Lash Extensions 101: Faux And Fabulous
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REDSKIN - (Red-skin) n. (contemptuous) a North American Indian.
Straight from the 'Oxford American' dictionary, a single word in the definition of the word "redskin" tells the reader all he needs to know about the name of Washington, D.C.'s football team.
CONTEMPTUOUS.
That means used with a lack of respect, a sense of loathing and to despise.
The powers that be would never allow an anti-black, anti-gay or anti-white term to be used in a sports team name, but when it comes to Native Americans, the regular rules of civility and common decency don't seem to apply.
The U.S. Supreme Court again refused to do the right thing by knocking down a lawsuit brought by Native American activists, claiming the Washington Redskins' team name is so offensive that it does not deserve trademark protection.
So the team keeps its racist name, and Native American activists will continue to sit in silence because no one listens to them.
The sad truth is that Native Americans have neither the numbers, financial clout nor the political pull to force the name change that other ethnic groups would be able to get with the mere threat of protests or boycotts.
I first got involved in this issue while working as a minority affairs reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer during the 1990s. There, a group of Native Indian protesters began to challenge Richard Jacobs, owner of the Cleveland Indians baseball team. They wanted to know why the team had to use the name "Indians," and more urgently, employ a goofy logo of an Indian that looked a lot like the old Sambo drawing of blacks that were popular decades ago.
I wrote several stories on the topic, and I guess some were a little too "sympathetic" to the protesters. I got a lot of mail from readers angry that I gave the Native Americans any voice. Baseball fans called the protesters "outsiders," "rabble-rousers," "overly sensitive complainers" and much worse.
But one thing they couldn't say was why it would be so bad to change the team name or at least kill the logo. Professional teams can change their names at anytime.
Here in Washington, D.C., Abe Pollin, the owner of the then-Bullets basketball team, held a public contest to change his team's name in 1997, because he was uncomfortable with the violent overtone of the name and the assassination of his personal friend Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
The team was renamed the Wizards.
Why Redskins owner Daniel Snyder couldn't do the same thing is beyond me. Yes, he is busy trying, without success, to field a winning team. That should be job number one. But why not give Native Americans a break and get rid of the contemptuous name of your team?
Comments: (19)
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By: Billhenry on 11/18/2009 10:54AM
It doesn't matter what problems the Native American may, or may not be dealing with. That isn't the issue, and I can't believe the hardness of people who think it's ok to put someone down. Remember the old saying what goes round comes round. What I mean by this is, one day we as a people will need them, don't think it can't or won't happen.
Especially blacks. They'll have an issue come up, and they will what everybody see how wrongly they are being treaded. We are to stand for each, and everyone of our brothers, and sisters no matter what color their skin is. That's what God did for you, me and the world. He didn't look at the color of someone skin and say I can't save him/her because he/she is black, white, yellow, brown or red.
This nation has forgotten the struggles that made this nation what it is. For a sport team not to what to change it's name, shows you that they do not care about anyone, all they want is the money. It will cost them alot of it to change, so they'll just keep on showing their true colors that White American will never be serious about change.
Let's look at the Washington Bullets, they changed their name because they felt it associated to closely to violence. So why can't another Washington team follow suit, to show that they are sensitive to their fans. I forgotten they're not sensitive to anyone, they're acting like the people who run and control this nation there in Washington D.C.
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By: Vee on 11/18/2009 11:54AM
I agree with Billhenry when he talked about how God does not care about the color of skin. But in my opinion, I don't see the problem with using a Native American as the Mascot however, I do have the problem with the name REDSKIN. The name Redskin has been with the team for many years, but this is a time for change. I as an African-American thought about it, and said I would not like it if some called me a Blackskin. (That's something to think about) This is a thought, keep the same symbol but instead of the name Redskin, Maybe they can call them the Washington Natives, or something pertaining to a specific group like the Cherokee.
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By: panama kid on 11/18/2009 2:31PM
I realy dont think that they should change they name because back in the days the fight was the cowboy vs indians
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By: G.M. on 11/18/2009 6:59PM
I beleive that if the Redskins change their name they nwill win more games. I am not sure that the ancesters of Native Americans is as dissappointed or angry as living Native's, if so from what I understand of Native Spirit world, you wouldn't want to do that. Just I say just change the name if there's a chance the Washington Skins will win again.
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By: DCconnection on 11/18/2009 8:00PM
resoact and honor is the first thing , this corporation should consider no matter what ethinic background and creed of a nation .race is afactor in all life and they sould and most possiolbly should change there name to a more respctable and label , but don't got to go all political correct and stuff ,
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By: ELGIE JOHNSON on 11/22/2009 11:30PM
CAN WE SAY SPELL CHECK!
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By: c2 on 11/21/2009 9:11AM
The university I graduated from had the mascot "Indians" and changed to Warhawks. Not one time during my baseball career there did I feel one way or another about the name "Indians". But, when I learned the university caved to the political correctness(I mean B.S.)and changed...only then, did I ever have an opinion of the Indians...poor managers of their own fate turned crybabies.
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By: brotherman on 11/21/2009 11:43PM
Of course the name of Washington's Football Team and Cleveland's Baseball Team should be changed. I chose not to watch either of the teams. Their names are insensitive and derogatory to our Native brothers and sisters. Would we allow teams to be referred to as the Negros, or Whiteskins. I know a lot of people would be very upset if those were the names of the teams.
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By: RYM on 11/26/2009 4:56PM
I am saddened by comments stating that Native Americans should leave Blacks out of their issues. If it were not for Quakers (White Abolitionists) and Native Americans who played crucial parts in the Underground Railroad, helping Blacks to escape the institution of slavery, who's to say that we would be free today (and I use the term free loosely)? The NAACP, when it was formed it was a interracial organization. It was not only Blacks who dealt with "Black" issues, it was people who dealt with human issues. While it is nice to see Black leaders march when an injustice has been done to Blacks, where were Black leaders when a young Hispanic guy was beaten to death because his girlfriend was white? Why is it that we can not march and stand up for Native Americans and lend a hand for their civil rights? It is unfair to say that the NAACP should only take up for the rights of Black People. We should march and protest for the rights of all people who have been treated in any inhumane way. The last time I checked the term "redskin" was a racial slur. Why should Washington keep their name? It is associated with hateful and racist memories. What I am saying is Native Americans have the right to to feel like those so-called tributes are a slap in the face. If this is an issue for Native Americans it should be an issue for all Americans.
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