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)
I find it the hight of hypocrisy to pretend to be concerned about the plight of people whom one is so comfortable using ethnic slurs against. Not believable for one moment.
Must have been some elitist PC folk who pushed to get that inappropriate high school team mascot changed.
The Pekin, IL. High School mascot was The Chinks up until the 1980’s.
Bruce, As I said earlier, the Indian reservations have SO MANY NEEDS. Some of them live in abject poverty and the substance abuse, suicide rate is an abomination. But, some folks feel good trying to get a name changed. They’ve never been to a reservation or even know any Indians. If they did they would see just how wasted their energy is when it could be used substantively. But, that would be HARD WORK. This is PC stuff is much cleaner.
Bron, A thread winner!!!
Bron,
Don’t forget–with Liberace, you also celebrate Poles.
This isn’t anything new. Some people have been trying to get the name changed for years. I had read somewhere while doing my research for this post that the Oneida Nation had come into money–via casinos–and is funding the new “Change The Mascot” campaign.
Elaine M.,
I think you have done a great service bringing the video ad to the public, but in real terms of exploit there are much more serious considerations. As far as this issue is actually concerned, it only serves as a vehicle to start communication that is neglected chronically by media. People think this is history but it is happening right now. To me, making a crisis over a football name has some relevance but not much significance compared to what is substantially happening to the Native peoples of North, Central and South America. There actually ARE things that can be supported that WILL make things better…support that makes a national consciousness out of a historic disgrace.
Read for example: http://www.indianz.com/News/2013/009206.asp
LMAO @ Bron!!!
You need to have new rules: no white or black sheets and no cone hats!
nick:
how long have the Redskins been in Washington? 70-80 years? Why are people just now getting upset about it?
I say change it to the Washington Whities or Washington Rednecks and be done with it. No one ever names a team Crackers, Rednecks, Whities or Pale Faces.
Maybe call them the Washington Pale Faces and have Liberace as the mascot?
That way we celebrate whites, gays, and Italians in one go round. White Polacks from Pittsburg already have a team; The Steelers. I think Warriors, Braves, Indians, etc has been way over used and animal names are as well.
It is a wonder PeTA hasnt chimed in about the Dolphins, Tigers, Bears and Panthers.
We have all of this white privilege and we cant even get a sports team named after us, WTF is going on?
Dr. OS,
And Dr. Charles K is one of the most conservative individuals on FoxNews. If he said it is offensive, and should be removed, Mr. Snyder should have focus group, thinking of some names: The Washington Filibusters, Washington Think Tanks, Washington Gridlocks, Washington Budget Busters, Washington Cheapos, Washington Plutocrats, Washington Tax Havens, Washington Money Wasters,……
Great Articles by Elaine, Van Pelt, and Anonymous Posted!
I have NEVER called an Indian a Redskin. I never heard the word “beaner” until moving to an area where there are Mexicans. When I lived in New England growing up it was Puerto Ricans, no Mexicans. The term beaner is merely a reference to Mexican’s love of beans. It’s pretty low on the normal person scale. Who the hell knows w/ PC people. Their acceptable words change daily. I think there must be a daily newsletter. Wetback is a low blow. My son has been called beaner, wetback, spic, etc. I’ve been called wop, dago, greaseball, guinea, etc. They’re just words. I certainly hated it when my son was called those things. But, I taught him what my old taught me when I was called those names. “At least they’re saying it to your face. It’s the ones who smile and call you those things behind your back that you have to identify and watch.” Controlling what people say is antithetical to everything I believe. Finally, one is not an elitist because they don’t use a non PC word. They are an elitist when they try and tell other people not to.
https://new.ted.com/talks/aaron_huey
Right on, Elaine. The mascot name change is just the beginning — perhaps the privileged white people understand as much in their atavistic souls — from small beginings . . .
Work is getting underway to do away with or change Columbus Day.
From the Department of the Interior: Indian Affairs
http://www.bia.gov/FAQs/
What is a federal Indian reservation?
In the United States there are three types of reserved federal lands: military, public, and Indian. A federal Indian reservation is an area of land reserved for a tribe or tribes under treaty or other agreement with the United States, executive order, or federal statute or administrative action as permanent tribal homelands, and where the federal government holds title to the land in trust on behalf of the tribe.
Approximately 56.2 million acres are held in trust by the United States for various Indian tribes and individuals. There are approximately 326 Indian land areas in the U.S. administered as federal Indian reservations (i.e., reservations, pueblos, rancherias, missions, villages, communities, etc.). The largest is the 16 million-acre Navajo Nation Reservation located in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The smallest is a 1.32-acre parcel in California where the Pit River Tribe’s cemetery is located. Many of the smaller reservations are less than 1,000 acres.
Some reservations are the remnants of a tribe’s original land base. Others were created by the federal government for the resettling of Indian people forcibly relocated from their homelands. Not every federally recognized tribe has a reservation. Federal Indian reservations are generally exempt from state jurisdiction, including taxation, except when Congress specifically authorizes such jurisdiction.
Bruce,
Who has implied that everything will be all better by changing the mascot of an NFL team?
Red Lake Nation Tribal Members Blockade Enbridge Pipelines
Talk is cheap: hide the words and it is all better? What have all these clean-at the-mouth cosmopolitan people done to correct the foundational fallacy of their own history?
http://nativeamericanhistory.about.com/od/reservationlife/a/Facts-About-Indian-Reservations.htm
[excerpt]
“Contrary to popular opinion, reservations are not lands given to Indians by the United States government. Quite the opposite is true; land was given to the U.S. by the tribes through treaties. What are now reservations is the land retained by the tribes after the treaty-based land cessions (not to mention other mechanisms by which the U.S. seized Indian lands without consent). Indian reservations are created in one of three ways: By treaty, by executive order of the President, or by an act of Congress.
Land in Trust
Based on federal Indian law, Indian reservations are lands held in trust for tribes by the federal government. This problematically means that the tribes technically do not own title to their own lands, but the trust relationship between tribes and the U.S. dictates that the U.S. has a fiduciary responsibility to administer and manage the lands and resources to the best advantage of the tribes.
Historically, the U.S. has failed miserably in its management responsibilities. Federal policies have led to massive land loss and gross negligence in resource extraction on reservation lands. For example, uranium mining in the southwest has led to dramatically increased levels of cancer in the Navajo Nation and other Pueblo tribes.”
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Talk is cheap.
And Mr. Spinelli – you just don’t get it. There’s a time and a place……you seem to have been absent during that module.