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Friday, April 5, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Native American Themed Sports Teams: Change Your Offensive Names
To me, citizenship entitles us to give and receive equal respect.
This blog will discuss issues that relate to citizenship rights and liberties of Native Americans. An interesting topic that I would like to blog about first is the issue of offensive nicknames and mascots in professional and collegiate sports. My hopes are that after reading this blog, you will be more aware of the racism involved in some of these sports team names and as a result, be more conscious of your use of those terms.
Sports in America date back to the 1800's, so this is not a new issue facing society. So this begs the question, how has society allowed this issue to continue for so long? Well, a partial explanation for that is that some people see no issue here at all. There are two sides to the debate on using offensive Native American names in sports. Some argue that names, such as the Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves, or Cleveland Indians are actually a tribute to Native American history, while others argue the exact opposite, with the former term being the most contentious.
For the sake argument, let's just focus on the Washington Redskins, since that team name draws the most controversy of any of the current sports teams. Is it a racist name? Does it pay tribute to Native Americans, or does it insult and offend them? To start, let's take a look at its origins. Originally, the Washington Redskins were owned by George Preston Marshall, known to be a racist himself, and the team was given this name in 1933. Marshall always refused to answer whether the name had anything to do with racism, but it's worth noting that he also refused to integrate any African-Americans with his all-white team in the 1950's. That's the origins of the name, but it's unknown to what extent, if any, of those origins are rooted in malicious racism.
What we do know is where Native Americans stand today on the issue, and one Suzan Shown Harjo, now aged 67, stands vehemently against it. She likens the use of the term "redskin" to being as offensive to her and her fellow Native Americans as the n-word is to African-Americans. This statement might come as a surprise to some who have never thought twice about cheering for their favorite respective sports team. And if this is you, you're not a bad person, you might innocently just not have been aware that it offends Native Americans so seriously. I myself have always thought the term 'redskin' to be an offensive word but the way Harjo framed it with respect to another offensive word to another race really struck a chord with me on how truly offensive its use is.
Today in 2013 it is definitively impossible to imagine a collegiate or professional sports team with a nickname that involves an offensive word to a group of people like African-Americans. Think of all of the offensive words that were once, or are unfortunately still used by some people in reference to them; it would be outrageous for any team to name themselves after one of those words, at least in my opinion. The reason I can't imagine any of them is because those words are so vulgarly offensive to so many people. But why should we treat Native Americans any different?
Is it because there are less of them in America? Is because they haven't been as vocal as other marginalized groups have been throughout U.S. history? Is it because it's always been this way? Or because these sports teams are too popular to have to undergo a massive re-branding? Regardless of the answer to those questions, certainly none of them should factor into not giving them equal respect and treatment
Equal respect and treatment. That's what this issue seems to be about to me. It pains me to read about in our history books the way various marginalized groups have been treated here in the U.S. throughout history. Especially for the Native Americans, they're guilty of nothing except being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This nation has come so far in terms of respecting others, but there is still work to be done, and this issue looms large as an obstacle to the finish line.
Harjo feels the same way, she said, "The Washington team - it's the king of the mountain, when this one goes, others will." (Harjo refuses to even say the name of the Washington team, because it's so offensive to Native Americans like her).
So what can be done? Well by you, actually, a lot. First of all, you can play your role in spreading awareness about this vulgarity of some sports team's names. Perhaps you were unaware that these team names offend people before now, and that's okay; what's important is how you act now with this knowledge. If you agree that these names are offensive, simply stop using them. Refer to teams as the Cleveland team, or the Washington football team. That's an easy step anyone can do. If you feel so inclined, spread the story of Suzan Harjo when you feel it appropriately comes up in a conversation involving any of these sports teams. There are about 900 sports teams (high school, collegiate, professional, etc) in America right now that use Native American names in them, so chances are, one will come up in a sports conversation relatively soon
You can also get involved through legislation. This past March, a bill was introduced to Congress that would ban the term "redskin" being used in a trademark. If the bill passes, it would ban Washington from using the name in any capacity. So contact your representative and let them know that you support the passing of this bill, I know I will.
You may not know any Native Americans in your life and this issue might not seem to affect you in any way, whatsoever. But just because an issue doesn't directly affect you doesn't mean you should be ignorant or complacent that it is gravely offensive to some. These nicknames do not pay homage or tribute to Native Americans, they teach nothing about their real culture and history.
So next time you hear someone talking about a sports team with a Native American nickname, in your mind, replace that team name with a term used to offend other minority groups, like African-Americans, Hispanics, or homosexuals. I bet you wouldn't use any of those offensive word to refer to a sports team, so why use that one?
It's something to think about. Let's have respect for all people in this nation. That's what being an American citizen is. It's just as much about giving respect to others as it is getting respect from others. You might not be a Native American, but if you except people to respect you and your culture, then you should give that respect to people of other cultures.
