...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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...Washington Redskins Logo The Washington Redskins are a football team in the NFL (National Football League). Their logo and mascot is a Native American Indian. Using Native Americans names or symbols by non-native people is a form of controlling images and the three pillars of white supremacy in particular colonialism (Erickson, 2017). The Washington’s team logo/mascot could be considered harmful due to the nature of the image. For instance, the word “redskin” can be perceived derogatory. It is believed that it came from early American settlers that referenced the skin color of Native Americans thus creating “redskin”. This logo and mascot are being appropriated from the Native American Culture, and the “redskin” term should be a legitimately...
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...Americans have consistently been overlooked and not given enough credit. Native Americans have been a part of our history for hundreds of years but we rarely see their news on the big news sources, and many of their stories do not get heard or acted upon. One headline we have seen on the news is the NFL Redskins team renaming controversy. Although we have seen and heard of the controversy in the news, it has been a long drawn out process that has not had any resolution yet. One theme often in early Native American literature as well as in...
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...Native American here, it's a trigger," Roy said. "It's a sea of floating dead Indian heads." (Greenberg). The Blackhawks resemble dead ancestors who lived here long before all the immigrants entered and took the land away and slaughtered the Native Americans. More people need to think about what a Native Americans thinks when they see a mascot, this should not just apply to Native Americans mind you, all team mascots should think how they will make other ethnicities feel before adopting them as a mascot. When Roy goes to a Chicago Wolves game on the other hand, he is worry free, he states he does not have to worry about people looking at him straggly, relating how he is similar to the persons face plastered on the ice (Greenberg). Roy also states it looks like his family, and they are not honoring them, they are just borrowing them (Greenberg). People really need to be put into the Native Americans situation to know how they truly feel, imagine seeing a portrait of your family just used by the teams to make another quick buck. If more people were aware of how it may become offensive teams would become open to change, and to change the people the schools have to...
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...Suzan Shown Harjo remembers going to the store with her grandfather in El Reno, Oklahoma. At the age of 6, Harjo was a victim of discrimination while purchasing a cold beverage. The storeowner demanded Harjo and her grandfather to leave. The owner replied, “No black redskins in here”. After the incident occurred, Harjo felt afraid because of the color of her skin. The term redskin is a derogatory and offensive word to insult a Native American. Native Americans have been an important and beneficial part of our history. Before Christopher Columbus set sailed, Native Americans lived peacefully and thrived. 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...
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...depend upon how we define ourselves? • How do 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...
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...Exercise 1, RGS6036.E1 1. I would define ethics as a set of concepts and principles that guide us in determining what is right or wrong. Ethics consists of standards that have been developed to direct us in what we ought to do, in terms of rights, obligations, fairness, and benefits to society. Individuals must also continuously study their own moral beliefs and conduct to ensure we live up to these ethical standards. 2. Should Daniel Snyder (NFL team owner) be forced to change the name of the Washington Redskins? This is an ethical question that is being discussed currently in the news. The main concern is that the nickname “Redskins” is disparaging of Native Americans. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office canceled six federal trademark registrations for the Washington Redskins name on Wednesday, June 18. The team has been called the Redskins since 1933 and a name change along with the trademark cancelations could cost owner Daniel Snyder millions of dollars. 3. The study of ethics is necessary for graduate students because ethics plays a critical role in well-rounded decision making. Most graduate students will be in a position to make many important decisions professionally and personally. A good background in ethics will help serve as a guide in making sure the right decision is made not only morally but also in terms of rights, obligations and fairness to all involved. The desired outcome of the student may not always be the most ethical of choices and...
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...Today, all but 1,129 have changed their names (Rasul 353). Among those who took the initiative to change their name are Stanford University, who changed its mascot from the Indians to the Cardinal, the University of Massachusetts, who replaced its Redman mascot with the Minuteman, both in 1972, and Arkansas State University who changed its mascot from the Indians to the Red Wolves in 2008 (Rasul 348). Turning a culture into something as petty as a mascot for a sports team is disrespectful and insensitive to those born into that culture (Rasul 348). It is for this reason that no team or school uses the imagery of African Americans, Jews, Muslims, Asian Americans, or Latinos as mascots or team names (Rasul 348). Not only is it hypocritical to call America a county of equality with such racial stereotyping and inauthentic representation being excused, but it is also extremely difficult to move forward in the fight against racism if people keep denying that racism is even prevalent. If the people of America wish to progress as one country, this racism, and all like it, must be...
