ANTH 270 Discussion 11
According to the dictionary, calling the Washington football team of the NFL the "Redskins" is a racial
slur. The government's reward announcements from the 1800s, demanding the bloody scalps of Native
Americans, are where the slur first appeared. The word has been used as a racial slur in popular culture
from the early 1900s to the present. The phrase was used synonymously with "savage" in books and
movies for the majority of the 20th century, dehumanizing Native Americans. In 1932, when Native
Americans were still the targets of social and political initiatives aimed at eradicating tribes, assimilate
Native peoples, and obliterate Native human and civil rights, team owner George Preston Marshall
selected this pejorative term for the team to use. In 1932, the federal "Civilization Regulations" remained
in force, restricting Native Americans to reservations, outlawing many of their customs, seizing their
cultural property, and outlawing all Native dances and rituals.
The people who are impacted by images of sports team mascots that do not truly represent them find
them to be deeply offensive and insulting. The people these stereotypes represent suffer from them and
are painted as evil by these stereotypes. A few of these names are also derogatory remarks and racial
slurs. These videos strengthen stereotypes about them. The people in the cultures it portrays are not
true to life. The Washington football team has decided to maintain its damaging "Indian" brand despite
calls for a name change from indigenous nations, Native peoples, retired players, civil rights
organizations, media outlets, and a sea change at the youth, amateur, university, and professional sports
levels. The group has persisted in its horrible past and perpetuated its racist history rather than
acknowledging Native Americans as they are. As shown in the video, Native Americans call themselves
many things, but they do not call themselves “Redskins”. (
Proud To Be (Mascots)
2014) It is disrespectful
and careless to use disparaging language and ethnic slurs. Those who are offended by these names or
images should not, in my opinion, move on. These mascots do contribute to the insensitive and
derogatory stereotypes of Native Americans, Irish, and women that are perpetuated. Though some
people or sports fans may find these names, mascots, and images exciting and fun, it is important to take
into account the feelings of Native Americans, the Irish, and women if they bother or annoy others.
These mascots are frequently used to disseminate misleading information about a particular community,
which is offensive and rude and must not be allowed. Certain mascots use derogatory stereotypes of
specific groups and should not be allowed.
National Congress of American Indians. (2014).
Proud To Be (Mascots)
.
YouTube
. Retrieved
November 22, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR-tbOxlhvE.
