What Is This Controversy over the Washington R??????s Name?

Washington Redskins Mascot Poster

According to WIKIPEDIA, the term "Redskin" was used by English-speaking people to refer to Native Americans during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Originally when applied to the Algonquins, it didn't refer to skin color, but to the color of face and body paint they used. Between 1875 and 1930, books published around that time show an increasingly pejorative use of the term to imply such characteristics as dirty and lying, while the combination of "noble Redskin" became used in a patronizing way. Today, many consider the term "Redskin" to be a racial insult. As with all racial insults, it really shouldn't be a name of a professional sports team.

Okay, so take a look at the Washington R??????s poster. Okay, if that depicted people with your ethnic background, what would you think? Would this be okay with you? Then, look at the R??????s helmet, with the logo. Does that look like a cartoon, or caricature? Why would you want people from your ethnicity to be depicted that way?

Sportscaster Bob Costas

So, why this controversy and why now? Well, last weekend Bob Costas brought up the issue during halftime at the Washington R??????s vs Dallas Cowboys game on "Sunday Night Football". Specifically Mr. Costas stated, " But think for a moment about the term “Redskins,” and how it truly differs from all the others. Ask yourself what the equivalent would be, if directed toward African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, or members of any other ethnic group. When considered that way, “Redskins” can't possibly honor a heritage, or noble character trait, nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term. It’s an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present-day intent." So, if this is the case, why have that as the name of your football team?

The Washington Redskins logo

But, it's one thing for a sportscaster to give his opinion, but what do Native Americans feel? The National Congress of American Indians focused on the perception of young Native Americans in a report "Ending the Legacy of Racism in Sports & the Era of Harmful 'Indian' Sports Mascots", "The report also reviews in-depth studies that show the harm negative stereotypes and “Indian” sports mascots have on Native youth. The rate of suicide is highest for Native young people at 18 percent, twice the rate of the next highest of 8.4 percent among non-Hispanic white youth." Although Bob Burns, who is an elder in the Blackfeet tribe had been quoted as saying that the issue was silly and the name and mascot don't bother him, he also contended that he was misquoted. He really felt this way, "'Redskins' is part of that mentality from colonial times when our people were hunted by soldiers and mercenaries who were paid for the scalps of our men, women and children. How can anyone claim this is a proud tradition to come from?  The labels, racism and hatred that Indian people continue to experience are directly tied to those racial slurs." In my opinion, when it concerns a specific group of people and those people are offended in this manner, it is time to listen to those people, our Native Americans, and drop the name, which they find so offensive.

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