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Column: Not all Native people honored by mascots
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Filed Under: Education | Opinion | Sports

"Every school says it is only trying to honor the fighting spirit of Native Americans. That's undoubtedly true, but what if they don't feel honored?

Can you see why some might be put off by thousands of white people doing the tomahawk chop and yelling, 'Scalp 'em!' when their team is trying to win a game? And just because Seminole tribal leaders say it's OK, should it make it OK with every Native American?

Imagine if a school somehow got the blessing of the Mandinka tribe to change its mascot to a historically accurate spear-carrying warrior. Would all Africans be expected to give up the right to be offended?

And yes, these days, somebody always will be offended by something. This is where I used to think that if Native American names must go, we must be sensitive to all poor souls who might be bothered."

Get the Story:
David Whitley: Chief Illiniwek's native dance offended many (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 2/22)
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Relevant Links:
NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee - http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/
membership/governance/assoc-wide/moic/index.html
National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media - http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm

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