them, because of their teams mascot. Some people may say that it would cost to much money to do this kind of operation. Well, first off, it was the school's fault for having their team mascot offend many different religions of Native Americans. Their team mascots can be stereotypical,causing people to think that Native Americans are either “war like”, or “fierce”, when they really aren’t what people think.”It is racist. It is harmful. It is shaming. It is dehumanizing” See-ah-dom Edmo, vice president of the Oregon Indian Education Association. This is why the cost shouldn’t matter of changing these school mascot names....
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...will read and view several selections that reflect multiple viewpoints on the same topic and develop and express an opinion on an issue based on the evidence presented. You will develop a product that expresses your point of view about the use of Native American mascots for school or sport teams. Role: You will assume the role of an avid sports fan or the resident of a community that has a sports team with a Native American mascot. Audience: The president of the professional sports team, president of the college or university, or local school board (all with Native American mascots) Situation: Recently Houston ISD joined a growing list of organizations that no longer allows the use of Native American names as mascots for their teams or school. Stanford University, for example, changed its mascot from the Indian to a redwood tree in 1972, and others have followed suit after an NCAA ban and public outrage over what is considered by some to be ethnically offensive stereotypes that belittle Native Americans. Others believe that these names are embraced by fans who are honoring the heritage and history of the American Indian. Your challenge is to review all of the documents in the library and determine whether Native American representations should or shouldn’t be used as team mascots. You must convince your audience of your position by using evidence from at least three of the resources in the document...
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...I think the washington Redskins should change their name because it is offensive, the name has been a hot topic for quite some time, and they could easily change the name to something else. Redskins is a term used by europeans when they first came to the new world. The word was used a reference to the indians darker sometimes reddish tinted skin. The Redskins team name didn't just become a hot topic it's been a hot topic for 31 years. Since 1972 people have been saying how offensive the name is to the native americans. The Redskins may lose the rights to their mascot, and will not have any new stadiums built for the team until the name is changed. Other teams have also changed their names, and it has not change how the fans see them or their profit from the games. The Redskins should change their name because it is the right thing to do if native american beleive the name of a team that represents them should be changed then who are we to say no. “Redskins can't possibly honor a heritage or noble character trait, nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term. It's an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present day intent.” said Bob Costas, NBC sports host. The term redskin is originally used to refer the native...
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...S. using Native American Mascots.” All sports teams have mascots to represent their schools pride and strength. Mascots generally don’t fall under exploration, except for the ones that represent Native American tribes. These mascots are usually based on inaccurate descriptions of Native Americans causing controversy on whether or not they should be allowed. Many Native American tribes have been feeling offended, which is why the issue has been arising today with well known sports teams including the Fighting Sioux, The Redskins, The Indians, Etc. This controversy has had a dramatic effect due to the widespread ban of many of the Native American tribal sports...
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...In the article “Indian Mascots- You’re Out!” on the LA Times, Jack Shakley, discusses the utilization of Native American mascots in games. The author portrays the utilization of Indian mascots throughout history of game. He discusses how it has annoyed a few individuals. The way games can utilize Indian mascots can be extremely segregating. He talks of how the mascots look moronic and does idiotic things before the fans. Shakley’s ethos is that he is Indian himself and his mother felt like Indian mascots weren't worthy (520). The way he utilizes emotion is by making you feel that Indian mascots are awful to have as mascots on the grounds that the ways they are depicted resemble fools. He creator utilizes logos to demonstrate that evolving the mascot of a group isn't shabby; Stanford lost a huge number of dollars when they...
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...People have virtuous rules, or ethics, they live their life by. The cartoon “Mascots” has kindness, the article “Who Will Save the Savior Sibling” has charity, and the excerpt from “Lather and Nothing More” has temperance. To begin, the use of Native American mascots is not appropriate virtuously because it goes against kindness. In his cartoon ”Mascots”, Phil Hands persuades caucasians to change their Native American mascots because it is insensitive to Native Americans. Native American school has caucasian mascot. The mascot in the cartoon depicts a stereotyped caucasian man to parallel how Native American mascots are used. A real caucasian mascot would insult a large number of caucasian people. Native Americans are insulted by mascots depicting...
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...years the Native American mascot debate is one that has gotten major press. Native Americans are very angry and want to be heard. The tribal names that these natives go by are something that mean very much to them. School boards, and sports teams around the country have used these mascots, and names to define who the team, and or school is. Today, many people see using Native American names for mascots to be racist. These mascots and cultural figures are part of the Native American culture. To go and generalize these people into a sports team that have nothing to do with who they are, is being very prejudice, misleading, and in many ways wrong. Native Americans deserve the right to be heard and understood that their names, tribal figures, and beliefs are theirs. Mascots used to define them bring nothing but racism, shame, stereotyping, and generalization. Many sports teams, schools, and universities in the US have adopted some incarnation of the Native American warrior as their mascot. However, many people, of Native American heritage as well as non-Indians, believe that the portrayals of Native Americans in this manner is a harmful, racist aspect of our culture, and one that we should take strong measures to prevent. It is not wrong for one to say that racism all around the world needs to be put to an end. We as Americans hold ourselves to high standards of being accepting to all ethnicities. It is hard to understand how we are unable to relate to Native Americans and understand...
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...and as a way of familiarizing ourselves we usually point them out by their mascots and names. Little did we know that our team’s mascot or name may be offensive to a particular culture and has an underlying meaning. According to the Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indians, as early as 1912 Indian names for sports teams have been used in the professional sector. Following this example many high schools started naming their teams using Indian culture and the use of Indian inspired Mascots. We may like the way the teams name and its mascots suit them, but to the Native American...
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