Indian Mascots Research Paper

Is using Native Americans as mascots for sports teams offensive? It does not matter if it is a high school or a college, sometimes even the NFL. Examples of sports teams that use Native Americans images are Washington Redskins, Florida State Seminoles, and a high school Cherokee Braves. It is not offending and there should not be any problem because it is not making fun of anybody. Using Native American images and names in professional, collegiate, and high schools sport teams does not reinforce and perpetuate stereotypes because it symbolizes their culture, shows that they are ready to play, and appreciates their coexistence.

Not supporting a disrespectful team, is what the Cleveland Indians organization needs to see from people from all over. Maybe if people inside of the management of the team would just remove this offensive logo, no problems would be seen. We could all enter back into the stadiums, and finally continue to support the Cleveland Indians. With a small group of people who protest against the Chief Wahoo logo, it is crazy that the Indians haven’t removed the logo from the uniforms. Although a large majority of people sees no problem with the logo, it truly makes no sense why the logo is still present on the uniforms of the Cleveland

In Using Indian Names for Sports Teams Harm Native Americans, Ward Churchill discusses why using names like the Washington “Redskins,” Colorado “Savages,” or Kansas City “Chiefs,” are a racist practice and should be put to stop. The team’s mascots also use feathers, beads, spears, and “war paint” in an attempt to look like stereotypical Native Americans. Churchill says many American Indians have been against he uses of native names, gestures, and symbols. Churchill recognizes the rough historical relationship between natives and the non-natives. Certainly, colonization detrimentally effected many Natives, and the American Government historically has moved Natives out of their own land.

Imagine a mascot that a community rallies around, but not a single person can see. This mascot serves no purpose if it is not on any shirts, uniforms, or bumpers of cars. How difficult is it to rally around a mascot if it cannot be seen? The truth is, it is difficult, yet countless high schools across the United States ban merchandise containing the devil or other mascots including our East Jordan High School. The school can not buy, produce, or sell any apparel bearing the red devil on it.

When people talk about mascots being named after Indian cultures they think that the Indians being recognized should feel honored. However, when that team plays their rival the other fans are taught to hate those people causing them to hear hateful and degrading comments throughout their lives. “If it’s the team’s tradition, then it’s a legacy of bigotry.” (Wulf). People don’t show respect for Native Americans they use them to create a profit.

We show pride in our sports team, right? We all love going to the Friday night games and cheering with the school mascot. Is using Indian mascots truly inappropriate or is it just showing honor? Using Native American images and names in professional, collegiate and high school sports team does not reinforce and perpetuate stereotypes because it is not harming them; these teams is merely showing gratification for their cultures.

There are many factors that effect Native Americans such as treaty rights, health, education, and economic issues, a number of studies done by various government agencies, including the Department of Justice, have shown extremely troubling rates of violent crime inflicted on American Indian peoples, most by non-Natives, as well as a suicide incidence among American Indian children and young adults that is several times that of other ethnic groups or the general population. However, Native Americans representation through mascots and logos is an issue that effects the Native people in a more personal way. Native Americans sport team logos, mascots and nicknames are representing Native Americans in a disrespectful way which is effecting the way we perceive

School systems that show negative images of American Indians give of a negative impact on the self esteem of the American Indian students. This also disrespects the spiritual beliefs and values of the American Indian people. In the State of Oregon they announced that their public schools are not allowed to use Native Americans as mascots or sports teams names like “Indians”, “Chiefs”, “Braves”, and “Redskins” but not “Warriors because it’s imagery did not specifically mean Native Americans. The schools were expected to change the names

The absolute least we as a nation and sports league can do is take away a name that the Native Americans find offense to their culture. We have not given them a voice until recently, although it is still flawed in how we value their opinion. Cynthia Connolly, one of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, says mascots representing them most often reflect who they were in the 1800s, as warriors.

Over the past few years, the controversy over sports names or mascots has increasingly become an uproar. The main sports teams being targeted due to controversial mascots are programs having names that deal with Native Americans. Well known programs, such as, the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, and the Washington Redskins are just a few of the many teams being targeted due to controversial team names and/or mascots. Currently, the Redskins are receiving the most heat from racial groups. However, professional sport teams are not the only teams receiving negative remarks; there are well known colleges that are also receiving huge blows for racial symbols.

However, the underlying truth is that teams with names like these are meant to honor and represent the pride and strength these tribes have had throughout their history. "We Seminoles embrace the mascot... they honor us", says James Billie, the tribes chairman. When he claims this statement, he is referring to their mascots having more than the appearance of calling out a specific race but to recognize the ones who deserve the merit (source C). People who find this so offensive don 't realize that in reality we are all hypocritical.

Ethics is about having good morals and values. Being ethical means your honest and truthful. The films Shattered Glass and Wage the Dog told a different story but they both had ethical implications. A common issue was truthfulness. While Shattered Glass was a true story and Wage the Dog was not, they each consist of lies being told to the public.

Ethics is deciding what is right or wrong using ones moral principles. These two work hand in hand and are supposed to be followed by all businesses and employees. In short Professionalism is what is expected and ethics are what is expected not to do. Application to Movie In the movie

I noticed the tremendous amount of discussion being faced about the controversy of the Cleveland Indians mascot, Chief Wahoo. Is this entire thing a racial slur or just a way to honor our Native Americans? Even though some might think that it is an honor to the Native Americans that Chief Wahoo is the mascot, but there is a whole other side of the argument. I believe the Cleveland Indians should ban their mascot.

Native American Costumes Normally when people stereotype Native Americans, they don’t even mean to. For example, kids and/or adults can dress up as a Native American for Halloween. That might be all fun and games for some people, but it could be extremely offensive to an actual Native American. Just imagine yourself walking through a friendly neighborhood on a cool, eerie Halloween night, and you happen to be of Native American descent.