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BlackAthlete Sports Network-www.blackathlete.net Football
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article, written by Gary Norris Gray, first
appeared on BASN in July of 2005. However, little has changed since it
was posted. Given the current success of some of the teams mentioned in
this article, we look to raise this important issue yet again.
After
50 years, Native American Indians are still fighting the fight to get
American Professional Sports teams to change their names or at least
respect the names they have chosen for their teams. African Americans
should be supporting our Native American brothers and sisters in this
historic effort.
The
Braves, Chiefs, Indians, Redskins, and Warriors are the five
professional teams with generic Native American names, names that mean
little or nothing to the average American man, woman, or child.
Now
is the time to ask: America, how would Americans feel if some of the
professional teams had names like, THE DENVER DARKIES, OR HOUSTON
HONKIES, CHICAGO CHINKS maybe THE NEWARK NIGGERS, or even WASHINGTON
STATE WHITE BOYS?
Does not sound favorable, does it?
That is the same effect the name of the NFL's Washington Redskins on most Native Americans; Redskin is not a kind word and the
media uses it in a very detrimental and demeaning way.
Being
part Native American, our family rooted for the Washington Redskins to
beat the Dallas Cowboys time after time, year after year. In the 1970's
Americans would see these two teams battle on Thanksgiving Day.
How ironic.
Americans
did not know the negative connotation of the name Redskin. Most of us
understand now, so we cannot hide in our ignorance any longer. THE
REDSKIN NAME NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. The citizens of the Washington D.C.
area should demand this change.
The
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) launched a massive
campaign to inform America and Americans about the use and misuse of
American Indian names. This group was formed to address the stereotypes
in print media, in electronic media, and this included the sports world
as well.
This group wanted to combat the racist statements some college and professional teams make with their Native American
team logos, mascots, and nicknames.
To
date, there are over 1,500 Junior high, high school, college, and
professional teams using logos, nicknames, and mascots of Native
Americans. This figure has dropped from the staggering 3,000 in the mid
1950's and 60's.
In
2001, the United States Commission on Civil Rights issued its second
statement on the use of Native American Images and Nicknames as Sports
Symbols. The Commission stated that lower level schools and programs
willingly gave up their Native American symbols and switched very
quickly to make peace with the Native American community.
The
higher the sports program, the stronger the resistance to change.
Professional teams to this day refuse to change their names or their
logos. The Washington Redskins and The Kansas City Chiefs (football),
The Cleveland Indians and the Atlanta Braves (baseball), and the Golden
State Warriors (basketball) are classic examples of this resistance.
The
Oakland based Golden State Warriors have drifted away from any
references to its Native American past and its currently the only
professional team to do so.
The
Washington Redskins football team cited finances as the problem for not
changing their name but that can be very hard to believe after the
Washington Bullets basketball team changed their name to the Washington
Wizards in 1995-96.
The
team changed their name after the very high murder rate in the District
of Columbia claimed many young African American lives by gunfire. So
the Redskins issue of money is now null and void with the Wizards claim
to National fame.
Let's
backtrack to the very beginning of this on going debate. The battle
began at Dartmouth College, now Dartmouth University. Their name at the
time (Indians), changed to "THE BIG GREEN" in 1968-1969, after a long
protracted campus demonstration by Native Americans, Dartmouth
students, and school Administrators, with the help of the National
Congress of American Indians.
The change occurred rather peacefully.
Three
years later on the West Coast, Stanford University (Indians) located in
Palo Alto, California followed in the footsteps of Dartmouth, changing
their name to "THE CARDINAL" or "TREE".
The
students, administration, and teachers were in admiration of the Native
American Protest on Alcatraz Island in 1972-74. This protest on
Alcatraz Island reminded America about the oppressive and troublesome
situation of most Native American citizens.
Here are some of the psychological and physical effects of using negative Native American mascots, nicknames, and logos.
1.
The misconceived and self-serving concept of having Native American
mascots in these American houses of learning is dehumanizing and
perpetuates inaccurate stereotypes. Native American children are
learning that their ancestors were wild and untamed humans. Most
American media often betrays this war-like violent behavior. Just watch
any old black and white cowboy movie. We all know who the heroes will
be.
2.
