Four Perspectives: Native American Mascots

Summary

The script discusses the controversy surrounding the use of American Indian mascots, particularly Chief Illiniwek of the University of Illinois and the Washington Redskins, highlighting differing perspectives on cultural heritage versus racial insult. It touches on the impact of such mascots on Native American identity and the debate over changing team names despite some polls suggesting a majority of Native Americans are not offended.

Takeaways

• 🏈 The University of Illinois' mascot, Chief Illiniwek, has been a subject of controversy due to its representation of a fictitious American Indian character.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 A Spokane Indian graduate student's children's reaction to Chief Illiniwek at a basketball game sparked her activism against the mascot, highlighting the impact on Native American children.
• 🎭 The mascot was seen by some as a symbol of heritage and tradition, while others viewed it as a racial insult and mockery of Native American culture.
• 📉 The debate over the mascot's imagery affected other institutions, with some universities and schools dropping American Indian symbols in response to concerns.
• 💬 There is a division within the Native American community itself regarding the use of such mascots, with some polls suggesting a majority do not find them offensive, while others argue the impact on mental health and identity.
• 🤝 The Big Ten Conference, including the universities of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, took a stand against American Indian mascots, influencing the debate on political correctness and minority representation.
• 💰 Financial contributions to the University of Illinois were threatened to be withheld if Chief Illiniwek was removed, indicating the economic implications of the mascot's potential removal.
• 🏛️ A state representative proposed a law to protect Chief Illiniwek as the official symbol of the University, reflecting the political dimensions of the mascot debate.
• 📰 Media coverage and public opinion are divided, with some supporting the retention of the mascot as a sign of respect and others calling for its removal as a form of racial slur.
• 🔍 The Washington Redskins controversy parallels the Chief Illiniwek debate, with the team's name being defended by its owner and criticized by others as a racial insult.
• 🤔 The complexity of the issue is underscored by the varying perspectives, including those who argue that changing the name of a sports team does not address deeper societal issues affecting Native American communities.

Q & A

What is the significance of Chief Illiniwek at the University of Illinois?

Chief Illiniwek has been a symbol of the University of Illinois for 70 years, performing at halftime of home football and basketball games, and serving as a unifying figure for the community, student body, and faculty.

Why did the Spokane Indian graduate student start to oppose Chief Illiniwek?

The graduate student began to oppose Chief Illiniwek after attending a basketball game with her children and realizing the mascot represented a racial stereotype that was inappropriate and offensive.

What was the initial reaction of the University of Illinois community to the opposition against Chief Illiniwek?

Some members of the community felt that Chief Illiniwek was a part of their heritage and tradition, and they did not see it as a racial insult or slur on the Native American community.

How did other universities respond to the use of American Indian mascots?

Some universities, such as Eastern Michigan, Southern Colorado, St. John's, Marquette, and Bradley University, dropped their Indian references and mascots in response to concerns about cultural appropriation and offense.

What was the reaction of the alumni to the potential removal of Chief Illiniwek?

Alumni reactions indicated that they would withhold financial contributions to the University without Chief Illiniwek, showing strong support for the mascot.

What action did state representative Rick Winkle take to protect Chief Illiniwek?

State representative Rick Winkle proposed a law that would guarantee Chief Illiniwek as the official symbol of the University of Illinois, in an attempt to preserve the mascot.

What is the controversy surrounding the name 'Washington Redskins'?

The name 'Washington Redskins' is considered by some as a racial slur and offensive to Native Americans, leading to debates about whether it should be changed.

What has been the stance of the Washington Redskins' owner, Daniel Snyder, on the name controversy?

Daniel Snyder has maintained a hard-line stance, insisting that the team name will never change, arguing that it represents strength, courage, pride, and respect.

What arguments have been made in favor of keeping the name 'Washington Redskins'?

Some argue that the name honors Native American heritage and that polls have shown that a majority of Native Americans do not find the name offensive.

What are the counterarguments to the claim that the majority of Native Americans are not offended by the name 'Washington Redskins'?

Critics argue that the polls may not be representative of all Native American opinions and that the use of the term is still a form of racial slur that contributes to negative stereotypes.

What is the broader implication of the debate on sports team mascots and names?

