It’s a Saturday afternoon in October, and for many Americans across the country, that means one thing: football. Within the crowded parking lot of FedEx Field, amidst the sea of tailgaters, a scene breaks out. On one side of the street, a group of fans decked out in maroon jerseys, red face paint, and plastic headdresses chant “Hail to the Redskins!” On the other side, a group stands holding banners and signs that read “I am a person, not a mascot,” and “”R” word = “N” word.” This scene is one that has become fairly common over the last few decades. Since the early 1960s, Native American mascots and logos have become a site for extensive debate. Although mascots are used by sports teams to create unity amongst both the team and fans, the use of Native American mascots raises questions of authenticity, representation, appropriation, and racism. At the center of these debates is one question: “Are Native American mascots a positive way to honor and include Native Americans or a harmful and negative stereotyping of Native Americans?” The …show more content…
These individuals, and others in favor of upholding the mascots, team names, and logos, assert that the mascots are a tribute to Natives. Supporters argue that Native mascots celebrate and honor the positive qualities of Native Americans, including their bravery, fighting spirit, nobility, and physical prowess. Additionally, a commonly cited argument is that these mascots embody institutional traditions and maintaining theses mascots is important to continuing traditions and fostering a shared identity. Supporters, such as the Redskins team owner Dan Snyder, emphasize the nostalgic childhood joy of rooting for the same team since they were young boys, as well as the father-son connection that many fans developed from attending Redskins games growing