Washington Redskins name controversy

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Demonstration against the Redskins name
In November 2014, a demonstration against the "Redskins" name and logo was held outside TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota before a game against the Vikings.[1]

The Washington Redskins name controversy involved the name and logo previously used by the Washington Commanders, a National Football League (NFL) franchise located in the Washington metropolitan area. In the 1960s, the team's longtime name—the Redskins—and the associated logo began to draw criticism from Native American groups and individuals.[2] The topic, part of the larger Native American mascot controversy, began receiving widespread public attention in the 1990s. In 2020, the team responded to economic pressure in the wake of the George Floyd protests by retiring the name and logo. The team called itself the "Washington Football Team" before rebranding as the Commanders in 2022.

"Redskin" is a slang term for Native Americans in the United States and First Nations in Canada. The term redskin underwent pejoration through the 19th to early 20th centuries and in contemporary dictionaries of American English it is labeled as offensive, disparaging, or insulting.

For several decades, the team's owners and management, NFL commissioners, and most fans sought to keep the Redskins name, claiming that it honored the achievements and virtues of Native Americans and that it was not intended in a negative manner. Then-team president Bruce Allen noted that three high schools with a Native American-majority student body used the name.[3][4] Supporters also pointed to a national poll taken in 2004 by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, which found that a majority of Native Americans were not offended by the name.[5] The use of public opinion polling methods to measure the opinions of a small, diverse population was criticized by scholars, in particular the use of self-identification to select the individuals surveyed.[6] The name was opposed by the National Congress of American Indians, which said in 2013 that it represented 1.2 million people in its member tribes.

Name change[edit]

In July 2020, amid 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, FedEx, and PepsiCo encouraging pressure on the Redskins to change their name.[7][8] In addition to direct sponsors advocating change in 2020, retailers Amazon, Target and Walmart withdrew Redskins merchandise from their stores and websites.[9] FedEx called on the team to change its name on July 2, 2020.[10][11] The same day, Nike removed Redskins apparel from its website.[12][13]

On July 3, the league and the franchise announced that it was "undergoing a thorough review of the team name."[14][15] On July 7, it was acknowledged that the Redskins were not in contact with a group of Native Americans who petitioned the NFL to force a name change and that Redskins head coach Ron Rivera also stated the team wanted to continue “honoring and supporting Native Americans and our Military.”[16] The team initiated a review which resulted in the decision to retire its name and logo, playing as the Washington Football Team pending adoption of a more permanent name.[17][18][19]

Team president Jason Wright announced on July 12, 2021, that the new name will not include any ties to Native Americans, including the name "Warriors"; research having shown that anything other than a clean break with the past is a slippery slope.[20] While the team expects fans to continue to wear their jerseys with the former name and logo, Native American inspired headdresses or face paint will not be allowed in the stadium.[21]

In January 2022, the team announced that it would choose between Armada, Presidents, Brigade, Red Hogs, Commanders, RedWolves, Defenders and the then-current "Football Team".[22] The new name, the Washington Commanders, was announced on February 2, 2022.[23] In its press release, the team made no mention of the racial controversy, instead emphasizing the military symbolism of the graphic elements in the redesigned "W" primary logo that goes along with the new name. The design of the new "crest" combines elements of the team's history and its connection to the city of Washington.[24]

Amanda Blackhorse responded that the change is an empty gesture, the team's owner and management having made no substantial effort to acknowledge or repair the effects of decades of insults, nor advocate that other teams with offensive mascots also change.[25]

History[edit]

The obverse side of a Buffalo nickel, featuring the head of a Native American, was used as a model for the Redskins logo.

In 1933, the football team that shared both the name and playing field with the Boston Braves baseball team moved to Fenway Park, already home to the Boston Red Sox. Co-owner George Preston Marshall changed the name to the Redskins, more likely to avoid confusion while retaining the Native American imagery of the team[26][27] than to honor coach William Henry "Lone Star" Dietz, whose identity as a Native American was debated.[28] The logo for the NFL Braves was similar to the Redskins logo, a Native American head in profile with braids and trailing feathers.[29] A redesigned logo introduced in 1972 was proposed by Walter Wetzel, a former Blackfoot tribal chairman and past president of the National Congress of American Indians, and was modeled after the likeness on the Buffalo nickel.[30] Members of the Blackfoot tribe express a range of opinions, from support to indifference to strong opposition to the Redskins name based upon their personal experiences.[31]

Advocates of changing the team's name said that stereotypes of Native Americans had to be understood in the context of a history that includes conquest, forced relocation, and organized efforts by federal and state governments to eradicate native cultures, such as the boarding schools of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[32] "Since the first Europeans made landfall in North America, native peoples have suffered under a weltering array of stereotypes, misconceptions and caricatures. Whether portrayed as noble savages, ignoble savages, teary-eyed environmentalists or, most recently, simply as casino-rich, native peoples find their efforts to be treated with a measure of respect and integrity undermined by images that flatten complex tribal, historical and personal experience into one-dimensional representations that tells us more about the depicters than about the depicted."[33]

Origin and meaning of redskin[edit]

Redskins script logo
Wordmark used by the Redskins (1972–2019)

