Dartmouth Racism

To gain a true understanding of Native Americans and their culture, historians must not only examine the trials and tribulations Indians endured in the past, but also the contemporary issues the group faces. Currently, physical illnesses, psychological disorders, economic instability, and negative stereotypes continue to plague Native American communities. Popular sayings, like “Indians will be Indians” and “noble savages,” continue to haunt the culture. The use of the stereotypical Indian or “uncivilized savage” in toys, books, cars, foods, and sports teams, demonstrates how the American society is unfortunately accustomed to the prevalent stereotypes against Native Americans. The

Even though it has a more sympathetic connotation, it feeds the same image of the uncivilized native American, but in a soft way. The native man is represented as the “noble savage”, a wild man who is related to nature, and animals. He is not portrayed as a bad man, but he is just not good enough and not compatible to the American advanced and civilized world. He doesn’t belong to this modern life. He is from the past, and he must stay there. To sustain this idea of the wild man who doesn’t belong to this modern time, an image of a “vanishing” native American image starts to appear in the media. He is vanished because he has no place in this modern American word and he is uncappable to coexist with his advanced civilized peer, the white American. He disappears for no reason, and no clue, and if he didn’t vanish, he melts to become an American, in the white man way. These romanticized portrayals of Native Americans have consolidated stereotypes, what have created prejudice and social

Deloria pleads, “Not even Indians can relate themselves to this type of creature who, to the anthropologists, is the ‘real’ Indian […]” (Dennison, 8). It is easy to ignore how much these misconceptions limit the people subject to them. These harmful misconstructions are seen everyday, in settings like sports, particularly the football team the Washington Redskins. Finally we see a major figure, in this case, FedEx, publicly reject the identity. This is a step towards unlocking American Indian potential, which affects the United States in just as many ways. Like the mineral estate at the time, Osage Nation’s casinos are a huge source of revenue for

Did you know that there are 2,128 Native American mascots in the world that people are not discussing? Recently, more and more people are becoming aware of Native American mascots because there is a debate surging with respect to that field. For many years there has been controversy about banning Native American mascots and names. Native American mascots and names should be banned from sports. First of all, it is very disrespectful to the Native American tribe. Secondly, the name could conceivably have some sort of negative meaning behind it. Finally, there is racial prejudiced towards the American Indian tribes.

Team names such as the Redskins, and the Cleveland Indians are a few examples of Native American stereotypes and racism.

In the article “Most Native American-Themed Sports Mascots are Flattering and Not Racist” Chief Lee Vest of the Appalachian Confederated Tribes stated “I personally think it’s an honor to be chosen (as a mascot).” But he quickly points out that “Even though people say they’re silly for pretesting it, the biggest problem for all Native Americans is the use of Redskin.” The use of Redskin is racist and extremely offensive. Chief Lee Vest explains that if history textbooks mentioned that the term “Redskins” was coined during a Native American genocide, the public would understand why it is an offensive term. Native American themed mascots should not be used as sport mascots because of the inaccurate picture they give of the Native American people. The Native Americans are just trying to live their lives. They don’t need a mascot stereotyping them it something they are

Over the past few years, the controversy over sports names or mascots has increasingly become an uproar. The main sports teams being targeted due to controversial mascots are programs having names that deal with Native Americans. Well known programs, such as, the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, and the Washington Redskins are just a few of the many teams being targeted due to controversial team names and/or mascots. Currently, the Redskins are receiving the most heat from racial groups. However, professional sport teams are not the only teams receiving negative remarks; there are well known colleges that are also receiving huge blows for racial symbols. For example, one college in particular is the University of Mississippi which has been

For the past few decades there has been a debate raging in American sports culture about the use of Native American names in sports. Teams like the Washington Redskins and several other professional and college teams have been criticized for using Native American names as mascots and team names. Some people criticize the names and say that it’s offensive and demeaning and should be changed. Others say that the names honor Native American heritage have been a team tradition for many years and should not be changed. Sports teams should not use Native American names as trademarks or mascots because they promote negative stereotypes of Native Americans in society. These stereotypes reinforce negative views of Native Americans in society. These stereotypes can harm Native Americans by keeping these stereotypes alive in society. This creates negative impacts on Natives when they see these stereotypes .

