Mascot Mischief-Makers Mull Eradication

Carthage College Redmen. Southeastern Oklahoma State University Savages. The University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux. And, let’s not forget Chief Fullabull (a/k/a Yahola and Chief Wampum-Stompum), everybody’s favorite boozing mascot for Florida State University.

The Seminoles Tribe of Florida: a tribe, rich in cultural historical significance is now reduced to a stereotypical caricature, reinforcing general public knowledge that Native Americans love to drink and are “full a’ bull”. It makes you want to stand up and shoot an arrow at John Wayne, doesn’t it?

For as long as history dictates, Native Americans have been getting the short end of the stick. They are still being discriminated against, along the terms of land and money issues, even in the twenty-first century. Many see that they are fine enough, however, to be mocked and mimicked through the use of politically incorrect team names and mascots in their images. Why are Native Americans the most susceptible to becoming mascots? Maybe it’s because we’re tough. Maybe it’s because we have a rich cultural history. Or, because our toughness and rich history are available to be exploited for a fast buck.

However, there may be a light of hope shone on this subject. According to a press release from the Associated Press (AP), “The NCAA has banned the use of American Indian nicknames and mascots by sports teams during its postseason tournaments, but will not prohibit them otherwise.”

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven calls the NCAA’s decision an “over reach”. Hoeven’s look on the subject is that any name change should be dealt with by the North Dakota Board of Higher Education.

Florida Governor Jeb Bush feels that the NCAA’s decision is “offensive to Native Americans” because it is ignoring the views of tribes. (The Seminole Tribe supported the use of their name as a mascot for Florida State University.) Suddenly, Jeb Bush is a champion for Native American rights. Meanwhile, he is considering the taxation of Indian gaming.

In my opinion, names like the Carthage College Redmen are downright offensive. On the university’s website, www.carthage.edu, an explanation of the usage of “redmen” is issued:

The natural association of the name with Native Americans is reflected in the logo used by Carthage athletic teams — a logo which features a red “C” inside a black circle, from which two feathers are draped. No other symbolism is used, and no mascot or caricature exists. Carthage athletes and fans treat the name with respect, because anything less would only demean themselves.”

According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, one of the definitions for the term ‘red’ includes:

of or being a Native American. (Considered offensive.)”

Carthage’s explanation continues:

Whereas Carthage teams have adopted this logo as one which inspires and unites athlete and fan alike, others in the world around us suggest that the name is insensitive to Native Americans. In fact, there has been a great deal of reflection within the Carthage community and dialogue with Native Americans about the nickname.”

If this is the case, then why aren’t there any teams called the “Blackmen” or the “Yellowmen”, or perhaps the “Whitemen”? Then perhaps, the college can have reflection and dialogue with every other minority in the world today.

Surprisingly, Native Americans are not the only minorities that are falling under prey of becoming teams. While discussing this issue with my sister-in-law, she informed me that her common-law husband’s high school team in Pekin, Illinois was the Pekin Chinks (a play on Peking, China). The team name has since been changed (to the less threatening Pekin Dragons), but why was there such fervor about this, and not for a name so degrading as the Savages? If there was such a team as the Smithsville Puerto Ricans or the Century City Micks, there would be such an uproar that ticket prices would plummet and the names would be changed with a snap of the fingers.

It just goes to show that Native Americans will continue to be at the bottom of the totem pole, so to speak, unless something is done. And thank goodness, the NCAA has started proceedings.