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Native American Mascot Research Paper

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The objectification of Native American figures, symbols, and culture is prevalent in many schools and professional sports teams across America today (Chaney, Burke and Burkley 43). Nearly 1,200 high schools and 90 colleges in the United States use Native Americans as their school mascot (Chaney, Burke and Burkley 43). Throughout football games, pep-rallies, and other school related events, fans chant Native American war chants and dress in stereotypical cartoon-like costumes (Pewewardy 181). Although some people would argue that these symbols are intended to honor Native Americans, they often portray them in an inauthentic and clichéd manner (Chaney, Burke and Burkley 43). Because of this, the barbaric, wild, and savage mascots have become a representation of the Native American …show more content…
Today, all but 1,129 have changed their names (Rasul 353). Among those who took the initiative to change their name are Stanford University, who changed its mascot from the Indians to the Cardinal, the University of Massachusetts, who replaced its Redman mascot with the Minuteman, both in 1972, and Arkansas State University who changed its mascot from the Indians to the Red Wolves in 2008 (Rasul 348). Turning a culture into something as petty as a mascot for a sports team is disrespectful and insensitive to those born into that culture (Rasul 348). It is for this reason that no team or school uses the imagery of African Americans, Jews, Muslims, Asian Americans, or Latinos as mascots or team names (Rasul 348). Not only is it hypocritical to call America a county of equality with such racial stereotyping and inauthentic representation being excused, but it is also extremely difficult to move forward in the fight against racism if people keep denying that racism is even prevalent. If the people of America wish to progress as one country, this racism, and all like it, must be

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