Letter

Letter to DC Councilman Monique Wynn

November 20, 2013

Dear Monique Wynn,

                “The Whiteskins win the superbowl.” This is not a real newspaper headline, and Whiteskins is not a real sports team name. The name would never be used as a professional sport team name because it would offend so many people. If Whiteskins would never be an NFL sport team name because it is too offensive to many people, then Redskins should be no different. Sadly and unfortunately, the name has been the same for many years and mass amounts of people haven’t realized that it should be changed until lately. Although the team resides in and represents Washington D.C., it also represents Americans as a whole because professional teams like The Redskins have affected many elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and colleges and universities to use names that correlate with Native American terms. The history of the Native American people includes many losses due to the discovery of the new world, and the only way that Americans believe they are able to repay them is by using their name as sport team mascots. Using a Native American people as sport team names is offensive, racist, and an inappropriate depiction of the first settlers. A change in this beloved NFL team’s name would spark a change and the nation could be one step closer to total equality.

Reds has a dual meaning. It could refer to the color of Native Americans skin color, or to the history of Native Americans interaction with the white men. From earlier accounts, ‘red’ was referring to when the “traders and soldiers would bring Indian scalps, red with blood, back from battle in order to collect a bounty” (Native).  Native Americans have faced an oppressive history, and they are constantly reminded of that when the see that their name being used as team mascots, instead of a white name based mascot. One Native American decedent said, “American Indians are a people, not mascots for Amercias fun and games. We are human beings” (Teters). Even if only a few Native Americans believe that a Native American type mascot’s names should be changed, then we should respect their decision and change the names, no matter the cost. We owe the Native people a lot, and respecting their decisions is one step in leading to equality throughout every race.

A goal for the United States is to reach equality, for the fair treatment of all types of people. Title VI of The Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that  “no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance” (OASAM). Why then is the nation’s capital being represented by a stereotypical and discriminating image of a Native American? The law clearly states that no one should “be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity” (OASAM). Does this not include The Redskins team name? I believe that it should, because everyone deserves the right to equal and fair depiction of their group and using a group of people as a team name is discriminating because it singles them out.

There are a number of schools across the country that have names referring to the Native Americans, including the school in which I graduated high school from. Our mascot the Indian has seen some of its own controversies in my town. Recently there has been a debate on whether the name should stay, or if it is time for a change. Unfortunately, the ruling came to a decision that in these economic times changing the mascot would take away money needed for education. Even though the name can’t be changed the school has taken many steps to not discriminate against the Native American people. For example, the mascot costume includes an Indian head with a feather headdress and a large nose. This mascot is not to be used at sporting events because it is a stereotypical depiction of an Indian and it is not appropriate. If the school that I went to was able to decrease the amount of discrimination towards Native Americans, then I believe that the Washington D.C. Redskins are fully capable of taking steps toward changing the team’s nickname.

My hope and what I ask for you, is to encourage others to help start this change. By changing the name of a professional team it would be easier for elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and colleges and universities to do the same. In a society that loves its sports, the love for a team can become too strong that the identity of the team solely resides in the mascot. Even though mascots seem to mean a lot to a team, they are just unneeded symbols that people feel as if they can identify will. In truth, the players make up the team and true athleticism and focus will lead a team to victory. Therefore, in order to tend to the feelings of the Native American people and create a better name for them, changing the face of a team will not bring the team down; they will most likely be as good or as bad as they were before.

Sincerely,

A. Gibbs

Works Cited

"Native American Sports Mascots." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 12 Apr. 2002. Web. 6 Nov. 2013. <http://www.2facts.com/article/i0700800>.

"OASAM." OASAM. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

Teters, Charlene, ed. "National Coalition on Racism in Sports." American Indian Movement. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2013.