Many middle school, high school, collegiate, and professional athletic teams include the names of Native Americans, also referred to as American Indians. For example, at the professional sports level, there are the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Blackhawks, and Washington Redskins. The use of these names is not limited to a particular region of the country or a kind of sports. A number of American teams also use Native American songs and mascots. For years, Native Americans considered the use of these names as offensive misrepresentation of their race, culture, and ethnicity. Such practice should be discouraged because it is rather disrespectful for a number of reasons.

The issue of using elements of Native American culture and tradition by sports teams has been unresolved in American sports for over six decades. The National Congress of American Indians started a campaign against various unflattering and rather negative stereotypes about the natives in American culture in the 40s. With time, the campaign focused on the use of American Indian names and mascots by professional as well as college sports teams. Nevertheless, the factions continued using their signs as well as names stating that these actions did not degrade Native Americans but honored them. The campaign to eliminate the use of Native American names and mascots in sports yielded significant results. However, the problem has not been eliminated yet.

The use of these names and mascots by sports teams is racist and insulting. Exploiting American Indian traditions, culture, and beliefs can be interpreted as evidence of ongoing racism against ethnic groups. It is argued that Western Euro-American nation does not take into consideration the possible impact on American Indians. It is also not clear why sports teams do not borrow names and mascots that represent the other minority groups, such as Hispanic/Latino, African American, or Asian ones. Therefore, the use of Native American traditions and culture for sports teams cannot be viewed as an honor or insult with certainty. However, the latter seems more credible since mascots promote ethnic stereotypes, which in most cases are hurtful.

The use of American Indian names and mascots is a source of pain and shame. The natives are aware of the origins of the names and their historical background: none of them are flattering. Most sports teams take the names and symbols out of context and do not treat them with proper respect. It is not advisable for any sports team to use Indian American mascots and names. In this regard, over the past three decades, several colleges and high schools seized to use their American Indian-related mascots and names have found alternatives. Moreover, in 2005, the National Collegiate Athletic Association banned the use of Native American symbols and names by teams in postseason games unless the teams using tribal names acquired permission of the tribe. However, the prohibition was only applicable to the NCAA funded events and tournaments.

Teams that use Native American names promote not only racial but also political inequality. Despite the demonstrated leadership at the collegiate and the changes taking place at the high school level, there is no progress at the professional level related to this issue. However, there is a clear understanding that creating new names and mascots is unacceptable. Professional industry, Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Hockey League (NHL) in particular, and their owners failed to address the issue of appalling race-based marketing methods of the past. They maintain that the logos and names honor the natives. In actual fact, during establishment of these brands, team owners were hoping to get financial gain from mocking the identity of Native Americans. Consequently, racial as well as political inequalities were perpetuated by these businesses. Unfortunately, there are people who maintain these brands and logos even nowadays.

American Indians have suffered heartbreaking losses throughout their history. The efforts of NFL and the Washington football team to keep the name Redskins attracted national and international attention. The term “Redskin” originated when Indian Americans were hunted and killed to gain reward, and their skin was used as evidence. The term has since advanced and acquired other insulting meanings. The Washington NFL team was founded in 1932 and initially played under the name of Boston Braves, but in 1933, they changed their name to Redskins. According to the team spokesmen, the name supposedly meant to honor the team’s Indian American coach William Dietz, also known as Lonestar. In December 2014, a petition that requested exclusion of the word “Redskins” from the air was denied by the Federal Communications Commission. The petition claimed that the name “redskin” is profane and obscene. The FCC agency ruled that the use of that name and the mascot was neither profane nor obscene. The agency argued that something can be obscene only if it depicts or describes sexual conducts and profane if it is excretory or sexual in nature.

Continued use of these mascots only aggravates contempt. Using Native American mascots causes Indians to feel ridiculed by the teams in terms of their way of life and the way they were treated by white settlers. In the spring of 2013, a controversy arose in the realms of sport. Racial controversy resulted because of the Washington NFL franchise, which is one of the most famous and gainful teams in the league, using Redskin nickname. Being a symbol of exasperation for Indian American advocates and activists, a powerful new movement aimed to eliminate the mascot. The team was urged by one of the D.C. council members to change its name to Redtails, and other ten congress members sent letters to Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Washington American football team, in support of the plea. Despite the pleas, Snyder did not waver. “We will never changethenameof theteam,” Dan Snyder told USA TODAY in 2013. Snyder has been the owner of the Washington NFL team since 1999, and his attempts to connect with Indian Americans in response to continuous persuasion for a name change has only created division in some communities. This includes the Navajo community, second largest tribe in the United States, which has ever remained silent on the issue of Native American names and mascots.

The historical circumstances that manipulated establishment and use of American Indian names in sports explicitly thwarted the idea of the United States as land of opportunity. Tackling the issue of use of American Indian mascots in sports organizations, as well as the NFL, is a subject of establishing justice and racial equity. Many professional teams tried to use public opinion to prove that there is no reason for changing these destructive stereotypes. Despite being influences by activist groups, public survey indicates that many citizens of the United States believe that sports organizations should continue using the names. Conducting polls as a test for humanity’s acceptance and movement in the direction of racial equity is a flawed process.

Those in favor of the use of Native American names and mascots argue that although the overall treatment of American Indians by the conventional American culture throughout history was insensitive, immoral, and patronizing at times, the use of Native Americans mascots and names by sports team does not seem to be predominantly disparaging. Sports teams being named after American Indians are loyal gestures, geographic identifiers, and sometimes even humorous references with no intention to make fun or insult Native Americans. However, since many ancient ceremonies and traditions are practiced by Native Americans to date, the use of mascots can still be unintentionally offensive. For example, eagle feathers are regarded sacred by many Indian tribes; therefore, when they are used in sports events without proper respect, their importance becomes reduced for the members of a tribe.

Moreover, the advocates of this approach state that the original idea of using the symbolism of Native Americans was about paying tribute and honoring the Native American community since they are associated with positive characteristics, such as steadfastness, courage, and bravery. The athletic teams should emulate these traits. Besides, the symbols and the names have been used since time immemorial. Many teams also assert that changing their name will destroy their trademark and related goods market. However, these arguments are misleading because they conveniently ignore the continued economic vitality of the teams, which stopped using their American Indian team names.

To conclude, the use of Native American metaphors, imagery, and names as a trademark by any sports team, professional or not, is pervasive. At the core of the issue are very complex racial differences and stereotypes. Those who support the use of these names and mascots do not care about the impact of the stereotypical picture of the represented community. Thus, understanding the history of American Indians, problems associated with caricatures and racial prejudices, and finally responsibility connected with different spheres, sports or social development, are rather burning issues that require careful consideration.