Conservative Student News

Photo credit: www.nflticketsnow.com - The Washington Redskins are one of several sports teams that are receiving pressure from the APA and American Indian activists groups due to their use of American Indian mascots and nicknames.

The American Psychological Association (APA) has publicly requested American Indian sports mascots and nicknames to be immediately retired. 

            The APA claims the reason for its mandate is the harm that these mascots and nicknames have done to the self-esteem and social identity-development of American Indians.  APA member, psychologist Lisa Thomas, PhD stated: “We know from the literature that oppression, covert and overt racism, and perceived racism can have serious negative consequences for the mental health of American Indian and Alaska native (AIAN) people.” 

My first response to this APA “discovery” was “Duh.”  My second, slightly more intellectual response is: “Perhaps there is an explanation—other than hate and racism—for the origin of American Indian mascots and nicknames.” 

Someone might object by asking me, a Caucasian, how I would feel if it were the other way around.  I would respond, “Oh, you mean if there were sports teams with names like the Fighting Irish?  Or the Hofstra Flying Dutchmen?  No, those names would not really bother me—and I’m even Irish.”  They could persist: “That’s only two examples.  There are over 20 such examples that refer to American Indians—it’s not as big of an issue for Caucasians.”  They would be right—it’s not as big of an “issue.”  But, quite frankly, if it were, I would be flattered.

The numerous sports names that reference American Indians—from the Atlanta Braves to the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux to the Carthage College Redmen—are vastly tributes to positive characteristics of Native Americans:  Courage, athleticism, strength, stamina, pride and bravery to name a few.

No one—even a psychologist—wants to cheer for a team that will be viewed in a negative light.  Sports team names and mascots are always specifically and carefully chosen to elicit feelings of loyalty for what they represent.  It would be absurd to think that anyone would intentionally name their team or design a mascot that would not be inspirational and inclusive:  No one sets out to fill their stadium with empty bleachers on game day.  Everyone can recognize the universal qualities—like strength, bravery and stamina—that the American Indian team names and mascots were meant to inspire fans and team members by.

Classification inevitably leads to problems if people expect names or classifications to define rather than merely classify.  Obviously, as a woman of Irish heritage, I will wreck havoc on my self esteem if I believe that sports names and mascots are capable of defining my heritage.  This would mean that every element of the name Fighting Irish and every characteristic of a short little leprechaun, crouching—fists clenched—in a fighting pose is definitive of me as an Irish American.  On the contrary, I see Notre Dame’s mascot for what he is:  A classification—a representative of the persevering spirit that the Irish are proud to be known for. 

We need to start seeing the names of sports teams and mascots as mere classifications—or we will all end up in the psychologist’s chair.  This is only common sense.   Such common sense would lead to discoveries like that recently made by senior linguist for the Smithsonian Institute, Ives Goddard.  His study of the term “redskin” over a period of seven months led to the finding that this term was used by both Native Americans and the white settlers to convey RESPECT.  Hang tight Washington Redskins fans:  It turns out you can still attend games with a clear conscience.

Call out to the APA:  Before you ask for the immediate retirement of American Indian mascots, please do some basic preliminary research.  If these images are really having an adverse affect on the American Indian self esteem and identity, then you would think that the majority of American Indians would agree with your proposal. 

A 2002 Sports Illustrated poll conducted by the Peter Harris Research Group found that 81 percent of the 352 American Indians polled felt that colleges and high schools should not stop using Indian nicknames.  Additionally, 75 percent disagreed that such sports names and mascots led to “discrimination”.  Clearly, while “Native American activists are virtually united in opposition to the use of Indian nicknames and mascots, the Native American population sees the issue far differently,” stated Sports Illustrated columnist S.L. Price. 

College professors and high school teachers who think along the lines of the APA are doing a real disservice to the American Indian community and American history.  We are only a few steps away from losing all American Indian sports idols. 

In an iPod world, where sports players and rappers are adolescent’s biggest role models,  The American Conservative’s Steve Sailer remarks: “Not surprisingly, modern boys subjected to schoolroom cant assume that American Indians must have been total wimps and go back to listening to 50 Cent rap about how many millions he’s making.  Thus, in at least a small way, the linkage of Indians with widely idolized sports teams helps preserve the otherwise evaporating glamour of Native Americans.”

Regardless of the APA’s unfounded research, we must acknowledge that there is nothing wrong with using American Indian nicknames and mascots in sports.  Doing so will strengthen our sense of appreciation for Native American heritage and foster inclusive communities.