blog post 3
Ending the use of Native American Mascots
Throughout history, Native Americans have been portrayed in a derogatory manner on television, in books, and using their image as mascots. Native American mascots appeared in the 1960s and have continued ever since. In recent years, there has been public controversy on the topics in the United States and Canada. Indigenous civil rights movements have sparked Native Americans and their supporters to stand up to fight this harmful stereotype. In history, European Americans have adopted the practice of “playing Indian”. This stereotype dates back to the nineteenth century. Organizations such as the Improved Order of Red Man and Boy Scouts of America are founded by non-Native individuals. People use traditional views of Indigenous people for fun and games but are completely ignoring the conquest of the Native people.
Since the colonization of North America, the native people have suffered from misconceptions and caricatures. In American sports, the NFL adopted Washington’s football team as the ‘Redskins’ and the Kansas City Chiefs. These two are just a few of the many Native American mascots that exist in the United States. The media has portrayed the people as “savages”. The mascots are portrayed with red skin tones and the persona of a brave warrior. The other side of the argument feels that the teams and schools with Native mascots are honoring the people. They assume that there is no negative stereotyping due to the fighting spirit and bravery shown in the mascot. Many feel that this still portrays a savage representation of only seeing the Native people in a violent light. Even if the portrayals are meant with respect, this creates a one-dimensional view of a whole race and culture of people. The other side sees this issue as not important enough for global attention and nothing more than a problem for ‘sensitive-minded people’. The only people who have a say in this matter are the Native Americans. Many do not see the deeper effects than a costume. It spreads miseducation, harmful stereotypes, and prejudice that all contribute to other problems faced by the Native people.
Many secondary schools have removed the Native American mascot. More changes took place in 2020 due to people opening their eyes to institutionalized racism. As mentioned NFL teams such as the Washington Commanders were once named the Washington Redskins. Teams like this one and the Cleveland Guardians (formally the Cleveland Indians) were changed in 2020 and 2021. The NCAI and over one thousand five hundred national Native organizations have called for the end of Native imagery and other appropriations to be banned in sports. The letter included the disapproval from one hundred led Native organizations, tribal leaders and members from over one hundred and fifty federally recognized tribes. Schools across North America have changed their mascots especially since seeing professional teams replace theirs, but this does not mean every school will change. The National Congress of American Indians says 1,900 schools in 1,025 school districts still have caricature tribal mascots.
The Native people face serious repercussions from the inaccurate representations. Social science research has shown that stereotypes in mascots and media are symbols that have deeper psychological and social effects in society. The American Psychological Association issued a resolution “Recommending the Immediate Retirement of American Indian Mascots, Symbols, Images, and Personalities by Schools, Colleges, Universities, Athletic Teams, and Organizations” due to the negative environment and the effects on the self-esteem of Native children and discrimination issues. Social science has also taught the public that stereotyping can also affect academic performance, suicide unemployment, and poverty. The issue at hand is more than a costume, it directly affects the livelihoods of the people who it is supposed to ‘honor’.
There is an easy fix to the issue of inaccurate Native American representation in the media. All sports teams, schools, etc. that have a Native mascot need to have it changed immediately. It is 2022, racial injustice does not need to be swept under the rug any longer. The removal of a few stereotyped mascots is not enough. From local schools to national sports teams, every single one needs to be changed. A mascot should not be a race, culture, religion, etc. No one should feel that their heritage is for purely entertainment purposes. Native American voices have been silenced for so long that many do not even consider their opinions on issues. Society needs to honor the original founders of our country and raise and uplift their voices without disrespecting their culture.
Sources
Ending the Era of Harmful “Indian” Mascots | NCAIhttps://www.ncai.org › proudtobe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_mascot_controversy