Argumentative Writing

Melissa Schneider

Ms. Bedford

English 9, period 1

7 November 2019

Native American Mascots are Racist and Detrimental

Recently there has been a ton of controversy over national sport teams using Native American mascots. Native Americans have been looked down upon all throughout history and its getting worse. The use of Native American mascots is racist and detrimental because Native Americans are stereotyped as wild savages when they aren't, it allows racial slurs like Redskin to be used regularly because that's how society has stereotyped Native Americans, and its detrimental and undermining to their culture as well as their lives.

Native Americans are stereotyped as wild savages when they aren't. Throughout the years Native Americans have been viewed as wild and uncivilized. They have been stereotyped to look a certain way and act a certain way. In an article about schools changing their mascots, Thomas Kensok said, ̈The treatment of Indians in this country, said trustee Thomas Kensok, is not something to be proud of. It's a dark stain on our history ̈ (Brinkerhoff). As said here how we have treated Native Americans in the past is completely disrespectful and we should be very ashamed.

Many agree that the mascots set stereotypes that are completely untrue. ̈But opponents say the mascots perpetuate stereotypes that are void of context and history ̈ (Basu). In reality Native Americans are just like everyone else. They go to school, have families, and they are just as civilized as anyone else. Native Americans have been stereotyped for so long, they do not deserve any of it because they are just like anyone else.

Racial slurs, such as the use of Redskins, are being used too much because that's how society has stereotyped Native Americans as. Society has developed this idea of Native Americans being this one thing and since then, people have become a little too comfortable with using racial slurs against Natives with or without realizing they are. Racial slurs such as Redskins is defined as a racial slur in the dictionary. ̈But the Marriam-Webster dictionary says this: The word Redskin is very offensive and should be avoided. And to many Native Americans, nothing could be more derogatory than the use of that word ̈ (Basu). ̈ ̈To those in favor of dropping the mascots, particularly at schools using Redskins, the argument is simple. It’s offensive. “Redskin” is a racial slur. People aren’t mascots ̈(Cincinnati Enquirer). When people are offended by something it shouldn't be used again, this should be common knowledge, but in some way Native Americans being offended just doesn't matter as much to some people. This needs to be known by everyone, that racial slurs against anyone isn't right and shouldnt be used at all.

Using Native American Mascots is also detrimental and undermining to the Native American culture and their lives. Many, if not most, Native Americans take offense to these mascots. ¨...the argument is equally clear. It's a matter of heritage, of tradition, of who we are and how we got here ̈ (Cincinnati Enquirer). This tells us that people are realizing how much this is hurting the Native American culture and what they have done to them. ̈After that, she said, her family started getting late-night, threatening phone calls. And someone trashed their yard and killed trees they had just planted ̈ (Cincinnati Enquirer). This is terrible, Native Americans have worked so hard to be seen as the way they want to be seen and people just don't respect their culture or heritage. People have the audacity to do this to people who are just trying to live their lives, just like anyone else. Native Americans worked so hard to be respected in this time, but if we can do that then it is just sad.

Native American mascots are still offensive and harmful. The mascots are still hurting Native Americans when they have expressed this many times because many people disagree. These people disagreeing have not experienced what the Native Americans are feeling though. All this being said there is still lots of arguments for each side and the controversy over the Native American Mascots is still going on. There needs to be a change and it needs to happen quick, try and help change around you to help everyone.

Works Cited

Basu, Moni. “Native American Mascots: Pride or Prejudice?” CNN, 14 Apr. 2013.

Brinkerhoff, Noelle. School Board Votes to Abolish Logos for Napa High Indians and Redwood Warriors. 22 Mar. 2018.

Sparling, Hannah, and Carol Motsinger. Tribute or Racial Slur: Is It Time for Schools to Give up Native American Mascots? 11 June 2018.

Reflection

This essay was good to write about because I think it gave students a nice start to get back into writing essays. This topic was good because it made me think about what others were dealing with. I think my time mnagement for this was very well becuase I wrote different parts at different times, allowing me to get each part done efficiently and precisely. I think I was very well organized during this unit aswell as planning out when and what I was doing for this essay. This improved my writing because I was able to analyse things which helped to make me a better thinking and have a better work ethic. I think my main plan was to do what I could on my rough draft and use a lot of feedback on my final. This helped me become better at communicating and getting help from others. This book helped a lot with cultural competence because we learned about other races and how they are effected thorughout life while they are just normal people like everyone else. Overall this unit helped my writing very well and made me become a much better writer.