The United States Department of Justice stated that Native Americans
are twice as likely to be a victim of violent crime than African or
Asian Americans. Overall, poor people in America are impacted more by
violent crimes.
3.
Most sports figures or teams have their own rituals, battle cries,
maybe even imitating real battles and real wars. At the beginning of
every University of Illinois football game or a Florida State
University football game a male dresses in Native American warrior gear
and rides out on his trusty horse. The Seminole, or Illini, rider
gallops across the field with a flaming spear in his hand throwing it
into the ground at the 50-yard line, thus signaling the beginning of
the game. This ritual is executed time and time again. This performance
perpetuates the stereotype of violent savage behavior by Native
Americans. Wanting war against the opposing team.
4.
These five profession teams have cartoon-like characterization of
mascots, i.e. Chief Wahoo of baseball's Cleveland Indians. This
mechanism is well known and often used during times of war to
dehumanize an enemy. The result allows the portrayer to trivialize the
concerns of the one being portrayed and simultaneously helps protect
self-esteem by relieving guilt feelings. This was done also to African
Americans after the Civil War, in books, songs, and poems throughout
post Civil War America. The examples portray African Americans as
shiftless, shady, and lazy people, Native Americans as wild beasts that
cannot be tamed, Asian Americans as very smart. These a! re all
stereotypes used for mascots, nicknames and logos.
5.
Even the concept of having mascots or nicknames may be, in reality, an
ego defense. Thus, the honoring of Native Americans, African Americans,
or Asian Americans could protect one from facing the real facts of past
genocidal horrors inflicted on the very individuals they are honoring.
6.
Having Native or African American mascots freezes time in a period one
is more conformable with, never wanting to know, or never wanting to
see the truth of past historical events. America has continuously run
away from historical facts while trying to sugar coat horrendous
events. Events like the Civil War are glorified not telling the
historical trama it caused the nation.
7.
The lack of political power, monetary power, and social power to demand
the removal of these mascots maintain the status quo of
institutionalized racism at college campuses and at the professional
levels.
As
a Native American watching teams like The San Diego Aztecs, The
Chattanooga Moccasins, The University of Utah Utes, and The Central
Mich. Chippewas made me very proud because they represented one tribe,
one nation, unlike the Golden State Warriors, Kansas City Chiefs,
Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, and Washington Redskins.
The
future looks promising in dismantling a lot of Native American mascots
throughout America. The University of North Dakota FIGHTING SIOUX is
currently taking steps to remove their logo from all sports uniforms.
UND has been known to have a very good hockey team going to the "Frozen
Four" college hockey final four many times.
The
Marquette University Warriors in 1972 abandoned the "Willie Wampum"
mascot and in 1994-95 season changed their name to "Golden Eagles". The
St John's Redman also changed their name to Red Storm in 1990, dropping
their Indian logo on every sports uniform. All of these fine
universities and colleges are making a good faith effort to respect and
honor Native Americans, leaving many sports fans questioning why the
professional teams cannot follow suit?
The
Atlanta Braves dropped Chief Nocahoma from their program in 1980. Chief
Nocahoma would dance after every Atlanta Braves home run, but fans of
the Braves still maintain the Tomahawk Chop (which is not Native
American). The Cleveland Indians dropped smiling Chief Wahoo on their
caps, uniforms, and press media guides. Only to have it return in 1994
when the team moved into their new stadium. Again being insensitive to
Native Americans.
African
Americans, Latino Americans, and Asian Americans need to help our
Native American brothers and sisters in this battle for respect and
honor. This may even mean a economic boycott of the Atlanta Braves, the
Cleveland Indians, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Washington Redskins.
Please
read about the past sports mascots and help (AISTM) American Indian
Sports Team Mascots and The National Congress of American Indians
(NCAI). Some of the information in this article comes from the NCAI,
AISTM and Gibbs Magazine web sites.
Post Script : Since the original posting of this article, these events have and will take place.
-- The U.S. Congress and Senate is slated to hold hearings on this subject during the spring of 2008.
-- The University of North Dakota reinstated their "Fighting Sioux" mascot during the 2005-06 hockey season.
-- The University of Ilinois retired their "Fighting Illini" mascot under a storm of protest and tears in 2007.
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