What if a high school or university wasn't interested in doing these types of cultural exchanges and educational efforts? This is NOT honoring Native American's, this is a virulent racist practice and should be banned. For example, on May 13,WFTS-TV News in Floridas Tampa Bay region noted that in the Hillsborough County Schools (which includes the city of Tampa), five elementary schools and one middle school decided to drop their Native-themed nicknames. Conserving Marine Life in the United States, International Boreal Conservation Campaign, Protecting Coastal Wetlands and Coral Reefs, U.S. Public Lands and Rivers Conservation, All Stateline stories are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (. People thought a Native American was this savage less-than-human.. (In Oregon, schools are required to get a tribes permission to use or keep a Native American mascot.) They also have areas on campus that are dedicated to the presence of the Chippewa Nation. The symbols, images and mascots teach non-Indian children that it's acceptable to participate in culturally abusive behavior and perpetuate inaccurate misconceptions about American Indian culture. in entertainment and commerce. Why native american mascots should be banned essay - excellent idea First Nation people do not feel any why native american mascots should be banned essay at this association. Not every school that uses such nicknames is being disrespectful; in a few cases, the nicknames have the blessing of a local tribe, or are using by Native school themselves. The Redskin mascot almost disappeared in June of 2013 when the superintendent of the Teton School District unilaterally declared it would be replaced with something not considered offensive to. As a cheerleader, she was expected to lead a chant of Stomp the Wamps, but she couldnt bring herself to say the words. In the 1970's and 1980's, the Cleveland Indians mascot would come out of his tee-pee and do a dance when Cleveland hit. Its sponsor, Democratic state Rep. Debra Lekanoff, a member of the Tlingit tribe, said more than 30 schools in the state had Indigenous mascots when she introduced the bill. How to Argue Against Racist Mascots - Everyday Feminism When you see people stealing and misusing it, it feels very hostile and painful.. On May 17, 2019, Maine became the first to ban state-wide the use of Native American mascots at public schools and all colleges and universities. Maine Just Banned Native American Mascots, declared a headline in the May 22 New York Times. The new UW studies surveyed peoples attitudes relative to the removal of two other well-known mascots: the Cleveland Indians Chief Wahoo, eliminated from uniforms and merchandising in 2018; and the University of Illinois Chief Illiniwek, discontinued in 2007. They kept the part that said schools needed to get tribal permission if there was a complaint about their nicknames, but did create bigger bureaucratic hurdles for a complaint to be brought in the first place. We have the fifth- or sixth-largest Indian-owned casino in the Midwest, so we're rather successful when it comes to our economic growth and development. Why Native American Mascots Should Be Banned - Wakelet From time immemorial, the greatness of tribal nations and Native people has been the foundation of America's story. People around the United States are trying to get professional sport teams to change their names and mascots because they feel it depicts their certain race in bad way. It's just brutally tiring to go district by district and to face the racism and the backlash from people who are very attached to a mascot.. Native American mascots and nicknames are inherently harmful to Native children, Sports journalism's foremost uniform reporter. The measure passed with a bipartisan 92-5 vote and now heads to the Senate for consideration. Native American Mascots Should Be Banned | ipl.org High school, college, amateur and pro leagues should ban any and all Native American mascots/logos. There are many sports teams and schools that use Native American themed mascots. Despite decades of work to eliminate the use of discrimination and derogatory images in American sports, the practice has not gone away. This is because of the stress experienced from ongoing discrimination from racial slurs, racial harassment, and bullying. The Fight to Ban Native American Mascots Is Very Local, And - Forbes The mascots can also impair race relations in the United States, claims Stephanie Fryberg, a cultural and social psychology scholar, based on studies she's completed. First, Native American people see this as a chance for dialogue and conflict resolution. Why Native American Mascots Should Be Banned. National Congress of American Indians: Ending the Legacy of Racism in Sports and the Era of Harmful "Indian" Sports Mascots, Basic and Applied Social Psychology: Of Warrior Chiefs and Indian Princesses: The Psychological Consequences of American Indian Mascots, Talking Chop: The Origin of the Braves' Name. Next, This gives people to have an insight on Native American culture. That's the wonderful thing about having our own free will and personal opinion. Here's why Native American mascots are inappropriate 4. According to Stephanie Fryberg, PhD, University of Arizona, this appears to have a negative impact on the self-esteem of American Indian children, "American Indian mascots are harmful not only because they are often negative, but because they remind American Indians of the limited ways in which others see them. Racism or Honor: Native American Mascots and Logos. Native American mascots are dehumanizing and need to be banned Subsequent studies have shown how experiencing a positive stereotype can make people expect future prejudicial treatment. However, there is plenty of work yet to doespecially in the realm of professional sports. Nonpartisan forever. If you liked this column, you'll probably like his daily Uni Watch web site, plus you can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Lancaster High School students skipped classes and, walked along the perimeter of the school to protest the districts dropping of the schools nickname and mascot Thursday, March 19, 2015, in Lancaster, N.Y. Such mascots are a contemporary example of prejudice by the dominant culture against racial and ethnic