Native American Controversy Essays - 837 Words

Native American Controversy â€Å"People ask me why I don’t just let this go. It’s all in the past, they say. I tell them that there is no past tense in the Cheyenne language. The past is not gone. As I stand here before you, all of my ancestors stand with me.† ...Suzan Shown Harjo This controversy of using Native American mascots has been origins that are engrained deeply into Indian and Non-Indian relations. Today, there are many sports that use Indian names (The Atlantic Braves, Golden State Warriors, Chicago Blackhawks, and University of Illinois Fighting Illini) that are the center of this argument. According to The Free Dictionary a†¦show more content†¦In considering this issue, several important questions need to be considered: Why do these Native American Mascots continue to exist? Is ethnic power stronger than that of athletic tradition? State Education Commissioner Richard Mills quotes that â€Å"Schools are a public institution and should embrace tolerance and reject stereotypes when choosing mascots.† He along with many others believes that the symbolization is a racist and shows obvious disrespect for the Native Americans. Friends of mine who are of some Native American descent believe that it is and they will not take any part in supporting this â€Å"crooked symbolism†. I am not a sports team mascot. With all due respect to the teams who want to honor me by having a Native American mascot, it’s outdated. It’s the wrong way. Then, others find it not a poor portrayal of their culture as long as certain words aren’t used. â€Å"I am a member of the Northern Ute Tribe located in Ft. Duchesne, Utah. I am a Cheerleading Coach for our local high school. I do not consider using American Indian mascot’s offensive unless terms like squaw are used. We have a high school here in our area that uses the Ute mascot, the only thing I find tacky is the cheerleading uniforms that they have used the past few years, the regalia worn by natives all have some sort of special meaning and to try to mimic that in a costume is inappropriate.† This was quoted by Marcy Arrowchis. This specificShow MoreRelatedControversies On Native American Names1898 Words   |  8 Pages10, 2014 Controversies on Native American Names For many years several schools, sports, companies, things, and mascots have their names named after Native Americans. The Native Americans have been fighting to take their names back after so many years. They feel that it is an offensive expression to use their names on things and want the names to be changed to something else. Then you have the opposing side that say the name is a form of positive respect towards the Native Americans. This becomesRead MoreEssay on Native American Mascots Are Racist594 Words   |  3 PagesDoes the symbol chosen have any impact on whether a team wins or loses? Unlikely. But the choice of a Native American mascot continues to ignite debate and controversy among athletes, fans and alumni, as well as those people who might otherwise be disinterested in sports. Utilizing an Indian mascot is nothing more than a veiled attempt at hate speech. The dispute over whether Native American mascots should be used as a team symbol dates back to the 1970’s (Price 2). People differ on the basicRead More The Debate Regarding the Use of Native American Mascots Essay1353 Words   |  6 Pagesthe choice of a Native American mascot continues to ignite debate and controversy among athletes, fans and alumni, as well as those people who might otherwise be disinterested in sports. Why all the controversy? The dispute over whether Native American mascots should be used as a team symbol dates back to the 1970’s (Price 2). There are those who are passionately against Native American mascots. These advocators insist that Native American mascots are degrading to the native population and theRead MoreTelevision And Radio Stations Should Be Banned From Repeatedly Saying The Name Of The Washington Redskins1360 Words   |  6 Pagessports teams should use Native American imagery and names as their mascots. Teams in every sport, at every level of competition, have a mascot. It is the mascot that represents the competitive spirit and team identity, motivating players and fans alike. But the choice of a Native American mascot and tribal names continues to ignite debate and controversy among athletes, fans and alumni, as well as those people who might otherwise be disinterested in sports. The controversy over ethnic mascots andRead MoreEssay on Ethics of Native American Mascots1103 Words   |  5 Pages3 December 2011 Ethics of Native American Mascots Ethics of Native American mascots is a controversial topic and should not be argued against because they are used ethically, complementary, and respectfully. The Native American Mascot controversy is a topic that has presented itself in recent years all across the country. Though there have been some issues, complaints, and moral questions brought up about the Native American mascot dilemma by a minority group of people, there is no legitimate argumentRead MoreThe California Racial Mascots Act1520 Words   |  7 Pagesteams have a storied history of satirizing or playing off stereotypes when choosing team mascots. The use of the term Redskins, and other offensive Native American imagery, has been justified through its intention to honor tradition and Native Americans. The controversy surrounding the use of Native American mascots began in the 1960s with the Native American Civil Rights Movement (Dimisa). With the nationwide debate over whether the term is offensive or just satire, t he state of California made a historicRead MoreMascots : An Honor Or An Insult?1352 Words   |  6 PagesMascots: An honor or an insult? The idea of using Native American names and images in sports has been a topic of public controversy in the United States since the 1960’s. Sports mascots that continue to promote racial, cultural, or bias slurs should be changed so that racial discrimination can be stopped and everyone can be treated equally/fairly. In today’s society, there is no room for racism or stereotypes especially in sports; an activity that is supposed to bring people together to supportRead MoreShould Sports Teams Be Named After An Ethnicity?915 Words   |  4 PagesShould Sports teams be named after an ethnicity? The controversy over the naming of sports teams after ethnic groups has been boiling since the mid-twentieth century. Sports teams in America, ranging from Pee-wee leagues, high schools, and colleges to Professional sports, have used any enumeration of nick names and mascots by which to represent their team with pride and sometimes even comedy. However, the lines of political correctness have been greatly and maybe even intentionally blurred in termsRead MoreSports Mascots Essays639 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Should Controversial Sports Mascots Be Replaced? The controversy over sports mascots is nothing new in today’s society. From the early 1960’s it has created an immense campaign against stereotypical sport mascot names. In articles, Indian Mascots—You’re Out, and So Sioux Me each author demonstrates how many people including Native Americans perceive certain mascots to be offensive. The authors’ first goals are to raise attention to this topic by creating pathos in their writing. Although Mark HymanRead MoreThe Media Bias And Stereotypes1782 Words   |  8 Pagesstereotypes equally target us, maybe women more. In this paper, I will reflect on three past groups such as Native Americans, Women, and Asian Americans/Pacific Rim, I will discuss on how they influenced my change in thinking and opinion. When we began this class our first group was Native Americans, I recall writing in my analysis that the first thing I thought was the stereotypical Native American. Which was typically a male or female in a headdress, wearing a costume usually made of animal skin, and