Native American Mascot Controversy Essay

Are team mascots using stereotypes? What about the team names? And their logos? Mascots and team names are stereotypical or offensive.

Goodbye to Racial Mascots: California Bans the Use of “Redskins” in Public Schools Oct. 11 marks the victory of a statewide movement to prevent a racial slur from public use. On that day, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the ban on using “Redskins” as team names or mascots in public schools. The bill was well received by the majority, and many expected that this would set a good example for other states and the next generation. Without a doubt, the term in question — referring to the brutal crimes that British colonizers had done to Native Americans — is a racial slur that many Native Americans have long found offensive. However, when it comes to something as prestigious as the Washington football team or as intimate as a tradition of Amherst College.

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

a. What happened? Sarah Adams-Cornell and Jacqueline Holder, Chair Person of Parental Invovolment of Oklahoma City Schools, addressed McLoud to change their mascot name due to the negative effect it might have on their Native American Students. Mcloud acknowledged the issue and after seeing support from the local community and a local native american tribe, it was decided that would keep the name the Redskins. b. What was the ruling/decesion?

Brieana Mcclean English 101 Professor Herdzina January 26th, 2018 Major Essay 3 Outline Many of us have favorite Sports teams and as a way of familiarizing ourselves we usually 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.

In 1947 the Cleveland Indians introduced the Chief Wahoo logo for their uniforms. In the beginning of the logos days, it was seen as very offensive due to its yellow face and large nose. Many Native Americans were upset with the baseball teams decision to create such a disrespectful logo to represent the Cleveland Indians. Eventually the organization realized its fault and recreated the Chief Wahoo logo. They made the nose smaller and revealed the red faced caricature we have today.

The author talks about how Indian mascots and logos perpetuate racism in schools. This relates to the Big Picture Question as those Indian logos and mascots put a stereotype on the people that go to that school. They may be called names that are specifically called to natives only. This all would go towards racism being implemented towards those kids and them being treated as different. I would answer the question the same way that the author did.

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

Since American Indians are shown through many mascots in this world, Americans get the idea that Indians have to look or act a certain type of way in order to be considered to be actually from the Indian culture. If a person doesn’t stereotypically have darker skin or have a specific bond with nature than they aren 't considered to be an American Indian. This is significant because people don’t realize that they are grouping all American Indian people into a category, just like they have done all throughout history with other cultures, when they are using Indians as mascots for sports team or etc and that they are downplaying and appropriating their heritage and traditions. Also, if people will realize and change the fact that they are unconsciously or consciously misrepresenting others then maybe humans will be able to maintain a world where there is equality for all subcultures. Basically, throughout countless examples in Hollywood films, Arabian people have been depicted to be very mean and violent people.

Appropriation is the act of borrowing and changing the meaning of cultural products, images, slogans and elements as well as reusing existing elements to create new works and meanings. Many artists believe that in borrowing existing images or elements of imagery, they are able to recreate the idea as it is now placed within a new concept. This essay will discuss how appropriation has been used in cultural and social contexts in order to create controversy and sell products, as well as be a form of expression. Pop culture often uses brash ways when trying to provide interest in society. As humans we are constantly wanting more and are never fully satisfied without entertainment, thus in order to meet these high demands many often turn to cultural appropriation as a void of entertainment.

In the article, A Word Gone Wrong by Lawrence Downes, Lawrence Downes emphasizes, “people can be thoughtless and cruel, or well-meaning, and never know the damage their words can do (Downes).” This statement clarifies the conception that the voices of others separates humans into stereotypes. Lawrence Downes realizes as an American citizen, we are granted the ability to voice our opinions passionately. Those opinions do not take into consideration demeaning language. Demeaning language defines a misleading character; therefore, political correctness should become a principle of life.

The Fighting Sioux Name Change The University of North Dakota, found themselves in a battle against the Standing Rock and Spirit Tribes a few years back. The Standing Rock and Spirit Tribes found the term “Fighting Sioux” and the Indian head logo disrespectful and, in fact; racist toward their heritage. After Brittany Bergstrom, the author of The Fighting Sioux: The End of a Legacy? spoke with some of the students from University of North Dakota she starts to notice that changing the name is just as offensive to them as the name itself is to the Standing Rock and Spirit Tribes. “When the ‘Fighting Sioux’ lawsuit came about, I had really never thought one way or the other about the name… I became very defensive over the name.

For the past years, different groups and organizations have wanted to change the mascot. To these groups and organizations, they felt that the mascot was offensive and disrespectful to them. Some Native Americans states that use of their imagery under the name “Indians” is offensive viewing Indians as warriors like in the back in the wild west. Here are some reasons why we need to keep the mascot 1) it is a symbol of our school that we take pride in.