As I watched the movie More than a Word I found that native people found most sport mascots offensive. I think this subject could be resolved very easily. I think if that teams were to include the actual native people in some of the things that are preformed would help the way the native people find it offensive. I was not surprised when they did the study on the native people about the team names and around 90% did not care about the name of the sports teams. Fans in a certain way feel like they are honoring them and showing them praise in some teams. People have a strong feeling that people are not disrespecting the native people and feel more like they are honoring them and keeping their culture still known. Fans feel like the Native Indian people would have been slowly forgotten if the sports teams name were not in our entertainment. Native people have tried almost everything to get the sports teams name and logo changed to a more nationally friendly name. They have met with owners of teams and suggested some type of change. The owners of the team shut them down instantly.
seanjr81 June 26, 2018
Joey, I liked the way you stated the fact that if possibly Native people were included into the sport being performed then possibly it would be less offensive. With that being said I feel they would still find something to talk about it and I personally understand why they want it changed, I wouldn’t enjoy a sports team called slaves or something in that nature but also i understand that if the owners wont change it then the Indians should just go on with their life.
caleby June 26, 2018
As I watched the movie I could also tell that the NFL owners were not hesitant to shut down talks of name change. I believe that the owners don’t want the activists to gain momentum against the logo. The NFL is based off of money and as soon as the owners change the name, the organization will lose their fans and support, therefore sacrificing their business. It bothers me how self-centered the owners are, even taking a look back to George Preston Marshall, who was a well-known racist of his time, and how he moved this organization to our nation’s capital, even though the team name was a offensive racial slur.
zpete55 June 27, 2018
I agree with some of the stuff that you are saying Joey, the native people have tried alot to get the teams name and logo changed to a more neutral name. They have met with owners of teams and suggested some type of change. The owners of the team shut them down instantly. But I think that if teams used actually native people it would just make the activist eve more angry, it might work but at the same time it could make things worse unless the teams and the activist were able to meet and decide on it together.
makayla7 June 28, 2018
I agree with you when you say that if Indians were actually involved in the performances and celebrations, then maybe it wouldn’t be considered as offensive as it is now. I find “Little Red” so offensive. If an actual Native American performed an actual rain dance at halftime, then that would be authentic. But, for a white guy to be running around in face paintings, inauthentic Indian garb, and to perform a fake rain dance, that is overt racism and mockery of an entire race of people and fans don’t even bat an eye. I also think that it’s sad how quick Indians get shut down when they try to bring up how wrong the name “Redskin” is.