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Byron Dorgan: It's time for Washington team to change name

Monday, November 25, 2013

Former Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), the founder of the Center for Native American Youth, calls on the Washington professional football team to drop its mascot:

Martin Luther King Jr. implored us to "judge people by the content of their character, not the color of their skin."
A football team that is named "Redskins" in the year 2013 fails that test.
Over many decades, words that had been commonly used as racial slurs against others have been discredited. Most citizens now shame those who use the slurs while exhibiting their own prejudice and ignorance.
I don't believe the owner of the Redskins, the players or the fans intend to offend by using the term Redskin. But what might have been seen as acceptable many decades ago is no longer acceptable. Times change, and the failure to change with it ignores the progress we have made in so many areas.
This month, my organization will host five young American Indians who will be coming to Washington, D.C., as part of our Champions for Change program. They are remarkable young men and women, young leaders who are making a difference on their Indian Reservations.
They are proud of their heritage and their culture. But even at their young age, they know about prejudice. They know the words that are used to demonstrate that prejudice and they know how those words hurt. They wouldn't expect to be called "Redskins" when they visit our city. And, if called that, they would surly feel it was a slur.

Get the Story:
Byron Dorgan: Time to change name of Redskins (USA Today 11/24)

Another Opinion:
William F. Shughart II: Change the Redskins' nickname? No, furor distracts us from real issues (The Arizona Daily Star 11/25)