Indian Chant/ Tomahawk Chop
Introduction
Over the past years, the road to end racial attitudes in America has been a long one raising heated debated and controversies. Racism has been introduced, though not noted keenly in some of the unexpected spheres of life. Sports as a social institution has witnessed open racist claims due to the segregation based on geographical locality, groups, class and also age difference. The use of names, adoption of mascots and use of gestures like the ‘Tomahawk Chop’ influence racism to an extent.
Indian Chant/ Tomahawk Chop
Current sporting trends in the American renowned sports see most teams deriving their sense of identity from the culture of native Americans, the use of titles to describe their teams has been greatly manifested in America, citing examples from Washington- Redskins, Kansas- Chiefs and Cleveland – Indians to mention a few, also there is the adoption of mascots by teams and chanting to some the native tribes songs, like the use of war facial paints and using Tomahawk Chop chants. This has brought racist concerns to people affecting communities in a multicultural American society.
The subjection of the culture of the native Americans to be used in such events is an open and obvious form of racism against the other communities, the teams endorsing the use of the mascots have caused Afro-Americans to be desegregated to some extent having some people not to qualify to playing for their teams on the basis of not being a native American. Their excuse is based on honoring Native American people.
According to Churchill, if the groups are sincere in promoting the native American culture, racism will force the creation of also other minority groups to also foster and enrich their culture by forming parallel teams to such as the one formed to celebrate Native American culture. He advocates for the formation of a