minority groups. At least with Maines statewide ban, there is legislative recognition that using people as mascots certainly, without their consent or approval is not acceptable. I think everyone, collectively, can have a voice in this. So far, mascot bills have passed only in states with Democratic majorities, though some legislation has drawn significant bipartisan support. They shouldn't have that privilege if they're not going to celebrate where it comes from. Everything we've discussed so far is about schools, which can offer the type of educational programs you've mentioned. Bias against Native Americans spikes when mascots are removed Some mascots should be banned because they are stereotypical This in turn restricts the number of ways American Indians can see themselves.". Instead, these findings could inform how to approach removing mascots so as to mitigate racist attitudes and actions. In 2005, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the governing body of college athletics, formally condemned the use of disparaging mascots and banned the use of Indian names, logos, and mascots during its championship tournaments. According to the lawsuit, John and Jane Doe, who are of Cherokee and Chippewa descent, attend Yuma High School in northeast Colorado, which is home to the "Yuma Indians." What would your feelings be about their use of Native imagery? The effect on children is appalling. Absolutely. The school board voted this week to retire it altogether after three nearby districts with sizable numbers of Native American students canceled lacrosse matches. He said all traces of the mascot would be removed and tasked the high school with coming up with something new. But some lawmakers argue that the mascots are harmless or honor Indigenous people. (202) 336-5700, Ethnicity, Race, and Cultural Affairs Portfolio Jay Inslee, the ban would take effect Jan. 1. "The use of American Indian mascots as symbols in schools and university athletic programs is particularly troubling because schools are places of learning. I celebrate that diversity of opinion, because I think it makes us more well-rounded. (In 2015, California banned the use of the Redskins nickname, but did not disallow all Native imagery.) The discontinued use of American Indian mascots is a gesture to show that this kind of racism toward and the disrespect of, all people in our country and in the larger global context, will not be tolerated," said Lisa Thomas, PhD, APA Committee on Ethnic and Minority Affairs. I hope that that the people who might disagree with me or see my no vote, will not see it as a vote of disrespect, but rather a sign of respect and honor, he said. Shes now leading her tribes efforts to support a statewide bill that would ban the use of Indigenous mascots in public schools. Newcomb is a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag. Toledo High School, whose teams were known as the Indians, counts many members of the nearby Cowlitz Tribe as fans and alums. Maine indeed, in mid-May, became the first state to ban its public schools from using Native American nicknames and imagery. Seven states have some form of mascot ban for public schools, and in some cases, for state universities, according to the National Congress of American Indians. I am on the side that Native American mascots should not be changed. Some lawmakers said harm to students underscored the urgency to act. Everyone quoted in the article was opposed to the use of such imagery, which led many readers to ask why I hadn't given equal time to the other side. I think Native American mascots shouldn't be allowed because they're insulting to rthe real natives and keep the stereotype that natives are savages. Should non-Natives have a voice in this debate? Co-authors of the study were Jamie Arndt and Peter Helm of the University of Missouri. Why Mascots Should Be Banned Essay - StudyBoss It's been frustrating how hard it is to get some school systems to make the change, she said. More than 2,000 mascots referencing Indigenous terms and images are estimated to exist in the U.S. today, from high school to pro sports, including the Atlanta Braves, with their tomahawk chop chant that gained renewed attention during the 2021 World Series. Native Americans are still fighting for what they believe and will not give up until they see justice. Use of Native American Mascots Should be Banned | 123 Help Me One thing that weighed heavily on my mind was the research showing that Native American mascots are harmful to Native American children.. As I'm sure you're aware, there's an increasing movement to have the Washington Redskins football team change its name. As the nation's oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization, NCAI has long held a clear position against derogatory and harmful stereotypes of Native people - including sports mascots - in media and popular culture. Should Indian Mascots be Banned? - blog.lrei.org The lawsuit also states that the use of positive Native American symbolism is a form of "reappropriation" or a way to "reclaim names and images that were once directed at them as insults in order to turn them outward as badges of pride.". Daily update original reporting on state policy, plus the day's five top reads from around the web. When a school or sports team chooses an Indian mascot, they are often doing so because the team emulates the characteristics they wish to embody in their team, even if they aren't based on facts. That's why we needed to do the bill, she said. Moses Lake (WA) Unveils "Mavericks" Imagery, Lyme Central (NY) Adopts "Lakers" as New Mascot, "Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascotting", Native Appropriation in Sport: Cultivating Bias Toward American Indians**NEW** ", - Former APA President Ronald F. Levant, EdD. From time immemorial, the greatness of tribal nations and Native people has been the foundation of Americas story. I was curious to learn more, so I contacted the Saginaw Chippewas and spoke with their public relations director, Frank Cloutier. The question today is "Should the use of Native American mascots be banned?" Yes, it should be banned. The time to ban these mascots and start truthful conversations on the history of the United States is now. Indigenous rights activists say even nicknames, such as Warriors, that arent outright slurs still foment stereotypes of Native Americans as primitive or bloodthirsty, and often are accompanied by offensive imagery. Chris Rust, the districts superintendent, said the school consulted with the tribe, but found that even Cowlitz members were divided about whether the mascot should stay. Frank Cloutier: Our tribe was formed with the ratification of our constitution in 1936. Finally, many Native Americans feel that the names are not offensive. Is a form of discrimination against American Indian Nations that can lead to negative relations between groups. 