National | Sports

Granddaughter of former team owner condemns racist mascot

Thursday, July 24, 2014

The logo for the Change the Mascot campaign

The granddaughter of George Preston Marshall, the former owner of Washington NFL team, is joining the Change the Mascot movement.

Jordan Wright simply believes the name is offensive. “It’s about respect,” she told The Washington Post. “If even one person tells you that name, that word you used, offends them, then that’s enough. That should be enough.”

Wright doesn't know whether her grandfather knew the name was offensive. He is frequently described as bigoted for his refusal to hire African American players.

“I think people of his social status back then had no idea they were running around harming people,” Wright, who lives in a Washington, D.C., suburb in Virginia, told the paper.

Wright said she didn't start questioning the name herself until she saw a documentary about offensive mascots in the 1980s. She also became more interested in Indian issues in general because her husband has a Cherokee ancestor.

The team, unsurprisingly, claims Wright changed her views because she has contributed articles to Indian Country Today. The media outlet is owned by the Oneida Nation of New York, which is leading the Change the Mascot campaign.

Wright doesn't even think ICT knew of her connection to Marshall. She hasn't written about, or spoken publicly about, the NFL mascot until very recently.

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Granddaughter of former Redskins owner George P. Marshall condemns team’s name (The Washington Post 7/24)