The debate reflects larger issues of cultural appropriation, respect for indigenous cultures, and the struggle for recognition and sensitivity towards minority communities.

Outlines

00:00

🏟️ Controversy Over Native American Mascots

The script discusses the controversy surrounding the use of Chief Illiniwek, a fictitious American Indian character, as a mascot at the University of Illinois. The character has been part of the university's identity for 70 years, performing at halftime shows and uniting the community. However, the narrative shifts in 1989 when a Spokane Indian graduate's children are exposed to the mascot, leading her to question its appropriateness. The script explores differing viewpoints, from those who see the mascot as a source of pride and tradition to those who view it as a racial insult and a mockery of Native American culture.

05:01

🔍 The Debate on Racial Mascotry in Sports

This paragraph delves into the broader debate on the use of racial mascots in sports, exemplified by the Washington Redskins. The script highlights the irony of the team's name and the public's desensitization to it. It also mentions other institutions that have dropped Native American references, while the University of Illinois remains steadfast. The pressure on the university increases as fellow Big Ten Conference members take a stand against such mascots. The script presents various perspectives, including alumni who threaten to withhold donations and a state representative who proposes a law to protect Chief Illiniwek. The debate is further complicated by the assertion that Native Americans themselves are divided on the issue.

10:02

🗳️ Polls and Perceptions on the Redskins Name

The script presents a complex picture of public opinion regarding the Washington Redskins' name. It references polls suggesting that a significant number of self-identified Native Americans do not find the name offensive, which is used by some to argue against a name change. However, it also acknowledges that there are Native Americans who do take offense, and it questions the validity of polls that claim otherwise. The discussion includes commentary from sportscaster Bob Costas, who criticizes the name, and reactions from various media figures and politicians, reflecting a divided and evolving stance on the issue.

15:03

💬 The Impact of Racial Slurs on Native American Youth

This paragraph focuses on the impact of racial slurs and mascots on the mental health of Native American youth. It includes input from the Native Youth Leadership Alliance, which suggests that such names contribute to depression among young people. The script contrasts this with arguments that the words 'take on a fence' and that historical usage of terms like 'redskins' was not inherently offensive. It also touches on the broader issue of political correctness and the need to balance respect for cultural sensitivities with freedom of speech.

20:05

🤝 Potential Resolutions and the Future of the Redskins Name

The final paragraph speculates on the future of the Washington Redskins' name, considering the evolving stance of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and President Obama's comments. It suggests that a name change may be imminent, despite the team owner's strong opposition. The script proposes potential new names that could satisfy various stakeholders, highlighting the complexity of finding a solution that respects the feelings of all involved.

Keywords

💡Fighting Illini

The Fighting Illini is the nickname of the University of Illinois' athletic teams. In the script, it represents the home team that fans come to support. The term is central to the theme of the video, which discusses the use of American Indian imagery in sports mascots and its impact on cultural representation.

💡Chief Illiniwek

Chief Illiniwek was a fictitious American Indian character and mascot of the University of Illinois, known for dancing at halftime of home games. The character has been a point of controversy, as it is seen by some as a racial stereotype. The script discusses the changing perspectives on the mascot's role and its eventual discontinuation.

💡Mascot

A mascot is a character or symbol used to represent a team or organization, often to inspire team spirit. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe Chief Illiniwek and to explore the debate around the use of Native American imagery as mascots, which is a central theme of the video.

💡Heritage

Heritage refers to the traditions, culture, and history of a group of people that are passed down through generations. In the video, the concept of heritage is discussed in relation to the use of Chief Illiniwek as a mascot, with some arguing it honors Native American heritage while others see it as misappropriation.

💡Racial Insult

A racial insult is a derogatory term or action directed at a person or group based on their race or ethnicity. The script mentions the debate over whether the use of Chief Illiniwek as a mascot constitutes a racial insult, highlighting the differing viewpoints on cultural representation in sports.

💡Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins was the name of a professional football team, which has since been changed due to controversy over the term 'Redskins' being considered a racial slur against Native Americans. The script uses this example to compare the debate over sports mascots and racial sensitivity in professional sports.

💡Political Correctness

Political correctness refers to the avoidance of expressions or actions that can be perceived to marginalize or offend certain groups of people. In the video, the term is used in the context of the debate over mascots like Chief Illiniwek and the Washington Redskins, where some argue that changing the mascots is an act of political correctness.

