Native American Mascots

In recent times, there has been controversy over using Native Americans as mascots for various activities. It has influenced several teams to change their mascot in an attempt to please the Native Americans they have offended, but there are still many teams that have yet to change their mascots. It is inhumane to target a race of people and imitate them in such a disrespectful way, using stereotypes that have no relation to who they are or what their culture is.
We use Native American mascots at games to cheer on the crowd and perform stereotypical routines for our own selfish enjoyment. “American Indian mascots and logos promote negative stereotypes” (Herrington 1). These stereotypical ideas of their culture that we have grown accustomed too, that do not reflect their culture in the least bit. Each American tribe has its own traditions and cultures, “yet many American Indian mascots wear feathered headdresses and war paint. They often carry tomahawks” (Herrington 1). In an attempt to put an end to the use of offensive mascots, the N.C.A.A. contacted teams with names that they considered hostile to Native Americans. In which they said that they could keep their names “if they got permission from tribal leaders; otherwise, they’d have to find a new name or be excluded from hosting

“It’s a hostile environment for Native people who happen to go to school there or who are in the community” (Majerol 2). Which is why Wisconsin passed a law that now “allows bans on logos, nicknames, and mascots based on Native American and other races” (Herrington 1). That means you can “challenge mascots that are offensive on a high school level” (Majerol 2). If we continue making progress towards stopping these offensive mascots we will help put an end to everyday racism that occurs in