The video plays on the injustices faced by Native Americans during the colonization of North America to strengthen the modern appeals made by the speaker. Towards the middle of the ad, the narrator says, “Struggling” as images of extreme poverty cuts to an image of a Native American sitting on a box with his head in his hands. Realizing the injustices of their situation, The imagery conveys a feeling of guilt within the audience. Americans took Native Americans land and put them on reservations to be “forgotten” (another one word description in the video). Through these images and language choice, the speaker makes an ethical appeal: many Native American in modern society already live in poverty and suffering, and having a mascot called the Redskins only adds insult and shame to their lives. After American colonists took what belongs to them, the narrator calls out to the audience to at least give Native Americans one small thing: the name of a mascot. Native Americans have sustained a longstanding sense of pride and dignity. Through an emotional appeal, the images and footage of children present hope for change. The ad presents the possibility that the Washington Redskins mascot can change, continuing this deep pride and

Once European men stepped foot onto what is now known as North America, the lives of the Native Americans were forever changed. The Indians suffered centuries of torment and ridicule from the settlers in America. Despite the reservations made for the Natives, there are still cultural issues occurring within America. In Sherman Alexie’s, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, the tragic lives of Native Americans in modern society are depicted in a collection of short stories taking place in the Spokane Reservation in Washington state. Throughout the collection, a prominent and reoccurring melancholic theme of racism against Native Americans and their struggle to cope with such behavior from their counterpart in this modern day and age is shown.

Science journalist, Charles C. Mann, had successfully achieved his argumentative purpose about the “Coming of Age in the Dawnland.” Mann’s overall purpose of writing this argumentative was to show readers that there’s more to than just being called or being stereotyped as a savage- a cynical being. These beings are stereotyped into being called Indians, or Native Americans (as they are shorthand names), but they would rather be identified by their own tribe name.

Racism and racial discrimination are attitudes and behavior that are learned and threaten human development. Which means that people should be taking proactive steps to prevent intolerant or racist acts. Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities establish an unwelcome hostile learning environment for American Indian Students. School systems that show negative images of American Indians give of a negative impact on the self esteem of the American Indian students. This also disrespects the spiritual beliefs and values of the American Indian people. In the State of Oregon they announced that their public schools are not allowed to use Native Americans as mascots or sports teams names like “Indians”, “Chiefs”, “Braves”, and “Redskins” but not “Warriors because it’s imagery did not specifically mean Native Americans. The schools were expected to change the names

Reynolds constructs an interesting correlation of government intervention regarding culture in this matter to the same government intervention that Native Americans had to deal with for much of their history in the United States (659). In this particular portion of her article, she makes the argument that this is the exact same issue that Native Americans have fought against for so long, the government’s right to act and regulate issues of culture (659). Reynolds states, “More government is not the answer to a community concern” (659). Her argument clarifies that this a local issue and thus should be decided locally and not handled by the federal or state governments (659). She is worried that a negative message may be sent to students if schools do change their mascots. Reynolds believes this will relay a message to children to avoid discussing cultural differences of Native Americans because of fear of offending them (659). She believes this is completely detrimental to the understanding and acceptance of cultural differences and acceptance of our differences in society. Reynolds argues that if the mascots are kept, it will invoke more discussion among children and therefore they will have a better understanding of cultural

There are many factors that effect Native Americans such as treaty rights, health, education, and economic issues, a number of studies done by various government agencies, including the Department of Justice, have shown extremely troubling rates of violent crime inflicted on American Indian peoples, most by non-Natives, as well as a suicide incidence among American Indian children and young adults that is several times that of other ethnic groups or the general population. However, Native Americans representation through mascots and logos is an issue that effects the Native people in a more personal way. Native Americans sport team logos, mascots and nicknames are representing Native Americans in a disrespectful way which is effecting the way we perceive

In the article “Indian Mascots—You’re Out” by Jack Shakely (2011), the author tries to convince his audience that the use of