1083 words Read More Maryland residents set only a slightly higher bail for the case in their home state than they did for the Cleveland or Kansas City scenarios. The school teaches and celebrates Cowlitz history. I write about youth sports under the title: Your Kid's Not Going Pro. Use of Native American Mascots Should be Banned - 3821 Words Essay. Native American themed mascots such as Braves and Warriors should not be used due to the misrepresentation they give of Indians. The National Congress of American Indians says there are about 1,900 schools nationwide that continue to use tribal mascots. They're not in the education business. But it's true that there are some Native Americans who are fine with the use of Native imagery in sports. Using a culture for a mascot is not a form of honor. This is what we call privilege. New research shows how Native American mascots reinforce stereotypes Psychology Today: The Native American Mascot: Tribute or Stereotype? Changing the mascot won't change the history of the school or team. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. ", But Melissa Ferretti, chair of the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe, said having a caricatured image of a Native person is not honoring.. June 2021 This misrepresentation would not be acceptable for any other minority community in America and NCAI will continue to oppose the use of offensive Native mascots and imagery that promote harmful stereotypes. 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Copyright 1996-2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts. But the World Seriesfeaturing the Atlanta Braves and their unrepentant embrace of the tomahawk chop chantserved as a reminderthat many fans are still attached to such depictions. Mascots seem to be the only Natives that America cares about. However, by the time that ban took place, no schoolwas intending to use them. And there are those who see, as I do, the opportunities for outreach and healthy dialogue. American Indian Mascots - American Psychological Association Without an enthusiastic endorsement of our old mascot, I didnt feel like we should continue, he said. In 2005, the American Psychological Association called for an end to the use of such mascots. Personally, as a Jew I would take offense to this and I'm hoping everyone else would. That may have been due, Jimenez and his co-authors wrote, to the fact that the NCAA, not the team, made the decision to discontinue the mascot, which affected teams across the country because it banned any team with a Native American mascot from appearing on TV. (The Cleveland Indians during the 2021 season announced a name change to the Guardians.). Paul Lukas promises that his next column will not be about Native American imagery. why native american mascots should not be banned - KS Sousa Honor Band One of the largest genocides in world history happened right here on American soil, and it happened to Native Americans. Some schools and sports teams chose a Native American mascot name with the intent to honor this population of people, as well as to educate the public about the importance of these populations. For example, the name "Redskins" suggests that all Native Americans had red skin, which isn't the case. July 2020 To support this argument, consider the team names based on religion, such as the Saints, or the names based on other historical cultures, such as the Vikings and Celtics, which are less of a controversial topic, the Psychology Today website notes. However, in the case where mascots refer to a particular Native nation or nations, NCAI respects the right of individual tribal nations to work with universities and athletic programs to decide how to protect and celebrate their respective tribal heritage. There should not be Indian mascots because the mascots are stereotypical, the clothing is very excessive, and the names can be very racist. But if they're using an image that evokes spirit and competition, and they've celebrated the culture, then they've done their job and they've earned the right to proudly display that logo. Use of Native American Mascots Should be Banned | 123 Help Me I have to chuckle when I hear that. Among the many topics Project Implicit covers are ideas about and bias against Native Americans. July 2021 She started writing in 2007 and has been published in Teaching Tolerance magazine. Some predominantly Indigenous communities and tribal schools also use Native mascots. For decades, NCAI largely focused its efforts on ending Indian mascots at the professional level, directing specific attention to the former mascot of the NFLs Washington "Commanders". Sara Ipatenco has taught writing, health and nutrition. I remember seeing lots of racist reactions to the Cleveland Indians decision to discontinue their mascot Chief Wahoo, said Tyler Jimenez, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Washington and leader on both studies, which were published Dec. 10 in Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. Starting in 2022, they would not be able to purchase uniforms that include the old mascot or name. A fiscal note attached to the bill notes that costs to school districts would vary based on the number of items that would need to be replaced, including sports and club uniforms, flags, banners and other materials. Certain Indian mascots, such as the NFL Washington Redskins, can be viewed as disrespectful or derogatory. The discontinued use of American Indian mascots is a gesture to show that this kind of racism toward and the disrespect of, all people in our country and in the larger global context, will not be tolerated," said Lisa Thomas, PhD, APA Committee on Ethnic and Minority Affairs.