The historical context for the emergence in the Americas of racial identities based upon skin color was the establishment of colonies which developed a plantation economy dependent upon slave labor. Prior to the colonial era, many Europeans identified themselves as Christians rather than white. "At the start of the eighteenth century, Indians and Europeans rarely mentioned the color of each other's skins. By midcentury, remarks about skin color and the categorization of peoples by simple color-coded labels (red, white, black) had become commonplace."[34]

Documents from the colonial period indicate that 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 and becoming a generic label for all Native Americans.[35]: 627–8  Linguistic evidence indicates that, while some tribes may have used red to refer to themselves during the Pre-Columbian era based upon their origin stories,[35]: 634  the general use of the term was in response to meeting people who called themselves "white" and their slaves "black".[35]: 629  The choice of red rather than other colors may have been due to cultural associations, rather than skin color.[35]: 632 

In the debate over the meaning of the word "redskin", team supporters frequently cite a paper by Ives Goddard, a Smithsonian Institution senior linguist and curator emeritus, who asserts that the term was a direct translation of words used by Native Americans to refer to themselves and was benign in its original meaning.[36] In an interview Goddard admits that it is impossible to verify if the native words were accurately translated.[37] Darren R. Reid, a history lecturer at Coventry University, contends that Native American usage was generally attributed to them by European writers. Reid states that the team logo works together with the name to reinforce an unrealistic stereotype: "It is not up to non-Indians to define an idealized image of what it is to a Native American." The "positive" stereotypes allow fans and supporters to honestly state that they are honoring Native Americans, but this is "forcing your idea of what it is to honour those people onto them and that, fundamentally, is disrespectful."[38][39] Sociologist James V. Fenelon makes a more explicit statement that Goddard's article is poor scholarship, given that the conclusion of the origin and usage by Natives as "entirely benign" is divorced from the socio-historical realities of hostility and racism from which it emerged.[40]

Advocates of changing the name emphasize current meanings in dictionaries of American English, which include "usually offensive",[41] "disparaging",[42][a][43] "insulting",[44] and "taboo".[45] Such meanings are consistent with the usage found in books in the period between 1875 and 1930, which is after that studied by Goddard.[46] John McWhorter, an associate professor of linguistics at Columbia University, compares "redskin" becoming a slur to other racial terms, such as "Oriental", which acquired implied meanings associated with contempt.[47]

A controversial etymological claim is that the term emerged from the practice of paying a bounty for Indians, and that "redskin" refers to the bloody scalp of Native Americans.[48] Although official documents do not use the word in this way, a historical association between the use of "redskin" and the paying of bounties can be made. In 1863, a Winona, Minnesota, newspaper, the Daily Republican, printed an announcement: "The state reward for dead Indians has been increased to $200 for every red-skin sent to Purgatory. This sum is more than the dead bodies of all the Indians east of the Red River are worth."[49] A news story published by the Atchison Daily Champion in Atchison, Kansas, on October 9, 1885, tells of the settlers "hunt for redskins, with a view of obtaining their scalps" valued at $250.[50] For sociologist C. Richard King the lack of direct evidence does not mean that contemporary Native people are wrong to draw an association between a term that emphasizes an identity based upon skin color and a history that commodified Native American body parts.[51]

Trademark cases[edit]

The meaning of the term "redskin" was addressed in two cases challenging the trademark registrations held by Pro-Football, Inc., the team's corporate entity. The challenge was based upon a provision of Federal trademark law (the Lanham Act) which prohibited the registration of any mark that "may disparage persons, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or bring them into contempt, or disrepute." In both cases, the plaintiffs prevailed at trial, establishing that the name Redskin was disparaging to Native Americans. However, both decisions were overturned due to legal issues other than disparagement.

The first case, filed in 1992 by Suzan Shown Harjo and six other Native American leaders resulted in the cancellation of the federal registrations for the Redskins marks by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) in 1999. However in 2005 the United States District Court for the District of Columbia reversed the TTAB's decision on the grounds of insufficient evidence of disparagement. Subsequent appeals were also rejected on the basis of laches, that the Native American petitioners had pursued their rights in an untimely manner.[52]

A second case was filed in 2013 by younger plaintiffs not affected by laches, led by Amanda Blackhorse.[53][54] Once again, the TTAB found Redskins to be disparaging under the Lanham Act.[55] In December 2015, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the disparagement prohibition in the trademark law in a separate case (Matal v. Tam) involving a denial of trademark registration to the Asian-American band The Slants.[56] On June 19, 2017, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Tam, stating "The disparagement clause violates the First Amendment's Free Speech Clause. Contrary to the Government's contention, trademarks are private, not government speech."[57] On June 29, 2017, both the Native American petitioners and the Justice Department withdrew from any further litigation now that the Supreme Court has rendered the legal issue moot.[58] While team owner Daniel Snyder expresses the opinion that the court decision is a victory for the team, the executive director of the NCAI asserts that the name remains a slur, and the decision that grants it First Amendment protection does not alter any of the arguments against its continued use.[59]

Use by Native Americans[edit]

Supporters of the Redskins name note that three predominantly Native American high schools use the name for their sports teams, suggesting that it can be acceptable.[60] However, in 2013, 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".[61] Teec Nos Pos, on the Navajo Nation, is 96.5% Native American. Wellpinit, Washington, a town within a reservation of the Spokane people, is 79.3% Native American.[62] In 2014, Wellpinit High School voted to keep the Redskins name.[63] The third school, Kingston High School in Kingston, Oklahoma is 57.69% Native American.[4]

