...Mascots are a huge part of the sports world. There are many mascot names from people, animals, and plants. People are abusing one of the major mascots, the Native Americans. Many of the Native American’s are confused and disappointed in the native mascot names. The Natives are angry that the teams do not have permission from tribes to use the names. Activist began to fighting in 1989. Through analysis of researching Native American mascots are not only racist, disrespectful, and also unhonorable to the native people who are proud to be a Native American. There are many reasons why Native Americans want to have the team names changed. One reason is that many native tribes think it is racist (“Ending”). These mascots are disrespectful according to many native tribes. Many of the sports franchises do not even have approval from native tribes. These stereotypes ridicule Native Americans, create lowered public expectations, and cause reduced ability to interact with non-Native Americans (Gregory). Sports fans everywhere resist efforts by Native American activists to retire this Indian imagery. “I must have gotten 2,000 emails from people just complaining about it,” the NCAA’s executive committee chairperson at the time, Walter Harrison, explained. Even almost 10 years later, he still remembers one...
Words: 866 - Pages: 4
...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...
Words: 1297 - Pages: 6
...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...
Words: 797 - Pages: 4
...Joshua Herring Prof. S Herdzina English 101 29 January 2018 Why American Indian Team Names Don’t Belong in our Schools Did you know that across America there is over 2,000 schools that still use an American Indian tribe name or representation as their team name and mascot? Many students go to school everyday, participate in team sports, and accomplish great things while feeling misunderstood, objectified, and shamed under an inaccurate assumption. These schools are using a team name or mascot to symbolize and objectify a group of already marginalized people, the American Indians. They compete while misusing a tribal name, stereotype, or a slang term to represent them. They taking something sacred and spiritual to many and trample it for sport....
Words: 1644 - Pages: 7
...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...
Words: 1493 - Pages: 6
...Native Americans have been inflicted with agony of discrimination since Columbus landed in 1492. Now an adult, Harjo began a mission for Native Americans so they shouldn’t face discrimination like she once did. She focused part of her work on the removal of Native Americans as mascots. In an interview, Harjo explains that the Washington Redskins is a prime example of an offensive mascot. She refers redskin to the R-word because she believes it has the same meaning as the N-word. (http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/04/native-american-mascots-pride-or-prejudice/) When searching the definition in Merriam-Webster, it’s defined as an offensive word and shouldn’t be used. In...
Words: 1497 - Pages: 6
...In the 1930s, the good people of Pekin, Ill., decided they needed a mascot for their high school sports teams. Pekin was named for Peking (now Beijing), China, so they gave their teams a related nickname: the Chinks . At the start of every basketball game, a Chink and Chinklette — that is, a boy and girl dressed in Chinese attire — would walk into the center of the court and bow. As the start of the NFL season draws near, I’ve got a question for you: How is the Chink any worse than the Redskin, the feather-clad mascot of Washington’s pro football franchise? It isn’t. The only difference is that the Redskin purports to be American Indian, not Chinese. And unlike any other ethnic group, Native Americans remain fair game for bigotry on game day....
Words: 808 - Pages: 4
...lately for the derogatory things they portray about Indians within their mascot. They turn a ‘deaf ear’ to the many concerns of the Native Americans, and look to have no intent in the changing their names or symbols. The Washington Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder, is a person who helps perpetuates the feelings and attitudes towards Native Americans by profiting off their name and likeliness, yet shows a blatant lack of respect for their customs, history, and tradition like many other teams in sports. Gradually, Americans are becoming more aware of the plight of Native Americans, but yet there still remains a fight to end the termination of their likeliness and names within mascots and...
Words: 1403 - Pages: 6
...Offensive 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....
Words: 450 - Pages: 2
...Portfolio 3: Native American Mascot Controversies within Sports Throughout the history of sports, Native American Indian mascots, symbols, and names have been incorporated nationwide. The propriety of using Native American mascots and images in sports has been a topic of debate in the United States and Canada since the 1960s. Americans have had a history of drawing inspiration from native peoples and "playing Indian" that dates back at least to the 18th century. “The controversy surrounding the use of Indian mascots, symbols, and names in American sports has origins that run deep throughout the history of Indian and non-Indian relations (American Indian Issues 1).” Today, the use of Indian mascots is at the center of an argument that touches the emotional hearts and souls of both proponents and opponents. Therefore, (I believe) sport team owners and the franchises themselves have, metaphorically, progressed imperialism upon the Native American philosophy. Native Americans were exploited almost from the moment Europeans arrived on this continent, pushed and shoved off their land for centuries until they were confined to the reservations that are now common across the south and midwestern parts of the United States. Nick Dewitt of the Bleacher Report responded to the issue stating: “It's been a prickly topic for years, even decades. It spans not just every professional sport, but collegiate sports as well. Depending on who you talk to, it's a stain on the organizations it affects...
Words: 1204 - Pages: 5
...America today (Chaney, Burke and Burkley 43). Nearly 1,200 high schools and 90 colleges in the United States use Native Americans as their school mascot (Chaney, Burke and Burkley 43). Throughout football games, pep-rallies, and other school related events, fans chant Native American war chants and dress in stereotypical cartoon-like costumes (Pewewardy 181). Although some people would argue that these symbols are intended to honor Native Americans, they often portray them in an inauthentic and clichéd manner (Chaney, Burke and Burkley 43). Because of this, the barbaric, wild, and savage mascots have become a representation of the Native American...
Words: 823 - Pages: 4
...According to, Indian Country Today, “There are more than 2,100 schools across the U.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...
Words: 772 - Pages: 4
...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...
Words: 663 - Pages: 3
...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...
Words: 416 - Pages: 2
...ideas and opinions shift over time? How do these changes impact our lives? Culture? Community? • How can reading literature from various cultures influence our thinking? • What is the best way to express our point of view to others? • How can we convince others to understand our point of view? Goal: You 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...
Words: 646 - Pages: 3
