I am somewhat torn on this issue. For the most part, I think if the team has the support of the group that they are representing (IE: Florida State — the Seminole tribe) approves of the use of their likeness, there should be no problem with it.
I take more issue with those teams that use the likeness of Native Americans in derogatory ways, such as the Redskins or the Cleveland Indians.
Think about the use of Redskins, would using the color of a skin to name a team be accpeted if it were describing any other group besides Native Americans? The Blackskins? The Whiteskins?
And then the issue with teams being called Indians is that the term is not even really correct. Of course, Cleveland Indians sounds a lot better than the Cleveland Native Americans.
At the same time I agree with what many people have said already about the names being a symbol of pride and honor. I don't think many if any teams choose a tribe name or something similar with disrespectful intent. Although I'm not actually Native American, I would feel honored if a team wanted to name itself after my people.
Again, like I already said, I think each name should be examined on a case-by-case basis. I don't think one can just say all sports names referencing Native Americans are good or all are bad.
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I think that is a very good point on the Redskins. That is a much more derogatory term than chiefs or fighting illini. Some of the ways these mascots are depicted, such as the extremely red face of the Cleveland indians, can be very derogatory and stereotpyical as well. Stereotypes are a big part of the reason I believe that the native americans take offense to some of these mascots.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with James and Jordan when they said that stereotypes play a huge role in the feelings that Native Americans feel towards sport teams such as the Redskinds, Indians, and Cheifs etc.I think that no matter what race, when someone degrates them in some way, their feelings are going to be hurt because that may be their way of life. Who are we to say it is right or wrong, because they could say my way of living is wrong in the same sense. So stereotypes play a huge role in this situation.
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