Many things done nowadays are considered racist. There are things certain people can do that others cannot. There are some names that some people can call other people that others may find offensive. The Washington Redskins, an NFL football team, are being sued because someone in the Modoc tribe is speaking up about how the name “Redskins” is offensive to the Modoc culture. There is a debate about whether the team name should be changed or not. The Washington Redskins should change their name because the name is coming down to the kids in school, the dictionary defines “Redskins” as offensive, and their name offends many Native Americans. Children in their adolescent ages are being affected, especially the children in the Modoc tribe. Adolescents that can comprehend what is going on are making fun of the children that they know in the Modoc tribe. In “The Huffington Post”, an online …show more content…
This dictionary is not the only other dictionary to agree with that definition. For example dicitionary.com defines the term “redskins” as often disparaging and offensive. Googling the term “Redskins” it is showed up as offensive. Oxford Dictionaries defines “Redskins” as dated or offensive. In an online article on slate.com “Redskins: The Real History of the Word Redskin. It’s Not What You Think”. It talk about how people don’t find if offensive because they don’t know the real meaning of the word “Redskin” (Skinner). Someone cannot tell you something is offensive or not when they don’t even know that the real meaning behind the word is. This needs to be the breaking point for the NFL football team the Washington Redskins because it is define in many dictionaries as offensive, dated, or disparaging. The many dictionary definitions and people not knowing the true meaning of a word before they use it is an example of why The Washington Redskins should change their
Sam Meitz Dr. Ramsay Wise 5/5/16 Two Worlds, One Family The novel Outcast United by Warren St. John is about groups of refugee families from around the world coming to a small town in America to try and start a better life through employment, education, and even sports. Throughout their journey in Clarkston, Georgia they had to overcome many obstacles to achieve the American Dream.
On the other hand if a word is seen as socially un-accepted, when someone wants to offend an African American they will still use it and in this context it will now only bring to their minds the reason why it is not accepted and society will never get to the point were a word like this has no longer a bad effect on
Recently, the use of controversial words has become a heavily debated topic and has gained international attention as seemingly truthful statements to some, cause insult to others. The Times article "Why 'Redskins' Is a Bad Word", by acclaimed linguist and professor John McWhortor, was published around the time the use of the word Redskin was being debated. In the article, McWhortor aims to clarify the condemnation of the word Redskin, by suggesting that the offence does not stem from the literal definition of such words, but instead the negative and often derogatory connotations the words have. McWhorter begins by introducing the recent discussions surrounding the use of the word Redskins, especially the actions taken by Californian schools
On September 26th 2014, Derek Jeter took his final swing at the most prestigious Yankees Stadium in front of thousands and millions of baseball fans and ended up winning his final home game. The crowd went ballistic over the RBI and chanted “Derek Jeter” while raising signs that read “Salute to the Captain”. At that very moment, people viewed Derek Jeter not for what race he fell under or for what kind of person he was or for the ladies he slept with, but the athlete who electrified the diamond every time he stepped on it. Roberta Newman wrote an article on (Branding Derek Jeter, Redefining Race) companies such as Movado and Avon on how they showcase Derek Jeter “as neither black nor white and so can relate to everyone” (Newman) as a turning
The Indian mascot was originally designed to render tribute to Native Americans, not as a racial symbol. In the past forty years, changing the name backfired, and citizens began taking offense to the name because they felt like the name represented the color of Native American’s skin. Nevertheless, many fans, including Native Americans, do not consider the name or the mascot to be degrading or racial. Fans of the Washington Redskins participated in a poll that reveals, “77 percent reject changing the name” while in another poll “71 percent of NFL fans did not find the Redskins name offensive” (Lingebach 2). Clearly, from the results of the two polls, many fans would be unhappy if the Redskins’ name were to be changed.
If someone from a different race uses this word it is offensive. This is because of the “past” the word holds on to. However, the world has evolved into a meaning of endearment. It is seen that it is understood of those of color because they use the n-word with one another in an endearing way. This shows the double standard and how it is wrong, people can not have both the privilege of using the n-word and using it exclusively to people of color.
We must learn from the mistakes we have made not only in this incident, but past ones as well. Racial slurs should be something from the past and not in our present or future. The Washington Redskins is a football team who have carried that name
The “N” word is a derogatory word against blacks and recently there's been a large push to end the common usage of the word to fight against racism. However, some people still choose to use the word. Like Scout, some people don’t fully understand what they are saying when they use the term and are just using it to their advantage. On the other hand, there are still people who know full well what the word means and what it represents that continue to use it. In To Kill a Mockingbird racist beliefs dictated the many decisions made by the people in that community.
The N word is offensive because it is meant to discriminate black people. During the interview for the against side, one of the three people had stated, “The ‘N’ is not taken the same as if you were speaking to your
Imagine someone going up to you and saying " hey American person", even though the fact may be that you don 't wan to be called that. Throughout North American History, we have been labeling many different Native Americann groups by the same title and name, even though they may be completely differnt from each other. Each and every Native groups have their own history, culture, and way of life. It isn 't fair to call and label every ethnic Native group as simply Native Americans. Their are hundreds of different Native ethnic groups out there, with competly differnt lifestyles.
Baca (2004) explains about Native Images in Schools and the Racially Hostile Environment. Baca tries to identify and address the legal standards for the application of regulations about the racially hostile environment to schools having American Indian Mascots by applying some official regulations or acts. Baca (2004), in the article, mentions that in the great race relation happening in America, Native Americans are still treated differently. Treated differently here means though there is title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 stating “prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any federally funded program” (Baca, 2004), the offensive act of the use of Native America Imagery still happens since approximately 30 years ago when other racial and ethnic groups could not be treated like that. Baca mentions that even people know, for example, the use of “Redskin” word is offensive, there are some sports teams using “R” words as the nicknames or mascots for their
Meanings are in people, not words [Sapir-Whorf] (186). From this movie we gather that the “N” word has had, and still has, harmful impacts on many African American Individuals. African Americans have had their life defined by the “N” word. From culture to culture words have different meanings; the “N” word in white American culture was demeaning and disrespectful toward blacks and still is today. This is the denotative meaning or the dictionary meaning.
Political Correctness has the potential to create problems by sterilizing history which is deemed inappropriate or offensive. The New York Times wrote an article in January about Amherst College Dropping it’s mascot Lord Jeff after coming under heavy criticism from its students and from outside. Lord Jeffery Amherst was the colonial-era military commander who gave this town its name. The students saw Lord Jeff as a symbol for white oppression, he advocated that native Americans be given small pox infested blankets to wipe them out swiftly.
The N word is the most powerful word in the black community. A word used for a label ‘’less than’’ in some contents. It has so many different meanings and sayings it 's so complex for anyone to use. Overtime, the connotation of ‘’Nigger’’ has evolved to ‘’Nigga. ’’
Schools don’t marginalize over the use of mascots on such a wide scale as professional teams. The Native Americans have a history of being exploited and robbed of their belongings by others to gain profit especially their land. This use of their culture by these teams has very strong characteristics of