Column: Not all Native people honored by mascots

Thursday, February 22, 2007  

"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)
pwday

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

Related Stories:
Opinion: Racism still prevalent in world of sports (11/21)
NCAA announces revised Indian mascot policy (8/8)
Mixed reaction to change in use of mascots (8/8)
NCAA committee to take up Indian mascots (8/3)
TV stations challenged on use of 'Redskins' name (07/22)
Giago: Seminole Tribe wrong on Indian mascots (07/19)
Appeals court keeps 'Redskins' lawsuit alive (07/18)
Opinion: Changing mascots is a waste of time (07/15)
Mascots not only an issue for Native Americans (7/14)
Opinion: It's time for racist mascots to go (7/14)
Seminole Tribe doesn't have problem with mascots (07/05)
NCAA committee won't call for ban on Indian mascots (6/28)
Seminole Nation opposes FSU's 'Seminoles' mascot (6/23)
Seminole Tribe supports FSU's 'Seminoles' mascot (6/21)
Editorial: Not all 'Indian' mascots are offensive (05/31)
Harjo: NCAA should ban all 'Native' imagery (5/27)
FSU defends use of 'Seminole' mascot in NCAA letter (05/17)
Schools defend Indian mascots in reports to NCAA (5/16)
Editorial: UND's 'Fighting Sioux' report not truthful (05/06)
FSU preparing report on use of 'Seminole' mascot (04/29)
Virginia tribe not offended by school's nickname (04/26)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe supports CMU nickname (04/13)
Drunk Student: Chief Illiniwek is not offensive to Natives (04/07)
Group protests university's 'Fighting Sioux' name (03/28)
UNC-Pembroke stands by its 'Braves' nickname (03/09)
UND asked to study 'Fighting Sioux' name again (02/17)