When answering another question, I found that it is believed by some that it's bigoted to keep names for teams and mascots that some schools have had since their inception. Is it bigoted, or is it celebrating/honoring the people in question? (See inside)
by 
BigDaddyBS
ANSWERS: 5
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See http://ishgooda.org/racial/indi1a.htm for some examples I understand the argument that if they use an unflattering caricature of an Indian, or one that makes them look stupid ... Or the mascot (obviously not Indian) dresses in Indian "garb" (usually older garb - buckskin, loincloths and the like, and usually, again, a caricature)... Or the "mascot" does not act in a respectful way... (see http://ishgooda.org/ for examples) But if it's an old traditional name, and the mascot is drawn and acts dignified, is it REALLY bigoted? NEW schools and teams are NOT named such, but is it fair to demand that older schools remove something that has been traditional and associated with it since its inception? Please note: I'm just asking what ABers think of the situation.
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My husband went to... I can't remember if it was Danville college or the University of Illinois, and they changed the mascot from some aboriginal American mascot or other to some cheesy animal. His friend Nate, who is 100% aboriginal American, as well as the rest of his family, are upset to this DAY over that switch. In his words "They steal our land, kill our people, ruin our culture, and we're not even allowed to have a college football team named after us?" They even LIKED the tradition that the best dancer in the dance classes would dress as the mascot and perform a "rain dance" (which never actually existed) during halftime shows at home games. It was a flawed gesture of respect, but at least the school was not pretending that the native culture never existed.
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I think the problem is, if you say "you can only have it if you're respectful," how do you define respectful? Lady Alathias said her friend liked that they tried to do a tribute with this rain dance thing, even though it never existed. I'm sure that there are just as many if not more native people who are offended, who see it as the perpetuation of a stereotype.
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Whether or not it is 'celebrating/honoring' the people in question is debatable. There is a whole lot of other stuff that may go into that question, historically. However, what we CAN say with a little bit more accuracy is that the names were chosen based upon percieved characteristics of the people/animals in question which lend support to the characteristics the teams wished to be known by. The Atlanta Braves, for example, most certainly did not choose their name because they thought people would see "ATLANTA BRAVES" and think "COWARDS", "WEAKLINGS", "UNCOORDINATED FOOLS", or "PANSIES". And one could say for sure that the US Marine Corps most CERTAINLY doesn't come across as a bunch of panty-waisted, neurotic, wimps who run from battle with an English Bulldog for a Mascot. "English Bulldogs. Teufel-hunden. Devil Dogs. They symbolize the ethos of the Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines." These names and mascots are NOT chosen to honor the people or animals themselves. They are chosen to honor the teams and organizations as representitive of their character.
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When that team or mascot was named-it was with pride. Why would a school choose a name that they believed was denigrating or insulting? My alma mater (mascot/team the "Warhawks") is located in a state that has many Native American tribes. The name was chosen to represent the culture and history of the area, as well as the fighting spirit attributed to Native Americans. As far as I know, there have been no movements to change anything. Sometimes "PC" is ridiculous.
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