Native American writer and attorney Gyasi Ross compares Native American use of variations of the word "redskin" with African-American use of variations of the word "nigger"; specifically Natives calling each other "skins" as analogous to "nigga". Ross argues that the use of terms by some members of minority communities does not mean that the same may be used by outsiders; this is generally recognized by white people with regard to black expressions, yet whites feel free to say how Natives should feel about "redskin". Ross also notes that there is no consensus among Natives regarding either opposition to the Washington team's use of the name, or the importance of the issue compared to more immediate concerns.[64] However, in response to the argument that Native Americans ought to focus on social issues larger than a team name, Ross stated that "Native people shouldn't be forced to choose between living or racial discrimination. Those are false binaries."[65]

Controversy[edit]

In February 2013 a symposium on the topic was held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.[66] Subsequently, the Oneida Indian Nation of New York sponsored a series of radio ads in each city to coincide with games of the 2013 season, each featuring a targeted message.[67] A broader range of persons spoke in favor of change or open discussion, including local government leaders, members of Congress, and President Barack Obama. Statements in support of a name change by academic, civil rights and religious organizations were added to those that Native American groups have been making for decades.[68]

In 2017, when professional sports dealt with a number of racial issues, from individual acts by players to widespread protests during the National Anthem, some commentators speculated why there had been no action to address the stereotyping of Native Americans, including the decision to have the Washington Redskins host a game on Thanksgiving.[69][70][71]

Academic research[edit]

The issue is often discussed in the media in terms of offensiveness or political correctness, which reduces it to feelings and opinions, and prevents full understanding of the historical, psychological and sociological context provided by academic research on the negative effects of the use of Native American names and images by sports teams.[72] The effect of stereotyping on high or low expectations, confidence, and academic performance has been well-established.[73] This effect is enhanced due to the invisibility of Native Americans in mainstream society and media, leaving stereotypes as the primary basis for thinking about the abilities and traits associated with Natives, including the roles and opportunities Natives Americans envision for themselves. Furthermore, even when stereotypes are positive (e.g. "Native Americans are spiritual"), they may have a limiting, detrimental effect on individuals.[74] 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.[75] Research indicates that exposure to any stereotypes increased the likelihood of stereotypical thinking with regard to other minority groups in addition to the target of the stereotype, a "spreading effect".[76][77]

Chief Zee
Chief Zee with other fans

Native Americans opposed to mascots point to the oversimplification of their culture by fans "playing Indian" with no understanding of the deeper meaning of feathers, face paint, chants, and dancing. Richard Lapchick, director emeritus of Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society, wrote: "Could you imagine people mocking African Americans in black face at a game? Yet go to a game where there is a team with an Indian name and you will see fans with war paint on their faces. Is this not the equivalent to black face?" [78] The unofficial mascot of the Redskins team was Zema Williams (aka Chief Zee), an African American man who attended games for 38 years beginning in 1978 dressed in a red faux "Indian" costume, complete with feathered war bonnet and rubber tomahawk. Other fans dressed in similar costumes for games.[79][80]

In a report published by the Center for American Progress summarizing the research on "The Real Impact of Native Mascots and Team Names on American Indian and Alaska Native Youth", a case is made that the public debate misses the point, since individual opinions on either side do not matter given the measurable effects on the mental health of Native American young people exposed to such misrepresentations of their ethnic identity, and the often hostile or insulting behavior of non-natives that occur when teams with such names and mascots play.[81][82][83] Clinical Psychologist Michael Friedman writes that the use of Native imagery, in particular the use of a dictionary defined slur, is a form of bullying, the negative impact of which is magnified by its being officially sanctioned.[84]

The majority of scholars argue that the use of any stereotype, whether positive or negative, is a hindrance to the advancement of the targeted group.[85] The national organizations representing several academic disciplines, after reviewing the research done on the issue, have passed resolutions calling for the end of all Native American mascots and images in sports. These include the Society of Indian Psychologists (1999),[86] the American Counseling Association (2001),[87] the American Psychological Association (2005),[88] the American Sociological Association (2007).[89] and the American Anthropological Association (2015).[90] The executive board of the nation's leading organization of scholars of U.S. history approved a resolution in April 2015: "The Organization of American Historians hereby adds its voice to the growing demands by Native American organizations, our sister disciplines, and conscientious people of all ethnic backgrounds, to change the name and logo of the Washington 'Redskins'."[91]

Native American advocates of change[edit]

Protest against the name of the Washington Redskins
Protesters of the name, 2014

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.[92] The NCAI maintains that teams with mascots such as the Braves and the Redskins perpetuate negative stereotypes of Native American people, and demean their native traditions and rituals.[93] The NCAI issued a new report in 2013 summarizing opposition to Indian mascots and team names generally, and the Washington Redskins in particular.[94] In the trademark case, the TTAB placed significance on the NCAI opposition, estimating that the organization represented about 30% of the Native American population at the time the trademarks were granted, which met their criteria for a "substantial composite" of Native Americans finding the name disparaging.[95] In its amicus brief filed in the case, the NCAI states that the combined enrollment of its member tribes in 2013 was 1.2 million individuals.[96]