-Mike C
This blog will discuss issues that relate to citizenship rights and liberties of Native Americans. An interesting topic that I would like to blog about first is the issue of offensive nicknames and mascots in professional and collegiate sports. My hopes are that after reading this blog, you will be more aware of the racism involved in some of these sports team names and as a result, be more conscious of your use of those terms.
Sports in America date back to the 1800's, so this is not a new issue facing society. So this begs the question, how has society allowed this issue to continue for so long? Well, a partial explanation for that is that some people see no issue here at all. There are two sides to the debate on using offensive Native American names in sports. Some argue that names, such as the Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves, or Cleveland Indians are actually a tribute to Native American history, while others argue the exact opposite, with the former term being the most contentious.
For the sake argument, let's just focus on the Washington Redskins, since that team name draws the most controversy of any of the current sports teams. Is it a racist name? Does it pay tribute to Native Americans, or does it insult and offend them? To start, let's take a look at its origins. Originally, the Washington Redskins were owned by George Preston Marshall, known to be a racist himself, and the team was given this name in 1933. Marshall always refused to answer whether the name had anything to do with racism, but it's worth noting that he also refused to integrate any African-Americans with his all-white team in the 1950's. That's the origins of the name, but it's unknown to what extent, if any, of those origins are rooted in malicious racism.
What we do know is where Native Americans stand today on the issue, and one Suzan Shown Harjo, now aged 67, stands vehemently against it. She likens the use of the term "redskin" to being as offensive to her and her fellow Native Americans as the n-word is to African-Americans. This statement might come as a surprise to some who have never thought twice about cheering for their favorite respective sports team. And if this is you, you're not a bad person, you might innocently just not have been aware that it offends Native Americans so seriously. I myself have always thought the term 'redskin' to be an offensive word but the way Harjo framed it with respect to another offensive word to another race really struck a chord with me on how truly offensive its use is.
Today in 2013 it is definitively impossible to imagine a collegiate or professional sports team with a nickname that involves an offensive word to a group of people like African-Americans. Think of all of the offensive words that were once, or are unfortunately still used by some people in reference to them; it would be outrageous for any team to name themselves after one of those words, at least in my opinion. The reason I can't imagine any of them is because those words are so vulgarly offensive to so many people. But why should we treat Native Americans any different?
Is it because there are less of them in America? Is because they haven't been as vocal as other marginalized groups have been throughout U.S. history? Is it because it's always been this way? Or because these sports teams are too popular to have to undergo a massive re-branding? Regardless of the answer to those questions, certainly none of them should factor into not giving them equal respect and treatment
Equal respect and treatment. That's what this issue seems to be about to me. It pains me to read about in our history books the way various marginalized groups have been treated here in the U.S. throughout history. Especially for the Native Americans, they're guilty of nothing except being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This nation has come so far in terms of respecting others, but there is still work to be done, and this issue looms large as an obstacle to the finish line.
Harjo feels the same way, she said, "The Washington team - it's the king of the mountain, when this one goes, others will." (Harjo refuses to even say the name of the Washington team, because it's so offensive to Native Americans like her).
So what can be done? Well by you, actually, a lot. First of all, you can play your role in spreading awareness about this vulgarity of some sports team's names. Perhaps you were unaware that these team names offend people before now, and that's okay; what's important is how you act now with this knowledge. If you agree that these names are offensive, simply stop using them. Refer to teams as the Cleveland team, or the Washington football team. That's an easy step anyone can do. If you feel so inclined, spread the story of Suzan Harjo when you feel it appropriately comes up in a conversation involving any of these sports teams. There are about 900 sports teams (high school, collegiate, professional, etc) in America right now that use Native American names in them, so chances are, one will come up in a sports conversation relatively soon
You can also get involved through legislation. This past March, a bill was introduced to Congress that would ban the term "redskin" being used in a trademark. If the bill passes, it would ban Washington from using the name in any capacity. So contact your representative and let them know that you support the passing of this bill, I know I will.
You may not know any Native Americans in your life and this issue might not seem to affect you in any way, whatsoever. But just because an issue doesn't directly affect you doesn't mean you should be ignorant or complacent that it is gravely offensive to some. These nicknames do not pay homage or tribute to Native Americans, they teach nothing about their real culture and history.
So next time you hear someone talking about a sports team with a Native American nickname, in your mind, replace that team name with a term used to offend other minority groups, like African-Americans, Hispanics, or homosexuals. I bet you wouldn't use any of those offensive word to refer to a sports team, so why use that one?
It's something to think about. Let's have respect for all people in this nation. That's what being an American citizen is. It's just as much about giving respect to others as it is getting respect from others. You might not be a Native American, but if you except people to respect you and your culture, then you should give that respect to people of other cultures.
-Mike C
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