How Do Mascots Affecting Native Americans

Noah Augustine, former chief of Metepenagiag Mi'kmaq Nation, delivered a great essay on how culturally and morally ridiculous, it is to use Native symbols for sports team logos. He effectively talked about how offensive it really is to make ridicule of cultural symbols by using facts and real-life events. He is also helped by the use of analogy, diction and rhetorical questions to achieve this. Augustine, impressively used an analogy to persuade a wide range of readers as he makes a connection between other cultures and how they would feel if they were put in the same shoes as the Natives were in. He goes on to say, “Nonetheless, for me, as an Aboriginal person, the use of these religious symbols and caricatures of Indian chiefs or spiritual

The author Tex G. Hall is explaining Native American team sports mascots are racist. He is testifying for many other people as well. He makes a very sensible are you and uses the motion and great facts facts. The way his argument is structured is very engaging. He first off thanks many people for bringing this controversy to everyone 's attention.

#1 The biggest argument that people make for the teams keeping mascots and their names is that a small percent of Native Americans are really “offended” by them. The percent of Native Americans that are offended shouldn’t be ignored just because they are a small percent On top of that, the statistics involved are complicated and hard to verify. #2 Teams seem to “target” Native Americans: Use their image and names with less worry about retaliation because they are a minority and would be less likely to retaliate than another group, in the case of their culture being attacked #3 The image of another culture (which is more prominent and larger in our society) wouldn’t be used as a mascot or team name because it would offend a larger group

One of the most offensive thing to the Native American is the chop and the war cry fans yell for the team. Many Native Americans feel that this is misusing a war cry with is very sacred to their culture. Also many people feel that the rivalry against the Dallas Cowboy is offensive which the game is usally played on Thanksgiving Day. Many people take this as bringing of the past of the west during times where many Native Americans lost their lives. For many years Washington has had a well-respected NFL team.

In the case of the Washington Redskins, the owner Dan Synder is opposed to changing the name, claiming that the name is not offensive but very respectful and honors the people Indigenous to America (Martinez). “The Redskins have said that the name, adopted in 1933, was chosen because American Indians were brave and strong”(Belson). Implying that Synder feels that the name is associated with gallantry and warrior quality and feels that the word isn’t racist at all. He feels that because the fan yell “Hail Redskins” that this also conveys how the name is and example of honor and not disrespect (Martinez). He has also gone on record saying that he will never change the teams name, which he can legally due because of the teams trademark (Martinez and Belson).

The issue of the Native American mascots used by sports teams such as baseball, football and hockey in the United States were first brought up by Native American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s. The movement had protested the use of Native American related references in two teams in particular, the Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins. The Cleveland Indians had used Chief Wahoo as their sports logo, whereas the Washington’s use of “Redskins” as their team name is still, to this day, controversial due to the nature of the name as a derogatory slang (King, 2010.) It is unclear how or why such names were picked out as sports teams’ names and mascot or logo, but it is seen that European Americans in the 19th century has started the ‘trend’ of doing so.

Offensive for Sports Teams to Use Native American Names and Mascots? Imagine you’re sitting in a stadium of screaming fans, all around you people are yelling their support, “Go Chiefs!” To some this is being considered a bad thing. It isn’t offensive for sports teams to use Native American names and mascots because it’s an honor to be a mascot and other groups of people are also symbolized by mascots.

The Redskins have come under very intense pressure in recent months to change their name, which many Native American leaders have denounced as a racial slur. So, why all the controversy?   The argument to whether Native American mascots

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

Sports are an essential part of pop culture in the United States, which is why the appropriation of Native American culture through sport team mascots in schools is widespread to its students. These mascots teach students that the stereotypes that they represent are accurate. However, in actuality, using parts of Native American culture for sport team mascots just feeds off of common misconceptions and not the actual facts. The culture is then stripped of its authenticity and replaced with this misinformation, which only leads to more people, students, exploiting it. As the end result, Native Americans are further discriminated against.

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.

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.

Most of the people who think this name change should happen aren’t even Native Americans. Polls show that 90% of Native Americans are unbothered by the name. "The Washington Redskins name has thus from its origin represented a positive meaning distinct from any disparagement that could be viewed in some other context," Mr. Goodell wrote June 5(Roger Goodell). The Redskins name is supposed to represent a positive meaning not any type of racism towards the Native Americans. Washington Redskins fans, including many Native Americans, are against the name change.

Team mascots who are in reference to Native Americans are sought for entertainment purposes. This arguably conveys a negative message to the nation’s youth, as they are brought up seeing a legitimate culture degraded to a school football mascot. The publisher takes a bold approach to legitimize the sensitivity of the issue. “Would you support a team called the Peoria Kikes or the Birmingham N******? If not, how do you justify the continuation of a name like the Washington Redskins?”

When you think of the typical Native American, also known as Indigenous, a stereotypical image probably comes to mind. You think of a sulky, half-naked male dressed in animal skin and a tall feathery hat, dancing around a fire. You might picture a slim, attractive female with smooth red skin and long black hair. These are the images fed to us by the media. The media created this generic version of an indigenous person and everyone has been running with it ever since.