💡Cultural Sensitivity

Cultural sensitivity is the awareness and respect for the cultural differences of others. The script discusses the importance of cultural sensitivity in the context of sports mascots, emphasizing the need to consider the feelings and perspectives of the groups being represented.

💡Annenberg Public Policy Center

The Annenberg Public Policy Center is mentioned in the script as having conducted a poll regarding the Washington Redskins name. The center is an example of an organization that has weighed in on the debate, providing data that some use to argue for or against changing the team's name.

💡Bob Costas

Bob Costas is a sportscaster who is mentioned in the script for his commentary on the Washington Redskins name controversy. His stance on the issue represents a perspective within the media that supports changing the name due to its offensive nature.

💡Daniel Snyder

Daniel Snyder is the owner of the Washington Redskins (now changed) and is mentioned in the script for his refusal to change the team's name despite the controversy. His position represents one side of the debate, emphasizing the importance of tradition and the team's identity.

Highlights

Chief Illiniwek, a fictitious American Indian character, has been a symbol of the University of Illinois for 70 years.

The mascot's role in unifying the community and its popularity among fans is highlighted.

A Spokane Indian graduate student's experience with her children at a basketball game sparked a change in the dialogue around the mascot.

The emotional response and the sense of disrespect felt by some Native Americans towards the mascot are discussed.

Some view Chief Illiniwek as a heritage and tradition, not as a racial insult.

The debate over the mascot's impact on the perception of Native Americans in sports and media is presented.

The influence of the Washington Redskins controversy on the broader conversation about Native American mascots.

Different Native American groups and individuals express their opinions on the use of such mascots.

The economic impact of potential mascot changes on universities and professional sports teams is considered.

Political figures and the public debate the appropriateness of Native American mascots.

The role of alumni donations and their influence on university decisions regarding mascots is examined.

Efforts by some universities to drop Native American references in response to the controversy.

The Big Ten Conference's stance on American Indian mascots and its impact on the University of Illinois.

The proposal of a law to guarantee Chief Illiniwek as the official symbol, sparking further debate.

The Washington Redskins owner's defense of the team's name and the public's divided opinion.

Polls and surveys indicating varying degrees of offense taken by Native Americans regarding the term 'Redskins'.

The complexity of the issue as it relates to political correctness, heritage, and respect for Native American culture.

The potential for change in the name of the Washington Redskins as influenced by public figures and ongoing discussions.

Transcripts

it's a fall Saturday afternoon at the

University of Illinois right fans come

from all around to support the home team

the Fighting Illini and everywhere is

the symbol of the University of Illinois

a fictitious American Indian character

called chief Illini Whitney chief

Illiniwek has been part of the

University of Illinois for 70 years

dancing at halftime of home football and

basketball games the chief has become a

crowd favorite

he's a focal point he draws the

community the student body the faculty

together I've seen the performance many

many times and have found it nothing but

inspiring little was heard from American

Indians about their feelings on the

chief but that all changed one night in

1989 when a Spokane Indian graduate

student and a mother of two was asked by

her children to take them to a

basketball game I got tickets to the

game and I tried to prepare them ahead

of time and what they were going to see

there you know it's you know they have

this Indian mascot as you know they were

paint some people were feathers you know

they have were chants they have you know

or just try to go through all the things

that they would experience there so you

know you just have to ignore that you

know just enjoy the game

[Applause]

it was when the chief came out and I'd

never seen him never stated before

didn't know it all would it look like

what he wore you know I just heard that

the chief comes out and does what's

billed as an authentic dad

[Music]

and he came out wearing that buckskin

really a beautiful book skin wearing

what looked like real eagle feathers all

the way to the ground and of course the

fans going to a frenzy and all around us

there were these people standing in and

see yelling the chief the chief you know

and it was so you know my kids you know

just sank in their seat and I knew that

I couldn't be here and not address that

issue so I started to stand outside

alone you know because I didn't know

what else to do I did that for my kids I

was standing up for my kids

[Music]

