Response to Ward Churchill’s Essay There are several reasons why Ward Churchill argues that names of sports teams such as “Braves”, “Indians”, and “Chiefs” are examples of outright racism and as insulting to Native Americans as the “Redskins” mascot. First, in real life, names of Indian Americans (in a combination with native symbols and images) are frequently used in a derogatory manner, depicting native Indians as inhuman, menacing, and grotesque. Using tribal names of Indian Americans helps to condition general public to view Native Americans as savages by associating names of tribes with dehumanizing, offensive, and derogatory practices. Second, although it may be argued that such names are intended to demonstrate respect for Native
