Volume III. No. 06
 09-24-04
 Change The Name 
 { Native American Culture Deserves Our Respect } 
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2004
 

 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 a
 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 franchis 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 franchise 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 hypothetical 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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