I don't consider chief our light and

what to be a mascot I consider it the

chief to be a part of the heritage of in

the tradition of this of this

institution I can't imagine that that

can be perceived as a as a racial insult

or as a slur on the Native American

community to me it's it's a compliment

and I don't think the people here should

cave in to out-of-state foreigners so

you think that you think the Indian

people are foreigners they're from

Oklahoma I'm a taxpayer in Illinois they

a taxpayer in the Illinois I pay my

taxes in Illinois

and I support the UI they come in from

out of state and they don't support us

they don't pay any taxes they shouldn't

have any say here

[Music]

I see the mascot of symbolic display of

our leadership that we control you we

own you

every time that was being paraded around

I felt I had to also be there to

challenge it if there was any other

religious practice that was being abused

we would hear about it the American

Indian population is relatively small

yet the popularity of Indian images and

sports and on TV affects what many

people know and think about Indians so

to have a chief as entertainment at a

sporting event is is a mockery and and

and there's no way to get past this

barrier that it's very difficult to get

past this barrier that this isn't

dignified just because he's not a

character or whatever it's even it's

even more of a mockery because he's not

a character Church I think it would have

been better if it was this cartoon

character you know it might have been at

least then you could laugh at as being

stupid and ignorant you know and that's

kind of maybe what I thought I was going

to see out there is some caricature of

the you know with a big head and a big

nose or something then then it's obvious

that it's you know this clown Charlene

left the University of Illinois and

moved on to continue her fight the first

stop was the big money world of

professional football in the Washington

Redskins

the irony of of the whole thing is here

you have red skins which is the most

blatant racist symbol term depiction

right in the capital everybody it's kind

of numb to it there are Redskins fans

yeah I'm a fan

so they've numbed themselves to that so

much that you know you have these

politicians who are supposed to

represent all people saying I'm a

Redskins fan some newspapers restricted

or banned the use of the name Redskins

[Music]

