When you think of Native American mascots, you think of the Washington Redskins, right? Well, Native American mascots are more common than you think. High schools and universities all across the U.S. have Native Americans, or “Indians," as their mascot.
It's just plain racist.
Native Americans were here LONG before white people hopped on the Mayflower to escape religious persecution and then turn around and murder the Native Americans. I'm sure many of you know about the Sand Creek Massacre and how well THAT was handled?
There has recently been a video swirling around Facebook of a man who wore a shirt that had a white man's head on it and had "Caucasians" underneath in the style of the Washington Redskins logo and (surprise, surprise) made white people angry because they thought it was "derogatory," but thought it was okay if Native Americans were depicted the same way. "Caucasians" isn't actually a derogatory term like "Redskins" are, they know that, right? Too many sports teams have Native Americans as their mascots. San Diego State just recently changed their mascot from a Native American Warrior, who they portrayed as savages and killers, to an Aztec Spirit Leader. We're moving in the right direction, but we're less than 5 months away from 2019; we shouldn't be having Native American mascots at all. The Washington Redskins STILL have their racist logo.
Unfortunately, my own hometown has a Native American as their mascot. As a town in a red state, we think it's okay to use their livelihood for our entertainment. One "tradition" our school does is that at every home game, we have a girl from the high school ride in on a horse in a type of Native American wear and a headdress and ride the horse along the sidelines, throwing a spear at the 50-yard line. Yes, you read correctly. According to a person of Native American descent, who wishes to remain anonymous, "...that is simply terrible. Traditionally headdresses are reserved for the elders, medicine men, and chiefs...I don't understand why it seems okay to appropriate Native American culture like that." I couldn't have said it better myself.
We seem to believe that as long as the race is not white, it's okay to appropriate other cultures. If it was the other way around and the white people of my town were used as the mascot, there would be a MASSIVE uproar, but because we're appropriating Native American culture, it's okay?
Many Native Americans fought and died on U.S. soil, and they don't deserve to be treated this way. As a white person, I will never understand the struggles and racism they face. I CAN come to the realization that it is wrong and needs to be abolished. We should not be exploiting the culture of those whose who were here before us.
Native Americans did not die to have their culture turned into racist mascots and have their livelihood used for our pleasure. We think it's wrong for Native Americans to own casinos, but not wrong for their culture used as a costume?
I don't think so.