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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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...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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...The Indians and the Dam The Indians and the Dam I.Title Page: The Indians and the Dam II. Introduction: Indian burial ground being flooded by dam when at high level III. Body. A. Is this dispute cultural, racial, or ethnic? 1. Why it is not racial 2. Why it is not ethnic dispute 3. Why it is cultural (DeVry, 2014) This section will attempt to label the dispute. Define from a social stand point what is at the heart of this struggle. Asking is it ethnic, racial or cultural? Why is it important to solve? B. The political and economic affect 1. Loss of recreational use 2. Loss of hydroelectricity 3. Possible damages from Flooding 4. Possible political reactions from Indian communities (CNN, 2008) 5. Possible political reaction from the dependent communities This section will look at the possible effect on both the Indian and local communities that use the dam. What the actual ramifications of keeping the dam at low water levels would mean. Also explore the political drama that it could create of nothing is done. C. Possible Solutions 1. Monetary settlement (NY Times, 2009) 2. Relocation of site 3. Building Protective Structure 4. Leaving alone, status quo This section will look at possible solutions. The feasibility of each solution given. Also who would be responsible for the cost? IV. Conclusion: Address the need for mutual respect among different cultures and the importance of compromise...
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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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...also the name of an Odawa war chief who played a key role in the Pontiac War (Indians.org). I don’t find the brand Pontiac to be offensive in terms of the name. The old logo however, contains stereotypes such as feathers and a defined jaw that many could find offensive. The logo was later changed and no longer depicts a Native American man. Since this change, it seems as if people don’t seem to relate the brand to Native Americans the way they once did. The brand also doesn’t seem to depict anything racially insensitive anymore. Appearance Rarely in the media will there be a Native American person depicted as unattractive. Native women are often portrayed as beautiful while the men are tall, strong, and have distinct facial features. This isn’t necessarily considered a bad stereotype until they are oversexualized. One example of Native women being sexualized is the “Sexy Pocahontas Women’s Indian Costume (wondercostumes.com).” This is obviously not okay yet it is still allowed to be sold. Another way appearance is portrayed today is through mascots. The Cleveland Indians “Chief Wahoo” is according to the organization, being phased out. The logo of this mascot is a smiling, red Native American with feathers. This mascot is a very poor depiction of Native people. Not all wore feathers but the bigger issue is the red face of Chief Wahoo. The stereotype of Native people being red could be considered by some or many to be just as bad as the team the Washington Redskins. What may...
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...day. The NFL has dedicated over $200 million to the health and wellness of children, while also implementing in school, after school and team based programs to get children excited about being active. Childhood obesity is a national epidemic. The current generation of children is projected to be the first generation not to live longer than its parents. Only 8 percent of elementary schools provide daily physical education which has led to 33 percent of children in America being obese or at risk to be obese. NFL players from around the league have donated their time and money to encourage kids to get active. Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers just recently did a commercial promoting the campaign as well. Players from the Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens, and Miami Dolphins also supported NFL Play 60 by participating in the Annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House. The players taught children that attended football skills and did some football drills with them as well. Factors that Influence the NFL's Social Responsibility A variety of factors, including education, health, and community, define NFL Play60. The school environment understands the importance of promoting a healthy community. Organizations such as NFL and the National Dairy Council (NDC) have partnered in developing Fuel Up to Play 60 developing nutrition and physical activity awareness in schools. With NFL's long accredited expertise in physical activity, its players and members contribute...
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...affiliations (Saylors & Daliparthy, 2004). In another study on the other side of the US in New York, over 60% reported some type of abuse, be it physical, child, or sexual abuse and assault including rape (Evans-Campbell, Lindhorst, Huang, & Walters, 2006). Media consists of broadcast and social media. For systematic change to occur one would have to agree that the status quo is not serving society. Further, for Latino and Native Americans to have a voice they would have to be given opportunities to prepare and present their viewpoints in news stories and via entertainment outlets. That being said, financial gains of these respective communities will translate to increased market attention; and in popular culture media Latino representation has increased. For example, within the last two years several television shows have Latino main characters including Jane the Virgin, Superstore, Telenova, Law and Order: SVU, Modern Family, and Shades of Blue. Outside of mainstream culture, there are national Latino television and music stations. The evolution is not as progressive in other arenas, for, there no few, if any, movie studios dedicated to Latino themes. In order to enact change and demonstrate an understanding that the status quo only represents the needs of middle-class Euro-American men, as a country we have to raise awareness of the experiences of those not of the dominant culture. Here’s a provocative proposal which takes advantage of the current popularity of reality television...
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