Native American Mascots

The dispute over whether Native American mascots should be used as a team symbol dates back to the 1970’s (Price 2). People differ on the basic issue, but there is a more important underlying principle. It is

Should Native Americans mascots and team names be banned because they are racist and dehumanize Indians, or is that action wrong place to focus energy. Native Americans should be allowed to better educate our society by changing offensive teams into something more historical and positively good. By having teams and mascots adopt more influential Native American names, there will be more positive cultural awareness regarding Native Americans. Although, some will say that the so called offensive team names and mascots are helpful and support Native Americans. Some will also say that is apart of their history and it should remain because of it.

The year is 1991.  The Atlanta Braves had just completed their first trip to the Fall Classic in four decades, and the Washington Redskins were undefeated, well on their way to their third Super Bowl title.  All across the eastern seaboard, sports fans were tasting success - while American Indians were in an uproar.  This year witnessed the peak of the protests over the use of mascots with American Indian themes.  With two of the major professional sports teams in question making front-page news across the country, many of us heard American Indians' complaints for the first time.  Suddenly, thanks to the cries of thousands of demonstrators, the names of many Americans' favorite teams had become synonymous with "nigger."

There has been many controversy with teams using Native American name for mascots and has become a major issue in today’s society. Many have viewed the Washington Redskins as honor for Native Americans, others see it racist, insensitive, and demeaning. Woods (2016) claims that “the complaint is that the use of stereotypical team names, mascots, and logos perpetuates an ideology that dehumanizes and demeans the cultures of Native Americans” (p. 298). Since the issue arise, many scholars, journalists and leaders have joined the battle to ensure that each team will eliminate the nicknames since it is considered abusive or hostile. It may take time but the trend is growing. More than 1,400 professional, collegiate,

Former chair of the Los Angeles Native American Commission, Jack Shakley, in his argument, “Indian Mascots-You’re Out!” disputes whether Native American mascots should be allowed to be the face of American sports teams. Shakley’s purpose is to convey the idea that is insensitive to have Native Americans as mascots. Jack Shakley uses a passionate tone to show readers that not only is using a Native American mascot racist, but it is wrong and should be changed to a less offensive mascot. Shakley starts off using pathos to the readers by telling a story from his childhood. In the article, Shakley demonstrates the ability to use strong pathos and logos arguments to support his claims that we should get rid of Native American mascots and steam names.

Is it okay to have Native American images as mascots? Some of the mascots names are Red Skins, Braves and Cleveland Indians. They chose these mascots because they thought that they would be intimidating to the other team. Imagine having a pink bunny for a mascot; other teams are not going to think that that is intimidating. Using Native American images and names in professional,collegiate and high school sports does not reinforce and perpetuate stereotypes because it is not harmful and it only it representing school pride.

Native Americans value and cherish their culture. It is something that has been learned and passed down from generation to generation in the Native American community. Using Native American mascots creates a misinterpretation of the Native American culture. Many Native American tribes are offended by the use of Native American mascots because, “The symbols connected with NA mascots (tomahawks, war paint, leather loin cloths, and feathered head dress) represent a collective image of Native Americans”, that, “inaccurately portrays the diverse natures of ritual, ceremony, and culture of the many and varied NA tribes” (Arthur 2012). These symbols are important to the Native American culture, and by using them to represent a mascot for a school, college, or some other association is disrespectful to the tribe and culture. Cummings (2008) believes many people think they have a right to use Native Americans as mascots because, “To some, American Indian mascots represent strength, power, reverence, and dignity”. People need to look at the perspective

The dispute over whether Native American mascots should be used as a team symbol dates back to the 1970’s (Price 2). There are those who are passionately against Native American mascots. These advocators insist that Native American mascots are degrading to

Do you feel having Indian mascots for sports teams take part in racial discrimination? In the sports world, representing a Native American is showing honor and respect. In society, communities take it as offensive and racist towards Native Americans. The government recognizes the positive representation of Indians and has given them more rights than state citizens. Considering the history, what it means, and general attitude, Indian mascots should be allowed.

Imagine this: thousands of stands congregating in a stadium to cheer on their football team. They are all dressed up in their football jerseys and have their face painted to support their beloved football team. Their mascot? The blacks. On all of their jerseys, flags, on the field have their mascot painted on. The mascot is a derogatory depiction of the average black person and the stereotypes that are often associated with black people. How is this scenario of having a black person as a mascot any different than having an Indian or Native American as a mascot? It is not any different. Mascots such as the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Redskins are derogatory and offense depictions of Native Americans, and schools and organizations that allow these mascots to stay in place are promoting racism.

The issue of whether or not it is morally right to use Native Americans as mascots has been prevalent for several decades. Some argue that it is an honor to use their images as symbols of a school or team’s ideals, while others say Natives are a people, not a mascot. I hold the position that unless a tribe explicitly states they are not against their image being used, the depiction of Natives as mascots is wrong, especially for largely white areas and/or schools. The idea that the race who marginalized, relocated, and murdered another race that was native to this country and then, in some cases only a century later, proclaim that they “are an Indian” and are proud to call themselves such is unsettling. A century may seem like a large amount

     Many people do not consider themselves supporting Native American mascots that depict them in a bad manner. But when people walk around with a Atlanta Braves shirt on with a Indian with a tomahawk in his hand, it is degrading to the Indians. It is stereotyping them. School mascots and Sports team’s mascots are named after groups of people for no reason known. Notre Dame was founded by Irish Catholics, but their sports team was named the Fighting Irish. The name Fighting Irish has nothing to do with the Irish Catholics, it depicts them in a wrong way.(Price, 3). Team names can be changed to similar names that do not depict certain groups of people. Like the Redskins can be called the Red Hawks or the

Teams that have the name like Redskins, Indians, and Red Raiders are racist terms used as mascots. Interchange the name with the Negroes, the Jews or the Asians and that sounds even worse but, it all means the same thing. They are all racist terms that no one should use to represent something like a team name. According to racismagainstindians.org, Native Americans were banned from practicing their own religion and would be often thrown in jail if they were caught all the way up to 1978. But when nonnative people at sporting events would dance and sing their songs it would be completely okay. This makes no sense,

Most people who read the book could indeed view this as a beautiful scene. They could view it as this, because hearing someone play the violin when they are dead/dying is crazy. Elie stated “All I could hear was the violin, and it was like Juliek’s soul had become his bow. He was playing his life.” The song that Juliek was playing was “... a fragment of a Beethoven concerto.”

Almost everybody loves going to sporting events and seeing all the excited fans as well as the energized mascots. There has been quite a variety of mascots and logos seen in schools whether it be high schools or colleges and in professional leagues. According to a search done by an ESPN FiveThirtyEight reporter through a database known as MascotDB, out of the 42,624 teams in the database at the time there were 2,129 sports teams that have reference to Native Americans (Munguia). That’s about a five percent of all mascots while Native American only make up roughly two percent of the population of the United States in 2014 (US Census). There has been much debate and controversy around mascots and team names that reference Native American throughout the years and gaining more attention especially with the most public debate regarding National