Sports teams named Redskins are part of the larger controversy regarding the use of Native American names, images and symbols by non-native sports teams. Teams of this name have received particular public attention because the term redskin is now generally regarded as disparaging and offensive.
The most prominent team of this name was the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL), which had been at the center of several campaigns to change the name. After decades of defending the name, amid the removal of many names and images associated with systemic racism as part of the George Floyd protests, Washington yielded to pressure from investors and sponsors and retired the branding in 2020. The team temporarily played as the Washington Football Team before rebranding as the Commanders in 2022.
The college sports teams using the name changed voluntarily prior to the NCAA Native American mascot decision in 2005; the University of Utah became Utah Utes in 1972, Miami University of Ohio became the RedHawks in 1997 and the Southern Nazarene University became the Crimson Storm in 1998.
The South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League team that was formerly the Morden Redskins was renamed Morden Bombers in 2020.
Several high schools have followed the example of the Washington NFL team and agreed to change their names. Other high school and youth teams continue to use the name, though the number has been steadily declining. Defenders of the Redskins name, both nationally and locally, cite their tradition, and the pride they feel in their team, while calls for change are often dismissed as political correctness. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) database tracks 89 K-12 schools in 40 school districts with the Redskins mascot.
Meaning of redskin
Redskin is one of the color terms for race that emerged in the colonial period as Native Americans encountered people who called themselves "white" and their slaves "black". The use of "red" as an identifier by Native Americans for themselves emerged in the context of Indian-European diplomacy in the southeastern region of North America, before later being adopted by Europeans. The choice of red rather than other colors may have been due to cultural associations rather than skin color; the red/white dichotomy having symbolic meaning for Native Americans in the southeast. Usage in the northeast region by Europeans may have been largely limited to descriptions of tribes such as the Beothuk of Newfoundland, whose practice of painting their bodies and possessions with red ochre led Europeans to refer to them as "Red Indians". The origin of the term "redskin" is debated. It may have first been used by Native Americans to refer to themselves, or by colonial settlers in the context of violence against Native Americans, in particular the paying of bounties for Indian scalps. The oldest known use dates to 1769, in a translation from the French peau rouge. This and other early quotations are from Native American speakers. By 1862, the term was being used disparagingly.
Mascot controversy
In the early 20th century, sports teams began adopting Native American-themed names, including "Redskins". Miami University in Ohio and Huntley High School in Huntley, Illinois started using the "Redskins" name in 1928. In 1933, the Boston Braves of the National Football League changed their name to the Boston Redskins; the team states that this was done in honor of Native Americans on the team, although owner George Preston Marshall said at the time it was done to avoid confusion with the Boston Braves baseball team. This team became the Washington Redskins by relocating to Washington, D.C. in 1937.
Native American mascots are often discussed in the media in terms of offensiveness, which reduces it to feelings and opinions, and prevents full understanding of the history and context of the use of Native American names and images and why their use by sports teams should be eliminated. Social science research says that sports mascots and images, rather than being mere entertainment, are important symbols with deeper psychological and social effects. Stereotyping may directly affect the academic performance and self-esteem of Native American youth, whose people face high rates of suicide, unemployment, and poverty. Euro-Americans exposed to mascots may be more likely to believe not only that such stereotypes are true, but that Native Americans have no identity beyond these stereotypes. Research demonstrates the harm of stereotyping, with studies showing that exposure to any stereotypes increased the likelihood of stereotypical thinking with regard to other groups.
In 2005, the American Psychological Association issued a resolution "Recommending the Immediate Retirement of American Indian Mascots, Symbols, Images, and Personalities by Schools, Colleges, Universities, Athletic Teams, and Organizations" due to the harm done by creating a hostile environment, the negative impact on the self-esteem of American Indian children, and discrimination that may violate civil rights. It also impacts non-natives by reinforcing mainstream stereotypes, preventing learning about Native American culture. The APA states that stereotyping is disrespectful of the beliefs, traditions and values of Native Americans. Similar resolutions have been adopted by the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport, the American Sociological Association, the American Counseling Association, and the American Anthropological Association. In a 2005 report on the status of Native American students, the National Education Association included the elimination of Indian mascots and sports team names as one of its recommendations.
