"Redskin" is an outdated term that other sports brands have gotten rid of. At the college ranks and in high school, teams have changed their names. Even right here in Illinois, Naperville Central High School changed their name from Redskins to Redhawks. Washington, and the NFL as a whole, has a ton of money at their disposal - it doesn't seem far fetched that they could hire a new designer to rebrand their team.
One defense that doesn't hold a lot of water is that names like "Redskins" honor native Indians. It's absurd to think a racial slur honors anyone. It separates itself from other team names like warriors or chiefs. "Redskin" doesn't honor a tribe or an individual like other sports names.
Dan Snyder thinks the tradition of the franchise is another valid argument. He hides behind the history of the team and considers it a solid reason to keep the name. It's all well and good to be passionate about a sports team you own. But it doesn't justify using an outdated and racist term like "redskins." Why would Native Americans care if the team has won 5 championships? What difference does it make if the name has been around for 80 plus years? That doesn't mean Dan Snyder himself or his players and coaches are racist, but the organization has a bad image when officials refuse the change the name.
There's a bigger picture to this controversy and Dan Snyder either can't see it or he refuses to see it. It goes beyond the game of football, and it is deeper than the passion of the fans. It's about cultural stereotypes that exist. Native Americans could be considered "warlike" with all the logos and mascots in American sports. The Redskins name and logo add fuel to the fire. At the end of the day, a term like "redskin" is outdated and creates stereotypes native Indians have always faced.
The Cleveland Indians recently ditched their Chief Wahoo logo. So, that's a good step forward. Hopefully, more professional sports teams create the kind of change that kills the negative stereotypes about Native Americans. Hopefully, Snyder and other NFL officials truly consider a name change for the football team in the nation's capital.
Opponents of a name change may simply say, "It's just a name, what's the big deal?" First, if it's just a name, then what's wrong with changing it? If there's no emotional attachment, then why not change it? Second, why offend anyone with a term like "redskin?" Why keep negative stereotypes alive? That's the big deal. A name change wouldn't be that catastrophic to D.C. football. It's sad that a name like this keeps stereotypes alive in American culture. What we see on T.V. truly has an effect on our culture and our perspectives.
In 2018, When A Celeb Goes Crazy, They Only Become More Popular
Kanye has built an identity which refuses to fade and won't, no matter what controversial comment he decides to make.
Let's face it. We live in Kanye's world. Whatever he says, does, or in recent days tweets, his millions of fans will always love and follow him, as is the case for most 21st century icons.
In 2018, being crazy is accepted, and almost even desired. Celebrities can't simply be talented or make a difference because if they weren't extra, they wouldn't be celebrities at all. The young American's mind doesn't care if you are a tone virtuoso or tear-jerking actor, they want to hear how you think the world is flat or how you think we should abolish the amendment that ended slavery.
2018's celebrities aren't idiots, Kanye's metaphorical use of social justice within his lyrics accurately portrays his musical genius, but they intelligently choose to be idiotic seeking the holy grail of American culture, clout.
Clout is what every artist, YouTuber, or Instagrammer is after. Clout defines who a celebrity is and how much they're worth, and it doesn't come easy. It can take a person years to build up their fan base, and it's a lot simpler if they aren't simple.
While Kanye's rants produce bad press, in the words of any wise man: "bad press is still press." His recent Twitter rants, vocal support of Trump, and decision to change his name to "Ye" do create controversy within his fan base, but controversy isn't disloyalty. Kanye has built an identity which refuses to fade and won't, no matter what controversial comment he decides to make.
Celebrities withstanding the criticism of their fans isn't anything new, but the scale in which it occurs in 2018 is. Similar to Kanye, Serena Williams underwent recent fan disapproval due to her poor sportsmanship in the US Open. While fans continue to criticize Williams and attack her standing as a respected professional tennis player, she will never truly lose support. To say that she took a moment of immense joy away from a fellow competitor is valid, but the post-match story presented by the media would never have represented her opponent anyway. If Williams had lost without backlash and remained cordial throughout the match, the story still would have represented her. History and the media still would have considered the match to be a loss for Serena Williams, not the first major win for a young rising star in Naomi Osaka.
History remembers icons, not the people who build them up or outshine them for a fleeting moment.
Kanye West and Serena Williams are both icons in their respective fields. They are successful, determined, omnipresent, and polarizing. 2018 had created the idyllic situation for someone not of the cookie-cutter mold, idols who are not only engaging but marketable.
The children of 2018 no longer want to be actors, singers, and rappers, they want to be YouTubers and Instagrammers whose social media reach extends far beyond talent. To be internet famous is perhaps the greatest achievement a member of Generation Z can have, and children recognize that. They look up to us and see new, more creative fields across social media platforms and they recognize what idols such as our President and Kanye West say and realize that while for those on a traditional route media comments last forever, for the lucky few who become icons, words can never tear down their fame.