Many tribal councils have passed resolutions or issued statements regarding their opposition to the name of the Washington Redskins, including the Cherokee and Comanche Nations of Oklahoma, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona,[97] the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes,[98][99] the Oneida Indian Nation (New York),[100] the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (North Dakota) and the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET).[101] In April 2014, Navajo Nation Council voted in favor of a statement opposing the name of the Washington team, as well as other disparaging references to American Indians by other professional sports franchises.[102] Other Native American groups advocating change include: the Native American Bar Association of DC,[103] the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators,[104] and the Society of American Indian Government Employees.[105]

Civil rights and religious organizations[edit]

At its 2013 annual conference, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR), which includes the NAACP and the ACLU as members, passed a unanimous resolution of the 85 representatives present that, while recognizing that a business has the First Amendment right to use any name that it chooses, others need not be complicit in the use of a pejorative and insulting name; and calling upon all Federal, state and local government entities "to end any preferential tax, zoning, or policy treatment that could be viewed as supporting the franchise as long as it retains its current team name". The resolution also commended the "current and former government officials, media outlets, and other entities that have encouraged the Washington Redskins franchise to change its team name or that have refused to be complicit in promoting the current team name".[106][107] In response, the team released a brief statement reiterating their previous position, and quoting two individuals as being both Native American and Redskins fans who do not want the name to change.[108] The LCCHR also issued a press release in 2014 applauding the decision to cancel the trademark protection for the team's name.[109] The NAACP issued their own press release supporting the TTAB decision stating "The NAACP has called specifically for this name change since 1992, and will continue to stand with the Native Indian community until the derogatory moniker has been changed."[110]

The Fritz Pollard Alliance, a non-profit organization closely allied with the NFL on civil rights issues, announced its support of a name change in 2015 after repeated attempts to discuss the issue with the team owner and representatives. An attorney for the Alliance, N. Jeremi Duru, an American University law professor, made a study of the controversy in which he concluded that Native Americans are justified in finding the name offensive.[111]

In 1992, the Central Conference of American Rabbis issued a resolution calling for the end of sports teams names that promote racism, in particular the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Redskins.[112] The Anti-Defamation League was one of the organizations signing a letter to broadcasters urging them to avoid using the name.[113] The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism also advocates a name change.[114]

In 2013 a group of 61 religious leaders in Washington, D.C., sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and team owner Dan Snyder stating their moral obligation to join the Change the Mascot movement due to the offensive and inappropriate nature of the name which causes pain whether or not that is intended.[115][68]

In June 2015, the United Church of Christ General Synod passed a resolution calling for a stop to using images or mascots that could be demeaning to the Native American community.[116]

Protests[edit]

Although often assumed to be a debate of recent origins, local Washington, D.C. newspapers published news items on the controversy many times since at least 1971, all in response to Native American individuals or organizations asking for the name to be changed.[117][118] National protests began in 1988, after the team's Super Bowl XXII victory, prompting numerous Native Americans to write letters to Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke; others boycotted Redskins products and protested, but Cooke rejected the possibility of change.[119] There was a protest of about 2,000 people at the 1992 Super Bowl between the Redskins and the Buffalo Bills; the American Indian Movement's (AIM) Vernon Bellecourt was one of the main organizers of the protest.[120]

From 2013 to 2019, picketing at stadiums occurred occasionally when the Redskins played, particularly in cities with a significant population of Native Americans, such as Dallas,[121][122] Denver[123] and Minneapolis.[124][125] The latter protest was supported by several Minnesota politicians[126][127] and was through documented by two films: Dodging Bullets—Stories from Survivors of Historical Trauma and More Than A Word. Picketing resumed for the 2014 season in Glendale, Arizona, when the team played the Arizona Cardinals,[128] and again the largest rally was in Minneapolis,[129] where estimates of the number of protestors was between 3,500 and 5,000.[130] At a protest in Philadelphia in 2017, Native Americans pointed out the irony of NFL players making a statement opposing racial injustice by "taking a knee" for the National Anthem while one of the teams taking the field continues to use a racially offensive name and logo.[131] Playing in Minnesota for the first time since 2014, hundreds of Native Americans protested against the team name outside of U.S. Bank Stadium during the game on October 24, 2019.[132] On December 8, 2019, members of the Wisconsin Indian Education Association's Indian Mascot and Logo Task Force led a protest at Lambeau Field in Wisconsin. The Oneida Nation sponsored a video shown on the Jumbotron during the game expressing pride in being Native American as the antithesis of the message sent by the Redskins name and logo.[133]

FedEx owns the naming rights to the team's stadium, FedExField, through 2026, and had been the only corporate sponsor officially subject to boycotts by Native Americans: the Osage Nation, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), and the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes, the largest tribe of Native Alaskan peoples.[134][135][136]

Responses to the controversy[edit]

Following the February 2013 symposium "Racist Stereotypes and Cultural Appropriation in American Sports" at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, 10 members of Congress sent a letter to the Redskins' owner and the NFL Commissioner requesting that the name be changed since it is offensive to Native Americans. In response, Daniel Snyder told USA Today: "We'll never change the name. ... It's that simple. NEVER—you can use caps."[137] Snyder addressed an open letter to fans that was published in The Washington Post on October 9, 2013; in which he stated that the most important meaning of the name is the association that fans have with 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 coach George Allen consulted with the Red Cloud Indian Fund on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation when designing the logo.[138] In 2013, the Red Cloud Athletic Fund sent a letter to the Washington Post stating that "As an organization, Red Cloud Indian School has never—and will never—endorse the use of the name 'Redskins'. Like many Native American organizations across the country, members of our staff and extended community find the name offensive."[139]

