Amarlis Vazquez
Prof Peele & Geoghan
FIQWS 10008
26 March 2019
Inquiry-Based Research Essay
Racism in sports have been looked over many times by scholars and sports fans. People have noticed the racial remarks that opposing fans have said towards team players during games or in a regular conversation about sports. All of these violent occurrences have affected plenty of minorities, especially Native Americans. There have been plenty of situations where Native Americans have been judged or stereotyped, just like the football team “Redskins”.
Sports has been a form of entertainment for a long time. With specific colors and mascots for each team to represent the state. European Americans often use Native American symbols as mascots even though Natives are insulted by it. After many years, many teams have reconsidered their team names and mascots. Seeing their culture misrepresented in the media and sports could be psychologically damaging to Native Americans (Native Americans as sports mascots). It creates a hostile environment for children which results in self-esteem issues and mental health. Some fans believe that the mascots and names honor the Native American people and traditions, but others view it as a celebration for Euro-Americans conquering the indigenous population and taming them. When fans don’t agree with changing the logos and mascots, they don’t realize that what they are rooting for is close to racism.Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, president of the American Sociological Associations, characterizes the act of those fans who claim they aren’t racist “racism without racists”. They don’t understand that what they’re doing is wrong and shouldn’t be still occurring (A Fight Over Identity). A few teams have considered changing their mascots and names after receiving criticism.
There have been many have wondered why fans favor having Native American symbols represented in sports. There have been surveys and interviews on this issue. A group of professors from different universities decided to conduct two studies that will determine whether students are exposed to American Indian stereotypes. The first study consisted of random college students who were asked to look at an image (which was chosen at random). Their reactions and sayings were recorded. The results of this study was determined inconclusive because their might’ve been a bias effect due to the people giving out the survey sand showing the images were African American and Asian. The second study consisted of only undergraduate psychology students. Half of the participants read a passage about the tradition of Chief Illiniwek and the others read a passage about an arts center. They all answered questions after reading the passage. The experimenters were White Americans, so the professors found there shouldn’t be a bias occurring in the participants answers. The results were that there was endorsement in anti-Asian American stereotypes in greater extents. With all the information gathered by the professors, they concluded that exposure to American Indian mascots increased stereotyping of a different minority group (Effect of Exposure). Having teams represent Native American culture wrongfully does not only effect Native Americans, but other cultures because people than think it’s right to stereotype.
There are media companies that have ignored and noticed the critiques of native American imagery in sports. It doesn’t always go the way people opposed of the imagery want it to go. There has been almost 30 years of debating as to whether schools all around the world should be allowed to use symbols of Native Americans as their mascots, names, and logos. There have been studies and observations made of the media and use of Native American culture. Most images that are found in the media are offensive and degrative. It mocks Native American culture and tradition through the use of stereotyping. Even though this issue has been spoken about for years, it has not changed much of anything due to media companies not caring. They claim that news that is posted does not need to go along social change (Native American Mascot Controversy). People who are not caring about the use of symbols and traditions of Native Americans may not be aware that this could damage Native Americans because it is not only does it make them feel less about themselves but also disgusted.
David Glass, president of NCARSM, has had great achievement with his non-profit organization. Because of the hurt and disgust him and many other Native Americans have felt over the years about media and sports, NCARSM have convinced 3500 schools to change their mascots and names. When speaking about the organization and issues they have come along, one of the hardest things Glass faces after joining NCARSM is the amount of people, including friends, that have passed his boundaries and said things that weren’t right. Having the knowledge that he has, Glass has to inform them of what they’re doing wrong. Glass has a strong love for his community and it makes him upset to see the young kids have self-esteem issues and become depressed because of what is being presented in sports and media. NCARSM has stayed true to their mission of eliminating more mascots and logos and trying to change the way people view Native Americans. His story is proof of how racism in sports effects Native Americans.
In present day, companies make a lot of money with selling jerseys and t-shirts with mascots on them. A common football team called the “redskins” have shirts with their mascot, a red skinned man wearing a feather head dress. Frederick Joseph, an opinion contributer
