Change The Name { Native American Culture Deserves Our Respect }
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{ Native American Culture Deserves Our Respect }
This week was the opening of The National Museum of the American
Indian on the Mall in Washington, D.C. The museum is a striking
building, both strange and wondrous at the same time. It is the color
of sandstone. A shade reminiscent of the American midwest, a place
where many proud Native American tribes once wandered amongst
the sloping hills, and the long-dead lake beds of primordial times. An
adventurous people unencumbered by the arbitrary strictures of
"The White Man's Law."
The museum - a disappointment on the inside - stands as a reminder
that the descendants of the great tribes that once ruled the forests
and the desert plains of this country, are still here. Invisible though
they remain to many of us.
Thus, it is a great injustice that within the same region that houses
the newly opened museum resides a professional sports franchise
whose very name is an insult to those proud Indian warriors who
have long since vanished from this earth.
The title of this article says it all. Let the name of the professional
football team in the Nation's Capital be changed from the insensitive,
condescending, and racist moniker by which it is now described.
The dignity of a race of people is far more important than the name
of any team, in any sport, in any land.
Redskin is a vile racist term. It is a word borne out of ignorance and
prejudice. Redskin is every much the epithet that the word "nigger"
is in regards to African-Americans. To suggest that the native people
of this great continent are somehow honored by the term affixed to
the Washington professional football franchise is merely a continuance
of the same insensitive paternalistic attitudes that cause too many
of our citizens to be indifferent to Native American culture and beliefs.
No other racial group in the United States has to suffer the indiginity
of words affiliated with their cultural identity being utilized as team
nicknames, and on such a grand scale, as to be almost incomprehensible.
This even without consideration of the multitude of team mascots -
usually caucasian men - plastered in dark red makeup, and dressed
in the most exaggerated of Native American costumes. Next, there
are the insulting team logos.
Is there a pattern here?
How long will it be until Native American culture is shown the respect
that it is entitled to. The Native American's who reside in this country
are our brothers and sisters. They do not exist merely on reservations
or in isolated towns somewhere. They are in college classrooms and on
the factory line. Some drive tanks for the U.S. military. Still others work
in warehouses. There are Native Americans who manage office buildings.
Yes, there are even casinos owned-and-operated by Native American
entrepreneurs.
These men and women are "real" people. They are not mere ghosts
or cartoon characters to be chuckled at and then as quickly forgotten.
No other people in this land have to face the ongoing slights of their
culture being reduced to team mascots and silly logos painted on the
side of football helmets.
The parents of european, latin, asian, african and other immigrants
new to this land, vow to never allow their children to forget from where
it is they have come. The long road traveled.
This is an ardous undertaking. But it is important nonetheless. The
building of self-respect and a strong sense of cultural identity in the
next generation. For
the Native American parent this must be an unbelievably difficult task.
Are the names of ancient Jewish tribes affixed to automobiles or military
aircraft? What about African tribal names? Asian? Arab? --- Of course
not. Cheyenne. Comanche. Lakota. Shawnee. Cherokee. Cree. Maumee.
Mohawk. Navaho. Nez Perce. These are not mere place names or languages
for the history books. These are proud names by which ethnically
distinct groups of American Indians are still recognized to this day.
Thus, these words have special meaning.
If General Motors, Ford, or Daimler-Chrysler were to dare introduce an
automobile in this country with the name "Zulu GT" affixed to the dash.
The announcement would be regarded as an unforgiveable insult and a
great umbrage to the dignity of people of African descent around the
globe. Let alone the tribe over in Africa from which the name was borrowed.
Protests in this country would be immediate. There would be a talk of
product boycotts and a demand for the firing of the individuals responsible
for choosing the name, in the first place.
Why aren't Native Americans accorded the same delicacy? Why must
their tribal names be affixed to SUVs and helicopters? Is it because they
have always been shown a lesser regard for their culture as compared to
other ethnic groups in this country. The legacy of the native peoples in
the United States is one of genocide and cultural annhilation. The lack
of respect accorded their culture even in modern times demonstrates that
there is a great need for a change in perspective.
The present owner of the Washington professional football team has on
many occasion stated quite to the point that the name of "his" football team
will not be changed. Outrageous though that notion may seem, this insensitive
man actually has deluded himself into believing that the racist term by which
his football team is labeled somehow honors Native Americans.
Can this really be so? Is the term "Redskin" an honor? A word Native
Americans of all ages can point to with pride and reverence?
The owner of the Washington sports franchise is Jewish. This is of no
consequence. But, let us examine a fictional situation from the point of view
of this man's own cultural background. Let us suppose that the practice
facility
of the Washington professional football team were given a new name to reflect
the particular ethnic group of which he is a member. Let us suppose the
practice
facility were renamed to something such as, "The Greater Israelite Practice
Facility for the Washington Redskins."
In the first place, the term "Israelite" has nothing to do with professional
football or that game's origin. Neither does the term have anything to do
with Washington, D.C. in particular. And secondly, such a renaming would
likely be regarded as offensive by most Jewish people who have a high regard
for their religious faith. -- And their history. The renaming would set a bad
societal precedent. It would be regarded as disrespectful in the extreme. And
particularly insensitive to the struggles of Semitic peoples against the racial
prejudice and hatred that have so marred their history for thousands of years.
-- And lastly, no one would question that conclusion.
Obviously then, most ethnic groups will strongly resist the debasing of
their culture, even if that debasing is wholly unintentional. Such people
will never have to explain to their children why it is okay that their
religious
and cultural icons are trivialized and turned into toy trinkets to be sold
at the local five and dime. -- When those of other ethnic groups are never
displayed in such a manner.
Native Americans have little political voice in this country, for they lost the
wars that determined this country's history. But, as a nation we do not have
to wear blinders and pretend that we do not see the insults that these first
Americans are subjected to in such a casual manner. - Merely because they
lack the political wherewithal to demand more respect.
It is time that the Native peoples of this country stop being treated as
mascots and cartoon characters. No longer should they be "honored" in
ways other ethnic groups would regard as insulting.
It is time that their tribal names should be removed from cars, planes, and
military hardware. And of course, the ugliest and most disrespectful term
of all should be changed. Surely, a more worthy team name than the racist
one currently affixed to the professional football team in our Nation's Capitol
is not an unreasonable goal. Washington, D.C. is the seat of government
of the most influential democracy the world has ever known. That disgusting
name is an appalling incongruity and should be done away with as soon
as possible.
Why not make the renaming of the team a celebratory civic event. The renaming
of the Washington Bullets to the Washington Wizards was handled with
ease and hardly damaged the franchise. A new core of fans already identifies
with the updated team logos and fancy uniforms.
Why is the racist description attached to the football team, so sacred?
Let's show our Native American brethren that dignity and respect for them
is more important than that racist nickname. This is an important lesson to
be learned in this moment in history when so little in society is respected,
and the purposeful display of crudeness and rudeness has become a national
obsession. Let us step out of the darkness of our past and embrace the
future. For all the Native American children who must call this nation home,
their dignity and sense of self-worth is far more priceless than even a billion
dollar sports franchise.
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READINGPOST.COM
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editor: Vance Cureton
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