A Native Injustice

   Racism has been a recurring theme for this nation for many centuries. It is a topic that is still being discussed to this day. There is a group that has been shunned and silenced since the formation of this country. Unlike many racial groups that have marked their equality with authority, this privilege has not occurred for Native Americans. Despite their small population percentage, their culture survives and so does the racial prejudice. There are many racial slurs against Native Americans that are in use today and should be brought to a hault. The biggest, most recent example of this use is the National Football League's Washington Redskins'. The term Redskin is a reference to the general color of Native Americans. Why has there been so little outrage over this discrimination? The Redskins franchise pride themselves on their name and show it in a lightheartedly sense of the word. The derogatory sense of the word is scrambled in the image of ferocity and pride that the team upholds. This does not obscure the true connotation of the reference. The owner of the Redskins, Dan Snyder, states "we'll never change the name... It's that simple. NEVER." His bigotry is what is keeping the term alive. The problem is that his view is what matters most since he has the sole ability to change the team's name. If the fervor of an entire race, with a nation of support, cannot change the mind of this one man, then the name stays.

     The Washington Redskins are not the only sports team that has demonstrated a prejudice towards Native Americans. Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians have a mascot known as, "Chief Wahoo." The chief is characterized by his red skin, pronounced nose, and a feathered hat. The Indians' Vice President of Public Relations has defended the use of Chief Wahoo, saying that team is no longer trying to "animate or humanize the logo." In his attempt at reducing the humanization, he adds more stereotypical features rather than lessening the blow. However, the Indians organization is at least making an attempt to disprove their prejudice towards the group; unlike Dan Snyder and his group.



It's a shame that racial subjugation is still a burden in modern society. Native Americans have been deprived of racial equality for many years and their sense of ownership is blossoming. Groups like the Oneida Nation are marching towards equality and are gaining ground; such is the case in the Redskins controversy. They are fighting for their social justice. How would the views on these names change if they were slurs directed at your particular lineage? I doubt they would be accepted by society nor yourself. Once we as a species realize the harms we do when we segregate into groups, then we can work towards removing those walls that we put into place.