Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Weekend Contributor
Here is one ad that never aired during this year’s Super Bowl:
The Proud to Be video was made by Change the Mascot, a national campaign that was launched by the Oneida Nation. The video was released by the National Congress of American Indians a couple of days before this year’s Super Bowl. Change the Mascot’s aim is to end the use of the term “redskins” as the mascot for Washington, D. C.’s NFL team. The campaign “calls upon the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell to do the right thing and bring an end the use of the racial epithet.”
Not being a wealthy organization, the National Congress of American Indians couldn’t afford to “buy a television slot during the Super Bowl to run its ad.”
Writing for ThinkProgress on January 31, 2014, Alyssa Rosenberg said the following:
It’s a gorgeous ad, and it’s a strikingly effective illustration of why the word “Redskin” is so troublesome. It’s not just that the term has evolved from its origins as a basic explanation of physical difference, to a slur that was used to reduce Native Americans to the value of their skins, for which literal bounties were offered. In a less violent but no less significant sense, “Redskin” collapses the remarkable particularity of Native American experiences into a single identity and set of attributes.
The NCAI ad is a forceful and often beautiful reminder that Native Americans aren’t a monolithic community. That’s a term that subsumes hundreds of specific identities, a huge range of cultural and artistic practices–and yes, as the ad doesn’t neglect to leave out–specific sets of social and political issues.
“Native American” may be a blanket identity category, but it’s one that invites curiosity, asking hearers to consider what came before the political and territorial consolidation of the United States, and the fact that American identity is rich and multifaceted, rather than a single way of being. “Redskins” is both a slur, and a term that invites the listener to skip over the work of thinking about what it means. “Redskin” reduces Native Americans to simply the color of their skin, and to the attributes we associate with football (a practice that’s also a product of a very specific marketing history, as my colleague Travis Waldron reported in his epic look at the fight against the Washington football team’s name): physical strength, maybe speed, and not much else. Not only is that kind of thinking profoundly lazy and racially reductive, it’s a tragedy both for the people who are subjected to it, and the people who deny themselves the experience of more of the world by practicing it.
The NCAI ad is a reminder of precisely what they’re missing out on, making all of these points without having to spell them out the way I do here. That’s great advertising, in service of a critically important message.
Last May, Daniel Snyder, owner of Washington, D. C.’s NFL team was quoted as saying, “We will never change the name of the team.” He then repeated himself when a reporter followed-up on his comment, “We’ll never change the name. It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps.”
Then last June, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that the Washington Redskins‘ nickname was a “unifying force that stands for strength, courage, pride and respect.”
Clem Ironwing (Sioux) doesn’t think the word “redskin” is a term of respect. In 1996, he spoke at a public hearing in Wichita, Kansas, on the subject of Wichita North High School’s sports mascot. He talked to those present at the hearing about having been removed from his family by the government when he was a young child and forced to live in a Catholic boarding school. Matthew Richter posted the comments that Ironwing made at the hearing. Here is an excerpt of what Clem Ironwing said:
“When my hair was cut short by the priests, I was called a “redskin” and a savage. When I spoke my native tongue, I was beaten and called “redskin”. When I tried to follow the spiritual path of my people, I was again beaten and called a “redskin”. I was told by them to turn my back on the ways of my people, or I would forever be nothing but a dirty “redskin”.
“The only way “redskin” was ever used towards my people and myself was in a derogatory manner. It was never, ever, used in a show of respect or kindness. It was only used to let you know that you were dirty and no good, and to this day still is.
Is it time to change the mascot? What do you think?