In June 2013, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defended the name by citing its origins, traditions and polls that support its popularity.[140][141] In February 2018, following the announcement by MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred that the Cleveland Indians would remove their Chief Wahoo logo from the stadium and uniforms, Goodell stated that the Redskins name and logo would remain, primarily citing the 2016 Washington Post opinion poll.[142]

On their website the team stated that a 2014 annual NFL poll showing 71 percent support for the name, "along with the poll taken among Native Americans by the Annenberg Institute, demonstrates continued, widespread and deep opposition to the Redskins changing our name... We respect the point of view of the small number of people who seek a name change, but it is important to recognize very few people agree with the case they are making."[143][144]

Bruce Allen addressed a letter dated May 23, 2014, to then Senate majority leader Harry Reid repeating the position that the name was originated by Native Americans to refer to themselves, that the logo was also designed and approved by Native American leaders, and that the vast majority of both Native Americans and the public do not find the name offensive.[145]

Conservative columnists George Will and Pat Buchanan stated that opponents of the team name are being oversensitive, although Charles Krauthammer drew a parallel between the evolution of "Negro" and "Redskin" from being in common use to being condescending and insulting.[146][147] W. James Antle III, Rich Lowry, and Dennis Prager wrote that outrage over mascots is manufactured by white liberals, rather than being the authentic voice of Native Americans.[148][149][150]

Public opinion[edit]

From 2013 to 2014, national opinion polls consistently indicated that some majority of the general public opposed changing the name of the team: 79 percent (April 2013),[151] 60 percent (June 2014),[152] and 71 percent (September 2014). [153] The latter poll found that 68 percent of respondents thought the name was not disrespectful of Native Americans, 19 percent said it showed "some" disrespect, and 9 percent said it was "a lot" disrespectful.[153] Three polls of adult residents of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area found that most respondents supported the team name, but 59 percent,[154] 56 percent,[155] and 53 percent[156] also said that the word "redskin" is offensive to Native Americans in at least some contexts.

Opinion polling was also part of the discussion about whether Native Americans found the term redskin insulting. Two national political polls, the first in 2004 by the National Annenberg Election Survey[5] and another in 2016 by The Washington Post.[157][158][159] were particularly influential. When a respondent identified themselves as Native American, both polls asked, "The professional football team in Washington calls itself the Washington Redskins. As a Native American, do you find that name offensive or doesn’t it bother you?". In both polls, 90% responded that they were not bothered, 9% that they were offended, and 1% gave no response. These polls were widely cited by teams, fans, and mainstream media as evidence that there was no need to change the name of the Washington football team.

In a commentary published soon after the 2004 poll, 15 Native American scholars collaborated on a critique that stated that there were so many flaws in the Annenberg study that rather than being a measure of Native American opinion, it was an expression of white privilege and colonialism.[6] A 2019 poll by University of California, Berkeley surveyed 1,021 Native Americans, twice as many as in any previous polls.[160] 38% of self-identified Native Americans said they were not bothered by the Washington Redskins name. But 49% overall said it was offensive, along with 67% of respondents who were heavily engaged in their native or tribal cultures, 60% of young people, and 52% of those with tribal affiliations.[161]

Native American opinion in support of Redskins name[edit]

Three Virginia Indian leaders said in 2013 that they are not offended by the name Redskins but are more concerned about other issues such as the lack of Federal recognition for any Virginia tribe.[b][162] Robert "Two Eagles" Green, retired chief of the Fredericksburg area Patawomeck Tribe, stated on a radio talk show he would be offended if the team changed its name.[163] In an article in The American Spectator, the chief of the Patawomeck Tribe, John Lightner, said that while he was not offended by the current name, he would support changing the team to the Washington Potomacs.[164]

On November 25, 2013, as part of the NFL's "Salute to Service" month and Native American Heritage month, the Washington Redskins recognized four members of the Navajo Code Talkers Association briefly during a commercial break. One of them, Roy Hawthorne, has stated, "My opinion is that's a name that not only the team should keep, but that's a name that's American."[165][166] This action was criticized by Amanda Blackhorse, also Navajo,[167] who described it as a publicity stunt.[168] In April 2014, Navajo Nation Council voted in favor of a statement opposing the name of the Washington team, as well as other disparaging references to American Indians by other professional sports franchises.[102] Later that year, members of the Navajo and Zuni Tribes and students from the Red Mesa Redskins High School attended a Redskins vs. Cardinals game as guests of the Washington team.[169]

In 2014, the Redskins released a two-minute video on YouTube entitled "Redskins is a Powerful Name" in which several Native Americans express their support for the team. Of the fourteen individuals, five are members of the Chippewa Cree tribe on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation in Montana and are associated with the Team Redskins Rodeo club. Two are Mike Wetzel and Don Wetzel, Jr. (Blackfoot), descendants of the logo designer, and the six others are members of diverse tribes and state that they are fans of the team and find nothing wrong with the name, or think it is positive.[170][171][172] One of the individuals in the video is Mark One Wolf, who was reported as being born Mark E. Yancey in Washington, D.C., of African-American and Japanese descent.[173]

Political opinion[edit]

In July, 2020, the Board of Supervisors of Loudoun County, Virginia, which is the location of the corporate headquarters of the team, sent a letter to the owner urging a change.[174][175]

