Suzan Shown Harjo remembers going to the store with her grandfather in El Reno, Oklahoma. At the age of 6, Harjo was a victim of discrimination while purchasing a cold beverage. The storeowner demanded Harjo and her grandfather to leave. The owner replied, “No black redskins in here”. After the incident occurred, Harjo felt afraid because of the color of her skin. The term redskin is a derogatory and offensive word to insult a Native American. Native Americans have been an important and beneficial part of our history. Before Christopher Columbus set sailed, Native Americans lived peacefully and thrived. Native Americans have been inflicted with agony of discrimination since Columbus landed in 1492. Now an adult, Harjo began a mission for Native Americans so they shouldn’t face discrimination like she once did. She focused part of her work on the removal of Native Americans as mascots. In an interview, Harjo explains that the Washington Redskins is a prime example of an offensive mascot. She refers redskin to the R-word because she believes it has the same meaning as the N-word. (http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/04/native-american-mascots-pride-or-prejudice/) When searching the definition in Merriam-Webster, it’s defined as an offensive word and shouldn’t be used. In …show more content…
No opinion was heard for having an Indian mascot by a Native American. Native Americans want to teach people about respect not racism. There is a fine line between appropriate and appreciation. When people are educated, perhaps people can see the racism that they believe to be honor. The conflict is what can be done in order to stop discrimination against Native Americans. The movie In Whose Honor? American Indian Mascot In Sports shines the light on what Native Americans opinion on the controversy. People defend the reasoning why the mascot should stay instead of considering the feeling of Native