What Cost of a Mascot?



Written by: Abigail Ellenburg


Hayoun, Massoud. “Maine Banned Native American Mascots in Public Schools.” Pacific Standard. 
Accessed March 11, 2020. https://psmag.com/social-justice/maine-banned-native-american-mascots-in-public-schools.



It’s a beautiful day, one you and your family have been waiting for. The kids can hardly contain their excitement as you pay the twenty-five-dollar fee to get into a parking garage near the stadium. You and hundreds of other sports fans eagerly wait in line to get your tickets scanned before packing into the stands. There’s excitement, comradery, and countless racial slurs plastered across every inch of the arena. Welcome to your long-awaited Washington R*dskins game.
            The Washington NFL team is by no means the only sports team, professional, collegiate, high school, or other, to use Native American as mascots. Since 1968, the National Congress of American Indians, or NCAI, has been working towards addressing the negative stereotypes portrayed in sports, media, and pop culture (NCAI). In 2013 the Oneida Indian Nation started a campaign against the team to address their offensive representation. Despite these and other efforts, the team continues to hold on to its legacy of ethnocentrism started at the team’s birth in 1932 with owner George Preston Marshall. Marshal himself was openly racist, notably refusing to sign African American players to the team until forced to in 1962 (Freed).
            Contrary to Washington’s obviously offensive name, the Florida State University Seminoles have gone a different route. Unline the NFL’s unwillingness to regulate offensive mascots, the NCAA ruled that Native American mascots would be banned, though this is limited only to post season events and not as an overall decree. FSU, however, received special permission from the Seminole Tribe of Florida to continue their usage of Osceola as their mascot. This resulted in a waiver from the NCAA ruling (Wieberg). The tribe receives a percentage of merchandise profits as well as having significant oversight of their tribal representation. Of course, this resolution is not without its problems, as even though the Florida Seminole Tribe has given its approval, the largest federally recognized group of Seminoles lives in Oklahoma (Seminole Nation Museum). 
            The Stereotypes perpetrated by sports mascots and popular culture has a notable impact on Native Peoples, particularly especially the younger generations. This is seen in the high rates of hate crimes against Native Americans, high rates of suicide, and substance abuse. The continued usage of racist representation directly contributes to the continuation of discrimination. These effects have been shown to happen regardless if the mascot is generally deemed offensive or not (Friedman).
            The usage of Native Americans as sports mascots harkens back to an era when ethnocentric views were the norm. Now, as sports brands have evolved into multi-million-dollar franchises, transforming these stereotypes has proven slow to change. There is no denying that progress has indeed been made with the “Change the Name Movement.” Illinois instituted a bill that bans the use of Native American mascots, dozens of other organizations have voluntarily dropped offensive representation (ChangeTheMascot.Org). Support has been received from sports figures, media organizations, lawmakers, and civil rights groups (Halbritter).
So why, in the 21st century, are we still so reluctant to finally do away with the overtly offensive representations of Native Americans in our sports industry? Public opinion has certainly shifted towards a level of concern for change to be instituted, Native Americans have been advocating for this change for years, yet there is very little official legislation to bring forth a notable step in the right direction. Sports are seen by many fans as a steady tradition with an unalterable legacy that should continue, frozen in time. Traditions have been passed down from father to son, the idea of our American pastimes are romanticized by nostalgia. Many fans even see certain representations as a way of recognizing Native Peoples, misguided as these ideas may be.
            This is not to say we should demonize any person who feels there is no need for a change. A person should not be faulted simply because they lack the knowledge to form a different opinion than the one ingrained in them by their culture and society. Rather, this is a perfect opportunity to work towards education and cooperation between Native Tribes, influential organizations like the NFL, and the general public. In complicated matters such as ending the ethnocentric legacy of sports teams, the path will never be an easy one. We’re working towards undoing centuries of misrepresentation of Native Peoples. This is the reason it is vitally important to gain support of massive organizations like the NFL. The resounding influence that the sports industry could have towards a future of cooperation and education cannot be overlooked.
            Sports bring people together. Is that not the purpose of bettering relations with Native Peoples? Are we not working towards a world of cooperation and respectful coexistence? The wide-reaching impact of the multi-million-dollar sports industry is one of the most influential aspects of our society. It would be a massive leap in tribal relations with the general public if such an entity were to give its respect and cooperation to Native Tribes. Mental wellbeing of Native youth cannot continue to be swept aside by the continuation harmful portrayal of their culture. Such a change needs to be made for a brighter future to come for all.


Sources

“Ending the Era of Harmful ‘Indian’ Mascots | NCAI.” Accessed March 11, 2020. http://www.ncai.org/proudtobe.
Friedman, Michael. “The Harmful Psychological Effects of the Washington Football Mascot,” n.d. https://www.changethemascot.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/DrFriedmanReport.pdf.
Halbritter, Ray, Contributor Oneida Indian Nation Representative; CEO, and Oneida Nation Enterprises. “A Change Will Come.” HuffPost, 25:05 500. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-change-will-come_b_6470966.
“Seminole Nation - Seminole Nation Museum.” Accessed March 11, 2020. https://www.seminolenationmuseum.org/history/seminole-nation/.
Wieberg, Steve. “USATODAY.Com - NCAA Allowing Florida State to Use Its Seminole Mascot.” Accessed March 11, 2020. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/2005-08-23-fsu-mascot-approved_x.htm.

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