In the mid-2010s, the majority of those advocating a name change were Democrats, though there was no indication that the issue is of any real significance in electoral decisions given that Native Americans are such a small percentage of the electorate and are not likely to influence the outcome of any election. There are only eight states where Natives make up greater than 2 percent of the population: Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.[176] However, polls during that period showed a definite political difference in the opinion of the general public, with only 58% of Democrats opposing a name change versus 89% of Republicans.[177] Statements by political figures have generally been expressions of personal opinion rather than recommendations for government action. There have also been non-binding resolutions advocating name change proposed in New Jersey[178] and passed in Minneapolis,[179] New York State[180][181] and California.[182]

In November 2015, President Barack Obama, speaking at the White House Tribal Nations Conference, stated "Names and mascots of sports teams like the Washington Redskins perpetuate negative stereotypes of Native Americans" and praised Adidas for a new initiative to help schools change names and mascots by designing new logos and paying for part of the cost of new uniforms.[183] On May 22, 2014, fifty U.S. Senators, forty-eight Democrats and two Independents, sent a letter[184] to NFL Commissioner Goodell asking the league, referencing the Donald Sterling case, to "send the same clear message as the NBA did: that racism and bigotry have no place in professional sports." Five Democratic Senators declined to sign the letter, and Republicans were not invited to do so.[185] During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump defended the name.[186]

DC Metro area jurisdictions[edit]

The team headquarters is in Ashburn, Virginia and its home stadium, FedExField, is in Landover, Maryland. Much of the local political discussion has been about the location of a stadium, beginning in the 1990s.[187] The mayors of Washington asserted that a return to the District of Columbia was contingent upon a name change,[188][189] a possibility the team had rejected.[190] In 2018 the NAACP also opposed the return of the team to the District unless the name where changed.[191]

For many years, beginning with the departure of the Baltimore Colts, the Redskins were the only NFL team in a large area from Maryland into the southern states. This is slowly changing as Maryland NFL fans move to the Baltimore Ravens.[192] Virginia fans were the more numerous and dedicated supporters of the Redskins, and the state and local governments used economic incentives to encourage the team's relocation of its facilities there,[193] and maintain that the name is entirely a business decision for the team to make.[194][195] Several Maryland politicians stated that the name should change,[196][197][198] but governor Larry Hogan at that time opposed any change, also citing the desire to keep the stadium in Maryland.[199]

Other teams that use the name Redskins[edit]

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.[200] By December 2017, the number of high school "Redskins" had continued to decline from 62 to 49,[201] including four affected by a 2015 California law.[202] Following the Washington NFL decision, changes by high schools have accelerated, with 36 remaining.

