Use of Native American Imagery in Sports

[getbak]

In Calgary, the Western Canada Redmen will soon be a thing of the past: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...899/story.html

[puckluck2]

Good on them. Probably more to follow.

[sureLoss]

US Patent Office cancels Washington Redskins trademark

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...789_story.html

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has canceled the Washington Redskins trademark registration, calling the football team’s name “disparaging to Native Americans.”

The landmark case, which appeared before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, was filed on behalf of five Native Americans. It was the second time such a case was filed.

[PeteMoss]

Second time this has happened. First time it was revered by federal judges on appeal due to the trademark being in place for years with no issues before the complaints occurred (laches).

Seems likely the same thing will occur here.

[Coach]

Nice to see at least the patent office has a concience.

[undercoverbrother]

Could this thread and the one in Off Topic be merged?

[burn_baby_burn]

Kansas City Chiefs reaching out to Native American community to avoid future law suits.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...le1161612.html

[Itse]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Kansas City Chiefs reaching out to Native American community to avoid future law suits.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...le1161612.html

Pretty much the right way to do it. Getting some very nice PR and avoiding lawsuits in one move, with an added chance to actually do some good.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Itse

Pretty much the right way to do it. Getting some very nice PR and avoiding lawsuits in one move, with an added chance to actually do some good.

I'm obviously biased as a Chiefs fan, however, I fail to see the Kansas City Chiefs as a racist name or image. The Chiefs quit using cartoon images of native americans on their game day programs in the early 1960's. They stopped using a horse ridden by a guy wearing a headdress back in 1980.

Where is the line between incensitivity and freedom of speach and expression? Is it ok to dress like a native american for Halloween? Why is it ok to dress like a Viking and not a native american? Or is it wrong to dress like a Viking at a football game? What if a native american dresses as a Viking, what is that considered?

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I'm obviously biased as a Chiefs fan, however, I fail to see the Kansas City Chiefs as a racist name or image. The Chiefs quit using cartoon images of native americans on their game day programs in the early 1960's. They stopped using a horse ridden by a guy wearing a headdress back in 1980.

Where is the line between incensitivity and freedom of speach and expression? Is it ok to dress like a native american for Halloween? Why is it ok to dress like a Viking and not a native american? Or is it wrong to dress like a Viking at a football game? What if a native american dresses as a Viking, what is that considered?

The Vikings have had an easier history than Native Americans. That should help you answer your questions.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by the2bears

The Vikings have had an easier history than Native Americans. That should help you answer your questions.

Again, I fail to see why that matters. It shouldn't matter what the history of a culture or race of people was. Everyone should be treated with the same respect.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I'm obviously biased as a Chiefs fan, however, I fail to see the Kansas City Chiefs as a racist name or image. The Chiefs quit using cartoon images of native americans on their game day programs in the early 1960's. They stopped using a horse ridden by a guy wearing a headdress back in 1980.

Where is the line between incensitivity and freedom of speach and expression? Is it ok to dress like a native american for Halloween? Why is it ok to dress like a Viking and not a native american? Or is it wrong to dress like a Viking at a football game? What if a native american dresses as a Viking, what is that considered?

I'll mark you down as an "old guy" who can't change.

“The old guys you see out there now at games (in headdresses), they’re not going to change,” Learned says. “They’re stuck. But the new fans, the ones who are going to be fans 20 years down the road, that’s who it will affect. We feel very strongly that with education and us working together (with the Chiefs) that there will be a better understanding of why some things that have happened in the recent past we feel are disrespectful.”

I guess using a real war drum might be better but they would still be using it as a way to hype the crowd, not what it is made for.

Well, the war drum represents something very different than crowd hype to a lot of American Indians. The Chiefs didn’t mean to offend anyone with this, of course. They just didn’t know. They could have used some guidance, and this is one of the points Learned made to Donovan and Chapin.
“I told Mark, ‘I could’ve helped you with this,’” Learned says.
Learned suggested the Chiefs go to a local tribe, with respect, and ask for a real drum to be made. Bring that drum to Arrowhead. Have a blessing. Show your fans this is something very sacred to Indians. Help them understand why you’re doing this. Have men from the tribe come in and play a real hymn and sing.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by the2bears

The Vikings have had an easier history than Native Americans. That should help you answer your questions.

Really though whether you dress up as an Indian or Viking what should that have to do with the history of either race? The term "Viking" actually means "pirate" or "raider" yet has been attached northern Europeans. You can argue that Norwegians could be offended by the use of Viking. Ironically it was Native Americans that drove the Vikings out of North America btw.

With the Redskins at least you can make a case that some natives find the name offensive but what exactly is offensive about a Chief or an Indian for that matter?

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Why is it ok to dress like a Viking and not a native american? Or is it wrong to dress like a Viking at a football game? What if a native american dresses as a Viking, what is that considered?

It's one thing to celebrate with a caricature of your own heritage. Many Vikings fans have Scandinavian heritage. Native mascots are different because the owners and fans were certainly not Natives. In fact, back when these teams started in a lot of cases Natives weren't even allowed in the stadiums.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

It's one thing to celebrate with a caricature of your own heritage. Many Vikings fans have Scandinavian heritage. Native mascots are different because the owners and fans were certainly not Natives. In fact, back when these teams started in a lot of cases Natives weren't even allowed in the stadiums.

LOL you realize many native americans are Redskins fans right? That point holds no relevance in this discussion.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

LOL you realize many native americans are Redskins fans right? That point holds no relevance in this discussion.

Well when Vikings start protesting that their culture is being usurped by commercial interests and drunken fans, they may have a case.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Well when Vikings start protesting that their culture is being usurped by commercial interests and drunken fans, they may have a case.

So it's only insensitive when a small handful of people protest as that's really the crutch of the whole Redskins thing as it was all started by a small group. There's still a large portion of native americans that aren't bothered by the name. To me the issue is that you either eliminate them all or leave them alone as it's preferential treatment to a minority to just change the Redskins name and not the Blackhawks, Braves, etc.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

With the Redskins at least you can make a case that some natives find the name offensive but what exactly is offensive about a Chief or an Indian for that matter?

The answer is nothing.... The team name Redskins is horribly offensive but will be gone soon enough and hopefully this debate goes with it. Is there another example of a racist logo/team name that hasn't already been dealth with? The Indians ditched their logo, Western Canada HS became the RedHawks, and anything with "fighting" in the title has been dropped.


It has been shown in this thread that American Indians aren't even paricularly offended by the most racist of these offerings.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by neo45

The answer is nothing.... The team name Redskins is horribly offensive but will be gone soon enough and hopefully this debate goes with it. Is there another example of a racist logo/team name that hasn't already been dealth with? The Indians ditched their logo, Western Canada HS became the RedHawks, and anything with "fighting" in the title has been dropped.


It has been shown in this thread that American Indians aren't even paricularly offended by the most racist of these offerings.

Well obviously some people think the other names are offensive or the Chiefs wouldn't be reaching out to natives to cover their buts.

I don't think you guys realize that the Redskins name probably won't change anytime soon if ever. Snyder and the NFL have too much money and power to be bullied even by the government.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well obviously some people think the other names are offensive or the Chiefs wouldn't be reaching out to natives to cover their buts.

I don't think you guys realize that the Redskins name probably won't change anytime soon if ever. Snyder and the NFL have too much money and power to be bullied even by the government.

The path to change likely comes from sponsors and advertisers demanding it