Since it appears that the argument over gay marriage is about to be resolved, allow me to give you PC-minded folks a new argument to go after. Pay attention, you might learn something. (Jim Ingram, you can sit this one out, because you and I see eye-to-eye on this issue).
Native Americans have been up in arms over the use of their images as mascots from everything from elementary schools up to the professional sports level. Two of the most offensive Indian nicknames to Native Americans are the Washington Redskins, and, regrettably as a former Atlanta resident, the Atlanta Braves. In the early 90s as the Braves made their 1st Championship run and the Washington NFL team made their last Super Bowl Run, Native American groups made a huge push to pressure all professional sports teams to eliminate their Native America mascots and nicknames. Though several college and high school teams did get rid of their mascots, the push seemed to fail and the argument died, possibly forever.
But underneath the surface, the elimination of Native American mascots has made significant ground. There are only a handful of colleges that still have Indian mascots (Florida State being the most recognizable). Stanford, Syracuse, Oklahoma, St. Johns, and Illinois are just a few of the major colleges which have eliminated Indian mascots over the years. On the public high, middle, and elementary school levels, several states are outlawing Indian nicknames. At one time, 3000 schools had Indian nicknames. Now, that number has shrunk to 900 and is still declining.
Now, the push to eliminate the Professional Sports Indian nicknames may have gotten new life. At a recent forum in DC, many media and elites pushed anew to get rid of the Washington nickname, considered by many Native American groups to be the most offensive, and on par with calling a team the N-word. At least two Washington area papers, have decided to stop referring to Washington’s NFL team by their nickname, and lead Washington Post Sports columnist, Mike Wise, seems to be leading the media charge to end the use of the R-word in Washington sports. Late last year, the Atlanta Braves tried to bring back Chief Nocahoma’s image on their logos, but the public outrage that followed terminated that proposal.
It’s interesting to note that the Braves and Washington’s NFL team are the two nicknames that generate the most push for termination of their Indian nicknames. After all, they originally shared the sports stadium and Braves nickname in what many still consider the most segregated city in America—Boston. The Football Team changed their name after moving to Fenway Park in 1933, home of the Boston Red Sox. Here is where another parallel occurs that most people in this country are not aware of. Washington’s NFL Team was the last NFL franchise to integrate (much like the Red Sox was the last MLB team to integrate), but only after the Federal Government threatened Washington team and pressure was applied from the Washington Post (George Preston Marshall, the owner at that team, was believed to be a racist). Any attempts to try and re-write the history of the nickname as honoring Native Americans rings hollow, just based on those historical facts.
Congress is trying to pass a new law that may end the use of Native American mascots and nicknames all together. History now appears to be on the Native Americans. Yeah, I know, this push sounds like a broken record. But something feels different now. I don’t know how I know. It’s just a feeling, like now is the time where if enough pressure is applied, Washington will change its nickname and the remaining dominos will fall rapidly.
So common, all you champions of PC causes. Get on board the Ban Native American nickname train while there’s still time. Because, if you miss this locomotive that is gathering steam, you’re going to be no better than those you regularly mock as being old-fashioned and out-of-touch with today’s world.
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