College teams that had been Redskins changed their names voluntarily decades ago, including: the University of Utah became the Utah Utes in 1972; Miami University became the RedHawks in 1997;[203] and the Southern Nazarene University became the Crimson Storm in 1998.[204]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Originally a translation of 18th-century Mississippi Valley French Peau Rouge, Native American person (peau, skin + rouge, red), a translation of non-deprecatory Native American self-designations such as Fox meeshkwinameshkaata, literally, "one having red skin" : meshkw-, red + -i-nameshk-, skin + -aa-, to have + -ta, participle suffix (used in opposition to designations of persons of European origin as waapeshkinameshkaata, "one having white skin" : waapeshk-, white + -i-nameshk-, skin + -aa-, to have + -ta, participle suffix).
  2. ^ In 2016, Federal recognition was granted to the Pamunkey Tribe of Virginia.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cox, John Woodrow (November 2, 2014). "In Minnesota, thousands of Native Americans protest Redskins' name". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  2. ^ Ending the Legacy of Racism in Sports & the Era of Harmful "Indian" Sports Mascots (PDF) (Report). National Congress of American Indians. October 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  3. ^ Allen, Bruce (May 23, 2014). "The Truth about the Redskins' Name and Logo" (PDF). Redskins.com. NFL Enterprises. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Soong, Kelyn (April 2, 2013). "The Other Redskins". Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Capitol News Service. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Kathleen Hall Jamieson (September 24, 2004). "Most Indians Say Name of Washington "Redskins" Is Acceptable While 9 Percent Call It Offensive". The Annenberg Public Policy Center. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  6. ^ a b D. Anthony Tyeeme Clark (2005). "Indigenous Voice and Vision as Commodity in a Mass-Consumption Society: The Colonial Politics of Public Opinion Polling". American Indian Quarterly. 29 (1/2 (Winter – Spring)). University of Nebraska Press: 228–238. doi:10.1353/aiq.2005.0039. JSTOR 4138809. S2CID 154986058.
  7. ^ McDonald, Scott (July 1, 2020). "Washington Redskins Urged to Lose Name, or Millions in Sponsorships". Newsweek. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  8. ^ "First Peoples Worldwide Leads Investors' Call for NFL Washington Team Name Change". Colorado.edu (Press release). June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Brassil, Gillian R.; McDonnell Nieto del Rio, Giulia; Witz, Billy; Waldstein, David (July 10, 2020). "In Campaign Against Racism, Team Names Get New Scrutiny". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "FedEx requests Washington Redskins to change team name". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises. July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  11. ^ Clarke, Liz (July 2, 2020). "FedEx calls on Redskins to change name following investors' demands on sponsors". The Washington Post.
  12. ^ "Nike pulls Washington Redskins apparel from its website amid team name controversy". WITI (TV). July 3, 2020.
  13. ^ Grimes, Prince J. (July 2, 2020). "Nike removes Redskins name, apparel from its website". NBCSports.com. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  14. ^ "Washington Redskins to undergo thorough review of team's name". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises. July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  15. ^ Lantry, Lauren (July 3, 2020). "Washington Redskins, under pressure from corporate sponsors, reviewing name". ABC News. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  16. ^ Roman Stubbs (July 7, 2020). "As Redskins conduct name review, Native American groups say they haven't heard from team". The Washington Post.
  17. ^ Maese, Rick; Maske, Mark; Clarke, Liz (July 3, 2020). "Washington Redskins move toward changing controversial team name". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  18. ^ Bergman, Jeremy (July 23, 2020). "Washington will go by 'Washington Football Team' until further notice". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  19. ^ Kim, Allen; Sterling, Wayne (July 23, 2020). "Washington's football team to call itself Washington Football Team until it settles on a new name". CNN. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  20. ^ Nicki Jhabvala (July 12, 2021). "WFT's new name won't be 'Warriors' or include any Native American imagery, Jason Wright says". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  21. ^ Jesus Jiménez (August 4, 2021). "Washington Football Team Bans Native American Headdresses and Face Paint". The New York Times.
  22. ^ Keim, John (January 4, 2022). "Washington Football Team to announce new name on Feb. 2; it won't be an early fan favorite". ESPN.
  23. ^ Jhabvala, Nicki (February 2, 2022). "Washington Football Team announces 'Commanders' as its new name". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  24. ^ "The Washington Football Team is now the Washington Commanders". Commanders.com. NFL Enterprises. February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  25. ^ Blackhorse, Amanda (February 2, 2022). "A new Washington Football Team name feels hollow to us Native people". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  26. ^ John Banzhaf (May 29, 2014). "Defense of "Redskins" Name Shattered - Pressure to Now Change "Racist" Name Grows". PRLog.org. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  27. ^ McCartney, Robert (May 28, 2014). "1933 news article refutes cherished tale that Redskins were named to honor Indian coach". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  28. ^ Tom Pollin (June 6, 2013). "Dropping Back In NFL History: Lone Star And The Redskins". Football Nation. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  29. ^ "Boston Redskins (1932-1936)". sportsecyclopedia.com. Sports Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  30. ^ Scott Mansch (February 19, 2014). "Don Wetzel: Don't call Redskins logo offensive". Great Falls Tribune. Great Falls, Montana. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  31. ^ David Murray (November 18, 2014). "Is 'Redskins' a racial slur? Blackfoot weigh in". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  32. ^ "APA Resolution Justifications" (PDF). apa.org. American Psychological Association. 2005. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  33. ^ Carter Meland; David E. Wilkins (November 22, 2012). "Stereotypes in sports, chaos in federal policy". The Star Tribune. Retrieved January 30, 2013.(Carter Meland (Anishinaabe) and David E. Wilkins (Lumbee) are professors of Native American Studies at the University of Minnesota.)
  34. ^ Shoemaker, Nancy (2004). "Race". A Strange Likeness: Becoming Red and White in Eighteenth-Century North America. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 129. ISBN 9780195167924.
