Argument Writing

For this segment of our English class we were asked to choose a side, in an ongoing controversy. The Native American mascot controversy. We were asked to pick a side in this topic and through research and writing, we were asked to defend it.

Jake Pearce

Ms. Bedford

English 9, Period 3

1 November 2019

The Natives Say No

America. The “Land of the Free '' and the place where everyone is equal, no matter their sexual orientation, race, religion, or how many toes they have. Many ask an important question about these American ideals. Are Native Americans also included in the freedom and equality that is the right of all Americans. More than any other race, Natives Americans, have always been the ones to be ignored or go unnoticed when it comes to their equality in America. The controversial subject of Native American mascots dates back to 1968 when the Indian Civil Rights Act took place. When Native American efforts for equal rights began to become effective, as they fought for their social equality and freedom overall. In 2013 there were an estimated 2,000 schools Native American themed mascots, compared to 3,000 being active 50 years ago. This is due to the recognition of how simply wrong it is to have Native American themed mascots. The use of the Native Americans as mascot is racist and detrimental because the names used can be found offensive by Native Americans, it depicts Native American as a violent, savage race, and using Native Americans and their culture as objects and symbols dehumanizes them.

The controversy over Native American mascots is clearly no new topic. Which is why many ask the question as to why they have not been retired by now. The names Native American themed teams refer to Natives as have received much attention because they are considered racist and offensive by the public today. One of the main teams targeted by protestors is the Washington D.C. Redskins NFL Team. A member of The Southern California Indian Center, in an interview concerning how Natives feel about the team's name, stated, “It’s having a team named after a racial slur” (Native Americans Review "Indian" Sports Mascots). The term “Redskin” is a dictionary defined racial slur since 2014. “Dictionary.com has recognized that the word's level of offensiveness has changed over the last half-century” (MTV News). Even the Dictionary is able to see that today, racial slurs like Redskin are simply not acceptable and should most definitely not be boasted and marketed like how it has been as Washington's teams mascot.

Much like the thousands of other teams who believe that it is acceptable to imitate and dishonor the culture of an entire race, the Atlanta Braves too cause problems for Native Americans. Those who follow the Atlanta Braves or have seen the team play have likely seen the teams logo. Anyone who knows of the sports team is likely being exposed to how the organization chooses to display their diminished overall image of Native Americans. A member of The Southern California Indian Center talked about his discomfort concerning how Natives feel about the team's logo, “It bothers me that like one of the main symbols people recognize about our people is a weapon.” The Atlanta Braves logo, which displays an Indian tomahawk depicts Native Americans as harmful or violent savages. The team associating a weapon with a group of people as their main logo is not acceptable or ethical overall and should be changed.

In an interview, another member of the SCIC stated, “They don’t do this with anyone else but animals and Native Americans.” (Native Americans Review “Indian” Sports Mascots). Using Native American people and culture to represent a team as its mascot is not only racist and offensive, but takes that racism to an entire other level when you realize that almost every mascot used is either an animal or a Native American. Teams create logos with obsessively outrageous features. When we see animal mascots that are shaped funnily or have silly colors it’s considered humorous. When we see Native Americans mascots with huge noses or skin as red as a firetruck, it is extremely unethical and racist. The teams with Native American mascots are dehumanizing and disgracing the very thing they choose to represent themselves as. It is not out of humorous intent that the many teams depict Native Americans the way they do, but out of lack of respect for their humanity.

Native American mascots are no new thing. They’ve been representing companies, organizations, and teams for hundreds of years. Throughout those hundreds of years though, times have changed. The racist nature of having Native American mascots is no longer acceptable in today's society. It is time for them to be eliminated completely and replaced by other, more ethical mascots. Native American mascots are clearly no longer acceptable in the world today for the offensive names and slurs used to describe them, the way they are displayed as savage or violent people, and for mimicking their culture and symbols as a way of dehumanizing them. It is time for change, for the greater good of the world and the human race.