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro
The views expressed in this posting are the author’s alone and not those of the blog, the host, or other weekend bloggers. As an open forum, weekend bloggers post independently without pre-approval or review. Content and any displays or art are solely their decision and responsibility.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Wichita North Redskins “Remarks by Clem Ironwing, Sioux, during a public Mascot/Identity Committee hearing.” (The People’s Path)
House Dem: ‘Redskins’ as offensive to Indians as ‘N’ word is to blacks (The Hill)
An open letter to Dan Snyder (Grantland)
The Harmful Psychological Effects of the Washington Football Mascot (Change the Mascot)
American Indian Boarding Schools Haunt Many (NPR)
Why ‘NEVER’ Abandoning ‘Redskins’ As His Team’s Name Might Soon Cost Dan Snyder A Lot Of Money (ThinkProgress)
Redskins, NFL Take Heat From Congress Over Team Name (Only a Game)
Members of Congress urge Redskins to change name (Big Story)
Read Roger Goodell’s Letter To Congress Defending The Redskins Name (DeadSpin)
NFL is ‘listening’ to those who oppose Redskins’ name, Roger Goodell says (Washington Post)
A slur or term of ‘honor’? Controversy heightens about Washington Redskins (CNN)
Bob Lutz: North High, it’s time to change the nickname (The Wichita Eagle)
The Other Redskins (Capital News Service)
Hundreds rally in Minn. against Redskins’ name (Yahoo/AP)
The Super Bowl Ad You Never Saw (Huffington Post)
ICTMN Exclusive: NCAI Releases R-word Video Ahead of Super Bowl (Indian Country Today Media Network)
Monk, Green: Mull name change (ESPN)
ENDING THE LEGACY OF RACISM IN SPORTS & THE ERA OF HARMFUL “INDIAN” SPORTS MASCOTS (National Congress of American Indians)
National Congress Of American Indians Releases Anti-Redskins Ad (Deadspin)
Here’s an ad about R–skins that its makers don’t have the money to show during Sunday’s Superbowl (Daily Kos)
The Best Ad You’ll See This Super Bowl Weekend (ThinkProgress)
The Epic Battle To Save The Most Offensive Team Name In Professional Sports (ThinkProgress)
Pat contributed:
“Senator Maria Cantwell, Democrat of Washington State and chairwoman of the Indian Affairs Committee, said in an interview on Sunday that lawmakers would “definitely” examine the N.F.L.’s tax-exempt status and other ways to pressure the league.”
~+~
While I agree that it is something congress can debate I take strong exception to a senator threatening an entity with tax consequences if they don’t do what politicians in Congress want. That is a flagrant violation of the First Amendment rights of the NFL. Tow the line, or we will investigate you and put you out of business. And given the recent news of acusations of the IRS unfairly targeting certain non-profits or political groups this statement by Senator Cantwell gives some credence to the position tax and regulator investigations are used as tools of politicians for political purposes.
I agree the NFL’s structure as a tax exempt entity is questionable, but threatening them if they don’t change a teams name with tax consequences is not a practice of a government I would like to see.
Maybe if Congress takes away the non-profit status of the NFL, the Redskins owner may realize never say never.
Charlton,
Yes! Times change…and people change. Some would prefer that people who were once silent remain silent. Why should they speak out now? Why should they express their opinions in the media? Why should they organize a campaign against an NFL team? How elitist of them!
The fact that the activist group NAACP doesn’t speak for all or even most “colored people” is pretty basic knowledge. They’re elitists w/ many agendas, the wants of needs of regular folks being down on the list. The Italian Anti-Defamation League is a joke and speaks for only elitist Italians. The list goes on, but that will do for this argument since I don’t know if this will get posted.
Elaine & Pat,
The Internet has become a force that did not even exist in its present form until about ten or twelve years ago. The rise of the internet has been a powerful influence on information and sharing of opinions and ideas. Few native reservations had widespread internet connections until recently. The ability of geographically dispersed people to talk among themselves about the things that affect them is something new, that did not exist when those polls were taken.
Thanks, Charlton.
Pat,
I noted in my earlier comment to nick that fewer than 800 Native Americans were polled…and that the poll was done a decade ago.
