...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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...The objectification of Native American figures, symbols, and culture is prevalent in many schools and professional sports teams across 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...
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...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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...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 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...
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...recent years has arisen around the use and abuse of Native American team mascots. The Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs, Florida State Seminoles, and so forth -- these are just a few of the images and names popularly associated with Native Americans that are still used as mascots by professional sports teams, dozens of universities, and countless high schools. This practice, a troubling legacy of Native -- Euro-American relations in the United States, has sparked heated debates and intense protests that continue to escalate. These caricatures and stereotypes are really intended as prisons of image. Inside each desperately grinning Indian or each stoic redskin brave or Chief Illiniwek,...
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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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...| Oregon bans Native American school mascots, images | Article 4 | | | Tika ShouldersSoc. 110 T/Thur. 2:15pmProfessor BlossomNovember 5, 2013 | Is it honorable or racist to use Native American Mascots in schools, or professional sports teams? Explain your answer in details. The use of Native American Mascots has been a contentious issue for many years. The exploit of names for sport teams was chosen at time when the dominate group believed that the Native American Indians were a loss and forgotten race. Back in the 20th century Native American tribes were perceived as ruthless, devious, savages, and war-like. According to Joseph Healey (2010) “the persistence of stereotypes and the extent to which they have become enmeshed in modern culture is illustrated by continuing controversies surrounding …names for athletic teams…” (p. 261). Stereotyping indigenous people has been largely perpetuated in our sport teams. When Indian names were chosen to represent sports it does not appear to be because of honor. Native American mascots are a seed of racism and are a general acceptance for institutionalizing American Indians once again. Race-based mascots are very offensive and do not belong in our schools. We are teaching our children that stereotyping and racial discrimination is still acceptable today. The Indian mascots are a creation of a generation that grew up in an era where Native Americans did not get treated fairly. Mascots are a symbol of the extensive history...
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...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...
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...Is using Native American Mascots an Insult or Honor? The use of Native mascots by sports teams and schools has been a topic of controversy for many years. While some believe that these mascots honor and celebrate Native American culture, others believe that they perpetuate harmful stereotypes and are ultimately insulting. On the one hand, proponents of Native American mascots argue that they serve as a tribute to the strength and bravery of Native American warriors. They believe that these mascots honor the heritage and traditions of Native American people and serve as a symbol of pride and respect. As it says in the Passage Insult or Honor, “American Indian derived names, mascots, and logos have a long history in the U.S. They're used by...
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...comes to Native American mascots, some people believe that they can actually be seen as an honor. Mascots are used to serve as a way to celebrate and pay tribute to the history and heritage of Native American cultures. When it comes to Native American mascots, there is no insult being described what so ever. This information provided can be supported by evidence and ideas supported throughout Native American history. In opposition to this debate, many people argue that using Native American mascots can actually be seen as an insult rather than an honor. They believe that these mascots preserve a bad image of Native American culture, which makes them out to be an inaccurate representation. According to a Native American magazine, “But...
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...Is Native American culture being made fun of and disrespected by team names and mascots? Many people believe that Native Americans and their culture are being harmed and offended, but others believe that Native American culture is being honored and respected. Some people think that names and mascots that involve Native Americans should be banned for those reasons, but others disagree. While mascots disrespect, mock, and harm Native American people, Native American mascots and names should not be banned because Native American culture is being honored. Team names and mascots are historically important for the teams, and gives a positive view on Native Americans. Native Americans' culture is being honored by the names and mascots. “Davis Gonzales, then chairman of the Te-Moak Tribe, sent the district a letter of support, stating in part that the marching Band of Indians "provides a positive image of our tribe. Tribes OK Use of Indians, Braves Mascots in Elko. (TCA Regional News, 2022, 08/12).. “Cambridge board member Dillon Honyoust, of Haudenosaunee ancestry, says that as a Native American, he sees retiring the "Indians" mascot as "another effort to remove or cancel the...
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...Every high school, college, and professional sport team have a mascot that represents culture of the team. Mascots been around for a long period of time now and play a big role in showing the spirit of the team and its powers. The interesting part about mascots is that the only ethnic group that is being used to represent the teams is Native Americans. Inaccurate representation of the Native people through mascots brought a big anger and contempt in Native Americans, which lead to protests and possible removal of the mascots. To make a final decision we need to take a look at this problem from positive and negative view point. When we were watching the video in class, principal of the school said, they are using Native American as a mascot to honor and remember the history and people of Native Americans. It is a great idea to educate students and remind fans that come to watch the game about the history of Native Americans. The problem with this is mascot has to entertain the crowd in order to be popular and not many people care for the history of the mascot. The Native American woman in the video said that it...
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...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? * Should parents be allowed to homeschool/unschool their children? * Are for-profit colleges bad for students? * Are public schools designed to produce mindless workers? Money and Success: * Are the rich taxed enough? * Should Americans have access to socialized health care? * Do all Americans, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic background, truly have an...
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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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