Washington Redskins
Native American individuals, tribes and organizations have been questioning the use of the name and image for decades. In the 1940s the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) created a campaign to eliminate negative stereotyping of Native American people in the media. Over time, the campaign began to focus on Indian names and mascots in sports. The NCAI maintains that teams with Indian mascots defame Native American people, perpetuate negative stereotypes and demeaning their native traditions and rituals. The NCAI issued a new report in 2013 summarizing opposition to Indian mascots and team names generally, and the Washington Redskins in particular.
In response to the controversy, the team owner Dan Snyder sent an open letter to fans that was published in The Washington Post in October 2013. In the letter Snyder states that the most important meaning of the name Redskins is the association that fans have to memories of their personal history with the team. Snyder also states that the name was chosen in 1933 to honor Native Americans in general and the coach and four players at that time who were Native American; and that in 1971 the then coach George Allen consulted with the Red Cloud Athletic Fund on the Pine Ridge reservation when designing the logo.
In July 2020, amidst the removal of many names and images as part of the George Floyd protests, a group of investors worth $620 billion wrote letters to major sponsors Nike, PepsiCo, and FedEx encouraging pressure on the Redskins to change their name. Due to the pressure, the team announced they would be retiring the Redskins name and logo. They temporarily played as the Washington Football Team for two seasons before rebranding as the Commanders in 2022.
High schools The number of high schools using the Redskins name has been in steady decline, 40% having had local efforts to change the name. Between 1988 and April 2013, 28 high schools in 18 states had done so. By December 2017, the number of high school "Redskins" had continued to decline from 62 to 49, including four affected by a 2015 California law. In July 2019 the number became 48 with retirement of the nickname at Teton High School. Paw Paw High School, in Paw Paw, Michigan, voted to change the name in March 2020, and selected Red Wolves as their new name in July. In July 2020 the school board voted to accept Red Wolves as the new name.
Two schools, in immediate response to the Washington Redskins name change, also made that decision: Anderson High School in Ohio and Clinton Community Schools in Michigan. Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Wichita North High School followed.
On its official website in early 2013, the Washington Redskins posted articles referring to high school teams using the same name (and often the same logo). The athletic director of Coshocton High School in Coshocton, Ohio, is quoted as saying, "We are very proud of our athletic teams and very proud to be called Redskins!" The principal of McLoud High School in McLoud, Oklahoma, says that not only students, but the local Native American population, take pride in the name. The coach at Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, says, "Our school is 75 years old and there's a lot of pride in it," he explained. "I think it's a great mascot, as all of the traits of a Redskins warrior are something to be admired."
Advocates for the Washington team often refer to the three majority Native American schools, concluding that because some Native Americans use the name to refer to themselves, it is not insulting. However, the principal of one of these, Red Mesa High School in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, said that use of the word outside American Indian communities should be avoided because it could perpetuate "the legacy of negativity that the term has created". Wellpinit High School on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington wants nothing to do with the national controversy, seeing Redskins as the traditional name they have used for their team. However, they do not accept their usage as a justification for anyone else using the name.
Recent changes The Cooperstown Central School Board of Education in Cooperstown, New York, voted 6–1 on March 6, 2013, to remove the Redskins mascot from its interscholastic athletic, extracurricular and academic programs. The move was prompted by a vote by the student body, asking that the mascot be changed. The Oneida Indian Nation was so moved by the actions of the Cooperstown students, that a letter by Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter was written to the students, commending their decision and offering to make a contribution to help offset the cost of changing mascots.
On June 24, 2013, school board members of Port Townsend High School in Port Townsend, Washington, voted to replace its "Redskins" nickname, logo, and mascot (used since 1926) due to its divisive nature. In April 2014 the students selected Red Hawks as their new team name. The next step will be to select new graphics to replace the old.
Ledgemont High School in Thompson Township, Geauga County, Ohio, which had used the name, closed in 2014.
Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, was one of the four schools required to change their mascots as a result of a vote by the Houston Independent School District to remove culturally insensitive names. Lamar became the Texans in April, 2014.