Was the University of Illinois mascot offensive?

Question

It takes a lot to offend me- in fact I think people are way to easily offended nowadays. Tonight is the last time that Chief Illiniwek (Illinois' indian mascot) will perform. That being said, are you offended by indian mascots or do you think that these mascots are honoring a heritage that is quickly being forgotten?

Answer 1

It's not honoring a people when you totally misrepresent their culture. Chief Illiniwek is offensive because they have him dressed in inaccurate attire never worn traditionally by the tribe, the 'traditional' dance he does is not any kind of native american dance, and its usually played by a white dude. Native American tribes are vast and diverse, and they are only clumped into a group so they could unite and create a powerful minority.

Obviously nobody could get away with the Brooklyn Blacks or San Francisco Chinamen. Even if these teams were just honoring the minority groups that have been influential in their cities or states, it's still not right.

Answer 2

I am not a bit offended that there is a Chief as a mascot. I am more offended that certain 'do gooders' cannot stay out of things. I am not Indian, but I think it is a way to honor a heritage that deserves to be honored. Let's just get rid of Black History month and Cinco De Mayo then. (said with much sarcasm!) I mean really, I would be more offended as having a dog as my college mascot then an Indian! I find it very sad!

Answer 3

i do believe krysa has the best answer but wow dear- take it easy on the poor guy- he simply asked the question. he said he was not offended easily but in no way did he make a comment either way on where he stands on this issue.

i am playing devils advocate here- by your logic- should the patriots change their name? the steelers? west virginia mountaineers?

i can see why native americans are offended but to me the average american is now less educated than ever about Native Americans- i agree with the question- it is a heritage that seems to be being buried. is that because whites want to forget how they treated native americans?

i read an article a while back that the Seminole Indians of Florida ARE honored by The Florida State University being named after them.

I guess its all in who you ask.

Answer 4

As a Native American who is active in her community in raising awareness of American Indian issues, injustices, misconceptions, and discrimination, I feel in my heart of hearts that this is one step closer to receiving our over due civil rights as American people. Normally, I don't like to speak on behalf of all Native people, but being that I've actually grown up in the community, and lived my life as a modern native real AMERICAN I can say with complete honesty that these images are indeed offensive.

And the constant argument I've seen and heard, in particularly from white people is that your institutionalized images portraying Native people as a monolithic group is "honoring" us. We have no control over these images. Therefore, they are not truly representative of us or our culture in this process.

To further answer your already answered question (which is pretty redundant to ask since anyone with an unbiased mind can see using Natives as mascots is clearly wrong) WE DO NOT NEED WHITE PEOPLE TO SUSTAIN our "dying" culture. PLEASE have you been to a POWOW? A reservation? Have you ever even met an Indian? Would you really know what one looks like, or would you base your judgments from the mascots you've allowed yourself to be so mystified by? If you had any clue about the situation of todays Native people you would undoubtedly know we are far from dying.

As a person who is 50% federally recognized Native American Indian I feel it is a shame that Americans have to ask if using the FIRST POEPLES of this continent as Mascots is offensive? Come on, give me a break! I know your culture is dominant, and a measure of what is expected and ideal. But why take the image of another to use at your sporting events next to other mascots which equate to things such as Bears, Gators, ect. All of which are animals that are hunted or otherwise tamed? Are we your hunted or tamed animals?
Although history proves that this statement is true, why exemplify it even more, and than with an outrageous twist to this truth insist it is honoring?

Our heritage is not forgotten! I am only 24 years old, and I'll be studying law in the fall. It is my life's goal to fight images like these and to preserve the JUSTICE and DIGNITY owed to my PEOPLE. IT IS NOT YOUR RIGHT TO CLAIM HONOR! If anything, this is only a display of the power White Anglo Saxon Americans have had over the functioning and portrayals of Native people since the first arrival to this continent.

This country has been courteous enough to do away with things like "black face," and other offensive imagery and mockery of the African American community. We, as a country, have seen the affects of racism and its portrayal of Japanese and other Asian Americans, and the discrimination and forced interment they have faced.

Yet, you have the audacity to ask is this offensive? I find it so ironic that the FIRST PEOPLE OF THIS CONTINENT are the LAST to truly receive their full civil rights. This will not be achieved until you OTHERS learn that asking these questions, already have answers. That answer is that YOUR honoring portrayal of US is IN DEED WRONG! This victory is one of many more to come; our civil rights movement began in 1492. Your god damn right I’m offended, and we won’t stop until we have truly obtained our civil rights. One after another let your “honoring” mascots fall. BEILEVE me when I say that this WAR ON MASCOTS will never end until every last Indian Mascot has been removed! It looks like we’re winning.

Answer 5

It depends. The Illini were a peaceful group of tribes, at one with nature and all living beings. They were not 'fighting' as depicted by the University of Illinois; they moved away rather than fight when attacked, and used guns only as a show of force when they did get them from whites. Would you rather be forgotten or jeered at and ridiculed as a caricature of yourself, with no control over your image or reputation?

It is no 'honor' to (mis)use the symbols and/or images of people. If they are forgotten but left intact, perhaps some later culture will find out who they are through archaelogical means. If their history and purpose is bastardized by others, their real history can easily be drowned out by misinformation being available in greater quantity than fact.

Answer 6

If I'm not mistaken, I think the Illini tribe is dead. So why make a huge problem about when there is nobody complaining about. I went to my first Illini football game(Juice's first start vs. Iowa) and watching the halftime show was something that you will never see again, and that sucks. It is truly a sad day in Illini Nation.

Answer 7

Whos heritage are you talking about. There are many diffrent tribes with diffrent beliefs. Not one of them are the same. Native American is just a term to put us all in one group.