Change the Mascot: Pressure Grows for NFL Team to Drop Redskins Name and Logo As Thousands Protest
Elaine and Nick, thanks for the polling information. However, in a 10 year period of time perception and opinions on issues can dramatically change. Look at the polling for marijuana legalization over the last ten years,
Lawmakers Press N.F.L. on Name Change for Washington Redskins
Excerpt:
WASHINGTON — Two members of Congress plan to send a strongly worded letter to the commissioner of the National Football League on Monday urging him to support changing the name of the Washington Redskins because it offends Native Americans and others, with one lawmaker saying she might reconsider the league’s tax-exempt status if it does not comply.
Senator Maria Cantwell, Democrat of Washington State and chairwoman of the Indian Affairs Committee, said in an interview on Sunday that lawmakers would “definitely” examine the N.F.L.’s tax-exempt status and other ways to pressure the league.
“You’re getting a tax break for educational purposes, but you’re still embracing a name that people see as a slur and encouraging it,” Ms. Cantwell said.
In a copy of the letter released on Sunday, Ms. Cantwell and Representative Tom Cole, Republican of Oklahoma and a member of the Native American Caucus, chided the N.F.L. commissioner, Roger Goodell, for his recent remark that the name of the team, based near Washington, D.C., “honored” Native Americans.
“The N.F.L. can no longer ignore this and perpetuate the use of this name as anything but what it is: a racial slur,” they said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/10/us/politics/2-lawmakers-urge-nfl-to-change-washington-redskins-name.html?emc=edit_tnt_20140209&tntemail0=y&_r=0
Elaine,
This is a fellow who had a lot of influence on my thinking. Rolling Thunder. He wasn’t just a man, he was a force of nature. Of course, there are some who might call him an “elitist.” Once maybe, but not twice. He passed away in 1997 at the age of 81. He didn’t think much of the Washington team name either.
Sorry. I can’t retrieve comments from the spam filter. Two of mine are stuck in it too.
Help. I’ve had 2 responses to Elaine eaten.
Wow! American Indians who are activists for a cause they believe in or who are political are “elitists.” Damn it! They should know their place in society and just keep quiet. Paraphrasing Sam Levenson: When we want American Indians’ opinion on something–we’ll give it to them.
Whiteskins would be fine w/ me. I have no problem w/ the Fighting Irish. I’m half Irish. How ’bout you raff, you got a problem w/ the Fighting Irish??
Lol @ Raff’s ‘Whiteskins’
From that group of “elitist” American Indians known as the National Congress of American Indians:
ENDING THE LEGACY OF RACISM IN SPORTS & THE ERA OF HARMFUL “INDIAN” SPORTS MASCOTS (October 2013)
http://www.ncai.org/attachments/PolicyPaper_mijApMoUWDbjqFtjAYzQWlqLdrwZvsYfakBwTHpMATcOroYolpN_NCAI_Harmful_Mascots_Report_Ending_the_Legacy_of_Racism_10_2013.pdf
Excerpt from the Executive Summary:
“Indian” sports brands used by professional teams were born in an era when racism and bigotry were accepted by the dominant culture. These brands which have grown to become multi-million dollar franchises were established at a time when the practice of using racial epithets and slurs as marketing slogans were a common practice among white owners seeking to capitalize on cultural superiority and racial tensions.
Over the last fifty years a ground swell of support has mounted to bring an end to the era of racist and harmful “Indian” mascots in sports and popular culture. Today, that support is stronger than ever. Rooted in the civil rights movement, the quest for racial equality among American Indian and Alaska Native people began well before the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) established a campaign in 1968 to bring an end to negative and harmful stereotypes in the media and popular culture. While these advances have been positive, equality still remains elusive in everyday life for Native peoples.
Samantha states: ‘perhaps it’s karma collecting on a debt’
Really? Are you serious? Could you be any more apologetic?Wow…SMH….
Great job Elaine. I think we would name a team the Whiteskins. Maybe that would change some minds.
Activists, political, Indians. Those are the elitists of which I speak. Know any Indians, Elaine?? I know many. I have them to my house for dinner. Ever been to a res? I’ve been to @ least 20, probably more.