Should schools change their Native American mascots?

Question

does it honor native americans or does it degrade them?

Answer 1

Using Natives as mascots is so offensive it's unbelievable!

There's no question about it.

Racism towards Natives happens all the time and nothing is done about it. About 3 years ago, an ESPN sports reporter said Hawaiian women are a dime a dozen. Nothing happened! What if he had said African American women are a dime a dozen? He'd be gone! Get my point?

American society has been so engrained with racism and discrimination against Native people that most don't even notice it. Look at the old westerns that a lot of people were raised with. The "Indians" were always the evil bad guys. They made even Native kids be ashamed to be Native.

It was ilegal for Native people to practice their own beliefs until 1978 with the passing of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act!

As for Native mascots, our own Nations capital's football team has the most RACIST team name and mascot: Washington Redskins.

In the 1800's, the government had bounties on Native people. If you killed an "Indian" you would be paid. But you had to prove it. How does one prove it? Well, they had to get scalps from the Indians they killed OR they would cut off the private parts! These scalps or genitalia were called "Redskins!"

Now can anyone tell me, looking me in the eye with a straight face, that the Washington Redskins is honoring Native people? NO!

They can say it honors a Native person who was involved with their team all they want. The term "Redskin" is still racist and every bit as racist as the term n*gg*r! What if the Tennessee Titans switched their name to the Nashville N*gg*ers? It wouldn't be allowed would it? What if they said it was to honor an African American who was with their organization? People would find it ridiculous! As they should the Washington Redskins.

The other "Indian" mascots are also very bad. How does a little Native child feel when s/he reads a news headline and it says, "Take the Tribe and Scalp 'Em?" Do you think their pride is going up or down?

Chief Wahoo? Same thing as Little Black Sambo. Little Black Sambo is gone isn't he? Why isn't Chief Wahoo?

So yes, they are VERY offensive and schools should change their names if they have Natives for mascots. It is degrading!

Links on Native mascots:
http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm/
http://www.aistm.org/1indexpage.htm
http://www.treatycouncil.org/section_211417117.htm
http://aistm.org/cartoons6.htm
http://aistm.org/cartoons7.htm
http://aistm.org/cartoons8.htm
http://aistm.org/cartoons10.htm

Answer 2

The team in question in the article is the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Sioux is a proper tribal name and as such the NCAA ruled that for the school to use the name, the 3 Affiliated Tribes would have to give their permission, which they did not. Florida State uses the name Seminoles because the Seminole tribe gave them permission. Some other indian sounding team names like Redskins was actually a derogatory term for natives so that is understandably offensive to many Native Americans.

Answer 3

As a Native American, I find it offensive, never have I thought they were trying to honor my people by doing this

Answer 4

I wonder how many Native Americans would feel offended by it if they weren't told that they should feel offended by it by the "politically correct?"
I don't think mascots really honor or degrade anyone.

Answer 5

I am from Cleveland and we call our baseball team the Indians I think it honors Native Americans

Answer 6

As someone of Irish descent, I find Notre Dame's mascot patently offensive.

Just sayin'.

Answer 7

One of my schools rival schools are the indians and during games and stuff they make "indian" sounds I think it's disrespectful

Answer 8

I would feel honored. I would love it if someone named their teal the Transvestite terrors.

Answer 9

Yes, if they are deeply offensive. But political correctness for the sake of it is crap.