Native Americans. They lived in America before it was even called America. They taught the Pilgrims how to farm and influenced the Pilgrim's’ way of life. But, after the Native American exodus from their indigenous lands, onto government issued reservations, they have been ridiculed and called racist names. Now people have decided to use those racist names to represent sports teams. They claim that are honoring Native Americans by using names that reference Native American tribes. Even though some people believe they are admiring Native Americans, professional sports teams should not use names and mascots that are offensive and racist to Native Americans. The Cleveland Indians settled on Indians for their new nickname in 1901 (History
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A significant 81 percent of Native Americans who live outside traditional Indian reservations and 53 percent of Indians on reservations did not even find the names to be all that offensive (Summary of the APA Resolution Recommending Retirement of American Indian Mascots). Authors of Sports Illustrated wrote, "Although most Native American activists and tribal leaders consider Indian team names and mascots offensive, neither Native Americans in general nor a cross section of U.S. sports fans agree" (Price 66-71). According to the article, there is a near total disconnect between Indian activists and the Native American population on this issue. There are some who still do not see why these names and mascots are offensive. John Two-Hawks, a Native American writer and singer, explained how people should view this if they do not understand it. “Sports announcers on TV regularly say out loud the word 'red****s' like it is nothing, when in fact that word is every bit as toxic to us as n****r is to African Americans” (Two-Hawks). People have become desensitized to using a word like Redskins, because they do not perhaps understand the implications or impact it has on the native …show more content…
The Atlanta Hawks started off as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. But when they moved to Milwaukee they changed it to the Hawks. They have kept that name ever since. The Los Angeles Clippers started as the Buffalo Braves. When they moved to L.A. they changed their name to fit their new location. Golden State Warriors were originally Philadelphia Warriors. When they moved to Oakland, California they got rid of their mascot, which was a Native American. The New Jersey Devils started long ago as the Kansas City Scouts. When relocating to Colorado due to attendance they changed their name to Colorado Rockies. When the Rockies moved to New Jersey they changed their name again to New Jersey
A significant 81 percent of Native Americans who live outside traditional Indian reservations and 53 percent of Indians on reservations did not even find the names to be all that offensive (Summary of the APA Resolution Recommending Retirement of American Indian Mascots). Authors of Sports Illustrated wrote, "Although most Native American activists and tribal leaders consider Indian team names and mascots offensive, neither Native Americans in general nor a cross section of U.S. sports fans agree" (Price 66-71). According to the article, there is a near total disconnect between Indian activists and the Native American population on this issue. There are some who still do not see why these names and mascots are offensive. John Two-Hawks, a Native American writer and singer, explained how people should view this if they do not understand it. “Sports announcers on TV regularly say out loud the word 'red****s' like it is nothing, when in fact that word is every bit as toxic to us as n****r is to African Americans” (Two-Hawks). People have become desensitized to using a word like Redskins, because they do not perhaps understand the implications or impact it has on the native …show more content…
The Atlanta Hawks started off as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. But when they moved to Milwaukee they changed it to the Hawks. They have kept that name ever since. The Los Angeles Clippers started as the Buffalo Braves. When they moved to L.A. they changed their name to fit their new location. Golden State Warriors were originally Philadelphia Warriors. When they moved to Oakland, California they got rid of their mascot, which was a Native American. The New Jersey Devils started long ago as the Kansas City Scouts. When relocating to Colorado due to attendance they changed their name to Colorado Rockies. When the Rockies moved to New Jersey they changed their name again to New Jersey