in Minnesota the State Board of

Education asked schools to stop using

American Indian symbols and some

universities were doing the same Eastern

Michigan Southern Colorado st. John's

Marquette and Bradley University all

eventually dropped their Indian

references yet the University of

Illinois continued to hold firm but soon

the pressure increased three fellow

members of the Big Ten Conference the

universities of Wisconsin Minnesota and

Iowa decided to take a stand against

American Indian mascots being

politically correct to merely appease a

minority group of individuals and is not

in and of itself an appropriate position

to take I think it's a matter of

understanding how people feel about

something they love and people love

cheap the line away but we love our

chief that's what they say of course you

love him you manufactured him see that's

not our image that's not our perception

of ourselves it's their perception of

who we are alumni reactions began to

come in and the message seemed to be no

money to the University without chief

Illiniwek

I'm sure that contributions would would

diminish these people that I'm talking

about or are very very generous

contributors to the university all alone

and in very very generous contributions

poured into the university the

recommendation from the inclusiveness

committee was dropped according to a

university spokesperson it was not an

academic recommendation still one

University alumnus decided to take

control

state representative Rick Winkle

proposed a law that would guarantee

chief Illiniwek as the official symbol

of the University of Illinois we have a

rich heritage in this country especially

over the past few decades of protecting

minority rights and I think that that's

important that we continue to do that

but minority rights aren't always right

my people pay to their blood to have

anything left and so I have to guard and

protect it so that we have it for those

generations yet unborn and I and I owe

it to those I owe it to my children I

owe it to myself

you

led her to Washington Redskins fans

owners Daniel Snyder address what he

believes is a sympathetic audience

defending the name of the Redskins

Snyder says it's who we are

he writes Washington Redskins is more

than a name we have called our football

team for over eight decades it is a

symbol of everything we stand for

strength courage pride and respect the

same values we know guide Native

Americans and which are embedded

throughout their rich history as the

original Americans

well one Native American group quickly

responded by saying Snyder clearly does

not understand the consequences here

Stephen a I'll ask you this first cuz

we're putting Daniel Snyder on the hook

does it sound like he's willing to

change the name at all it does not it

does it didn't come across that way at

all to me a matter of fact I thought

that he made a case for keeping the name

I think that the letter that he wrote

you know I spoke to numerous guys

remember I've got family and friends in

the Washington DC area some of whom are

Redskins fans that loved his letter to

the fans they absolutely positively

applauded it and so when you take that

into consideration it doesn't come

across as him making any move whatsoever

towards modifying things and changing

the team's name and eradicating Redskins

from the football and the National

Football League vernacular I got to tell

you skip that for me it's incredibly

challenging for me to continue to take

the position that I've taken for so long

and that is that this name should be

changed obviously to some degree I still

feel that way but I'm not Native

American and when I read this letter

it does provoke me and it does gives it

gives me cause to pause because when you

consider the fact that he's saying right

here skip if you think about this right

here I'm reading I got to let it right

in front of me it's talking about how

you know 81 years ago you know in 1932

the team's name was the Boston Braves

the following year the franchise was

changed to the Boston Red skins on that

inaugural Redskins team four players and

I had coach when Native Americans then

he goes on and say a little bit later

that are the the Annenberg Public Policy

Center poll nearly 1,000 self-identified

Native American

from across the continental US and found

that 90% of Native Americans did not

find the team name Washington Redskins

to be offensive The Associated Press 79

percent of the respondents from a 2013

poll stated the Redskins should not

change their name I mean I'm looking at

this stuff a article in The Washington

Post

I'm sorry poor woody a comments for the

Richmond times-dispatch interviewed

Native Americans and you know from the

infinitive virginia area that also

didn't find that name offensive it does

lend itself towards validating the

position that daniel snyder has taken

that you know what excuse me this this

name is not offensive they themselves

are saying it's not offensive see I was

under the impression and I continue to

some degree to believe that there are an

abundance of Native Americans that

vehemently find this to be an offensive

label and as a result I my thinking is

if it's offensive then something needs

to be done about it because we live in a

society where we're trying to eradicate

all of that stuff and anything that's

offensive to somebody somebody outside

the offended party doesn't get to define

what's offensive to that offended party

but if Native Americans themselves are

standing up and saying this is not

offensive to us we take pride in the

Washington Redskins name then that's a

different argument so again I don't know

if everything that daniel snyder wrote

and has led it to the fans is true but

if it is true and Native Americans

themselves a vast majority of them are

saying this is not offensive then I even

though I still AM I'm still a bit shaky

about it skip it's hard for me to stand

up vehemently proclaiming that it is

something that the Washington Redskins

need to change if indeed Native

Americans are out there saying it

doesn't need to be changed because I'm

not a Native American I don't know

engine Redskins change their name

because some say it is racist

sportscaster Bob Costas today took to

the editorial page of the LA Times to

defend his recent attack on the team

here are his original remarks during

halftime last Sunday Redskins can't

possibly honor a heritage or a noble

character trait nor can it possibly be

considered a neutral term it's an insult

a slur no matter how benign the

present-day intent dana loesch is a

conservative radio talk show host and

Richard Fowler is hosted the progressive

radio show the Richard Fowler show thank

you both so much for being here so Dana

let me start with you because you

actually do have Native American

heritage your thoughts on it yeah and

Meghan it always seems that the people

who are the the most far removed from

this are the ones who want to talk about

it the loudest in terms of being close

