Did you ever think
about the fight over Native American mascot? People disagree if we should use Native people
as mascots. One day during social
studies class we talked a little about these mascots. It got my brain moving.
We read articles on this topic. We had many that were negative and one that
said using Native American symbols as mascots is okay. I think that the use of
Native American mascots is fine as used appropriately.
I read an article
where a man named Paul Lukas interviewed an Indian tribe chief. The chief said,
and I quote, “If they’re not willing to celebrate the culture, they shouldn’t
have the privilege of depicting it.” For example, there is nothing derogatory
about braves or warriors, but terms like redskins
and half-breeds are derogatory to
the Native Americans.
People are saying
these names are marginalizing kids, but the chief Paul interviewed said, “The
way their culture and their people were treated is the reason. I don’t believe
that a menacing-looking brave on the backboard of a basketball hoop is going to
marginalize that child as much as that generational trauma.” This generational
trauma refers to many facts including that Native peoples were not counted as
people until 1924. I believe in what the chief said, and my opinion still
stands strong.
I went to a Native
American Festival at Long Hunter State Park, called the Pow Wow. I met a man
named Diamond Brown (he is full blood Cherokee). When I first met him, I
thought he was weird because he had strange clothing. But then a classmate of
mine asked him what he thought about the term redskins; his answer was “I think redskins is a good name, as long
as they treat the logo with full respect, which got him into talking about
other names. He said, “The only thing I do not like is us being called Native
American. We have labels for everything: dog, cat, and pencil; those are all
labels. It is the same with us. We had a name before you gave us the label
Native Americans. Now think about that. You are all Native Americans. We
(Native peoples) did not come from the United States. We founded it. So why
label us Native Americas when so are you?” He told us that he would prefer to
be asked what tribe are you in or to
be called Native People.
All of these facts
I have used helps me push forward my opinion that Native American mascots are
okay to a point, if used respectfully. So next time you’re heading out to a
Redskins or Half-breed game, tell your friends and family about this, and you
will be a help to this world.