to American Indian culture there was a

2004 Annenberg poll which was released

and it was they polled American Indians

and 90 plus percent of them had no

problem with this sports team name and

it bothers me because every single time

we talk about American Indian issues and

I don't know my family has heritage and

they were listed on the rolls and they

were moved on the trail of genocide over

to reservations but whenever it seems we

talk about these issues it's always like

some politically correct cosmetic

band-aid we're never talking about

suicide rates we're not talking about

addictions we're not talking about

unemployment in the American Indian

community we're talking about stuff like

this I mean changing the name of a

football team isn't going to do anything

to remedy years of bad policy and all of

the things that are wrong with what's

plaguing these particular people

castas came out today and doubled down

on that that commentary and he was

responding in part to an opinion piece

written by Jonah Goldberg of National

Review Online and he and and Jonah said

look if you're gonna get rid of

Washington Redskins better be prepared

to get rid of a whole bunch of things

including he said how about getting rid

of the sea in n-double-a-cp right

because like that's colored and that's

now considered racist as well I mean

your thoughts on that Richard I got to

tell you thanks for having me one Meghan

but I got to agree on one point here

that Dana makes is the point that the

Native American community in

indigenous people community has taken

has had a lot of struggle and a lot of

strife but there's a lot of native

Native Americans who believe that we

need to check that the Redskins need to

change their name I reached out to the

Native youth leadership Alliance and

they indicated that this name and these

type of racial slurs and connotations

have caused depression issues amongst

Native youth and I think we've got to

work on correcting that now I think

there's a distinction between taking the

word colored out of the n-double a-c-p

and using a racial slur to describe a

football team and i think that is the

argument that a lot of folks are trying

to make and I think that's the argument

the Bob Costas is trying to make when he

released his art his op-ed today but his

point Dana jonna's is that you know the

words take on a fence if you make them

take on a fence I mean for years in this

country we said and and nobody

knew that was gonna be offensive

and then suddenly little people decided

that that was an offensive term and now

you're no longer allowed to say that

because it's offensive I mean it depends

on who he asking when you ask him well

yeah and especially when you look at the

historical use of this term I mean this

was a term there was a book out from one

of the senior linguists over at the

Smithsonian Institute it's called I am a

and it charts how that term came

to be how that came to be an American

expression and it was a term that

actually came from Native Americans and

it was first recorded by French traders

and they heard American Indians using

this phrase amongst themselves Sitting

Bull himself said I am a red man the

Great Spirit had intended me to be a

white man he would have made me there

are a number of different Indian tribes

that have come out and said we don't

have a problem with this the people who

have a problem with this are people like

Bob Costas and they're people like these

white anglo-saxon Protestant liberals

whenever whenever these issues come up

about American Indians everybody wants

to talk about political correctness

so this Washington Redskins nickname

debate it just won't go away so let's

talk about it now with Terrence Moore

he's a sports contributor to cnn.com and

a columnist for mlb.com Terrance NFL

Commissioner Roger Goodell seems to be

evolving on this in the past he has

defended the name but this week Goodell

said we need to listen carefully listen

and make sure we're doing what's right

and President Obama even weighed in and

told the AP that if he owned the team he

think about changing the name so

Terrence is it now just a matter of time

before the name Redskins goes away well

let's start with this when you have the

most powerful person on the world saying

they should change the name that's Roger

Goodell no actually Barack Obama and the

second most powerful man on the face of

the earth the Commissioner of the NFL

perhaps and Roger Goodell saying that he

thinks they should consider it is going

to get done and and I'll tell you what

Don this is somewhat analogous to what

you've been dealing with the last few

weeks with the government shutdown right

now

whereas daniel snyder who is the risky

ins owner it's sort of like the house

republicans is not a matter of if he's

going to change the name as a matter of

when it's gonna happen and how it's

gonna happen

hmm Redskins owner Dan Snyder told USA

Today that the team would never and he

said you can use capital letter said

never change its name I mean you just

said it's a matter of when but you think

he's gonna eat his words yeah I mean

because I mean NEVER is a very very

strong word you know and and Daniel

Snyder is taking this hard-line stance

in the past you know similar to like

George Wallace standing in front of that

that schooled or fifty years ago and now

he's kind of evolved into a sort of a a

kind of gentler type stance and we just

a few days ago Snyder just said that he

can understand why people would be be

upset that he could sympathize with them

so you could see some movement even with

Dan Snyder hmm okay sand just the

Redskins in Dallas play later tonight

correct that's true

so what could they change their name to

that would that would make at least some

fans happy I mean the Warriors the

Senators yeah well you know it's got to

think what would please Daniel Snyder

and remember all these guys

these NFL owners they have huge egos so

I'm serious when I say this down they

should change the name and name them

after daniel snyder call him the

washington Snyder's okay and for anybody

out there who's laughing remember

there's a precedent for this Yeah right

but in the National Football League I

mean you got the Cleveland Browns and

the Browns were named after their

original owner Paul Brown so just do it

call it a day and everybody's happy yeah

it's a tough one because if if a certain

group of people are offended by

something then you should probably

respect what they have to say if Native

Americans are offended by this and we

should that's exactly right and people

always say well done how would you feel

I've been asked this question before how

would you feel if it was the black skins

or the brown skins

I'm not easily offended that wouldn't

offend me because I have brown skin and

in the summer I have black skin so none

of that would offend me but red skins

might offend Native Americans and we

should be mindful and respect sure no

course what about