  35. ^ a b c d Shoemaker, Nancy (1997). "How Indians Got to Be Red" (PDF). The American Historical Review. 102 (3): 625–644. doi:10.2307/2171504. JSTOR 2171504. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  36. ^ Goddard, Ives (2005). "'I AM A RED-SKIN':The Adoption of a Native American Expression (1769–1826)" (PDF). European Review of Native American Studies. 19 (2). Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  37. ^ Guy Gugliotta (October 3, 2005). "A Linguist's Alternative History of 'Redskin'". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  38. ^ Darren R. Reid (August 28, 2014). "Why the 'Redskins' is a Racist Name". Darren Reid History. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  39. ^ Darren R. Reid (August 28, 2014). "The Artist in American History: 11-Why the 'Redskins' is a Racist Name". iTunes.com (Podcast). Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  40. ^ Fenelon, James V. (2016). Redskins?: Sport Mascots, Indian Nations and White Racism. Routledge. p. 40. ISBN 978-1315520674. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  41. ^ "Definition of REDSKIN". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  42. ^ The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  43. ^ "Redskin". Dictionary.com. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  44. ^ "K Dictionaries Online". Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  45. ^ "Definition of redskin". Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  46. ^ Bruce Stapleton (2001). Redskins: Racial Slur or Symbol of Success?. iUniverse. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-595-17167-5. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  47. ^ John McWhorter (October 12, 2015). "Why 'Redskins' Is a Bad Word". Time. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  48. ^ Sudip Bhattacharya (May 7, 2014). "'Redskin': A fun team name or racial epithet?". Lancaster Online. Steinman Communications. Retrieved November 14, 2017. Michael Taylor, a Seneca Indian and an assistant professor at Colgate University: The term "redskin" comes from the Colonial era, when some Native Americans were killed in clashes with newly arrived settlers and others were hunted down for a bounty.
  49. ^ "Announcements". Winona Newspaper Database: The Daily Republican. September 25, 1863. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  50. ^ Simon Moya-Smith (January 26, 2015). "Seeking $250 Reward, Settlers Hunted For 'Redskin Scalps' During Extermination Effort". Indian Country Today. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  51. ^ King, C. Richard (2016). "Origins". Redskins: Insult and Brand. University of Nebraska Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-8032-7864-6. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  52. ^ Seamon, Davin L (July 8, 2014). "Trademark Sensitivity: Learning from the Washington Redskins". The National Law Review. Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  53. ^ "USPTO TTABVUE. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  54. ^ Erik Brady (May 9, 2013). "New generation of Native Americans challenges Redskins". USA Today. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  55. ^ Danielle Gorman (August 1, 2014). "UNITED STATES: In a Split Decision, the TTAB Affirms Cancellation of REDSKINS Trademarks". INTA Journal. International Trademark Association. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  56. ^ Joe Mullin (December 23, 2015). "Asian-American band "The Slants" overturns USPTO rule on "disparaging" trademarks". Ars Technica. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  57. ^ "15-1293 Martal V. Tam" (PDF). SupremeCourt.gov. June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  58. ^ Ian Shapira; Ann E. Marimow (June 29, 2017). "Washington Redskins win trademark fight over the team's name". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  59. ^ Jacqueline Pata; Ray Halbritter (July 26, 2017). "The NFL Needs to Stop Promoting a Racial Slur". Time. Time, Inc. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  60. ^ Rick Reilly (September 18, 2013). "Have the people spoken?". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 19, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  61. ^ Michelle Peirano (May 1, 2013). "In debate over Redskins name, is the 'R-word' for racism or respect?". Cronkite News. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  62. ^ "Spokane Tribe of Indians: A Socioeconomic Profile 2013" (PDF). Spokane Tribe of Indians. 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  63. ^ KXLY Staff (June 20, 2014). "School board votes to keep name Wellpinit Redskins". KXLY.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  64. ^ Gyasi Ross (October 16, 2013). ""Redskins": A Native's Guide To Debating An Inglorious Word". Deadspin. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  65. ^ Gyasi Ross (October 30, 2013). "The False Binary of the 'Redskins' Controversy". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  66. ^ "Racist Stereotypes and Cultural Appropriations in Sports" (PDF). National Museum of the American Indian. February 7, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  67. ^ Erik Brady (September 5, 2013). "Indian tribe launches radio ads against Redskins' name". USA Today Sports. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  68. ^ a b Theresa Vargas (December 5, 2013). "Faith leaders urge Redskins owner Dan Snyder and NFL to change team's name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  69. ^ Zirin, Dave (November 17, 2017). "By Having the Washington R*dskins Host a Game on Thanksgiving, NFL Owners Show Their True Colors". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  70. ^ Howard Bryant (November 23, 2017). "How have we not progressed past these mascots?". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  71. ^ Alan Fisher. "NFL team name causes outrage in the US". Al Jazeera. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  72. ^ C. Richard King, ed. (2010). The Native American Mascot Controversy: A Handbook. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. pp. xi–xiv. ISBN 978-0-8108-6731-4. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  73. ^ Annie Murphy Paul (October 6, 2012). "It's Not Me, It's You". The New York Times. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  74. ^ Fryberg, Stephanie; Markus, Hazel Rose; Oyserman, Daphna; Stone, Joseph M. (September 2008). "Of Warrior Chiefs and Indian Princesses: The Psychological Consequences of American Indian Mascots" (PDF). Basic and Applied Social Psychology. 30 (3): 208\. doi:10.1080/01973530802375003. S2CID 55894203.
  75. ^ Chaney, John; Burke, Amanda; Burkley, Edward (January 1, 2011). "Do American Indian Mascots = American Indian People? Examining Implicit Bias towards American Indian People and American Indian Mascots" (PDF). American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research. 18 (1). Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, Colorado School of Public Health: 42–62. doi:10.5820/aian.1801.2011.42. PMID 21866499. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  76. ^ Kim-Prieto, Chu (March 2010). "Effect of Exposure to an American Indian Mascot on the Tendency to Stereotype a Different Minority Group". Journal of Applied Social Psychology. 40 (3): 534. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2010.00586.x.
  77. ^ Shankar Vedantam (March 25, 2010). "Native American imagery as sports mascots: A new problem". Psychology Today. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  78. ^ Richard Lapchick (August 25, 2005). "Mascots are a matter of respect". ESPN. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  79. ^ Sarah Kogod (December 11, 2012). "Redskins fan gives himself an Indian name, gets DeAngelo Hall's helmet". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  80. ^ Travis Waldron (August 19, 2014). "Washington Fans Wear Headdresses To Game Against Cleveland Browns". Think Progress. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  81. ^ Erik Stegman; Victoria Phillips (July 2014). Missing the Point: The Real Impact of Native Mascots and Team Names on American Indian and Alaska Native Youth (Report). Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  82. ^ "Racist names, mascots are harmful to American Indian and Alaska Native youth, says Center for American Progress". ABC7News / WJLATV. July 22, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  83. ^ Amanda Terkel (July 22, 2014). "How Washington's Football Team Creates A Hostile Environment For Native American Students". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  84. ^ Michael Friedman, Ph.D. (October 6, 2014). "The NFL is Teaching Us How To Bully Native American Children". Psychology Today. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  85. ^ Mary Magoulick. "Indian / White Relations II — Persistent Refashioning". Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  86. ^ "SIP Indian Mascot Position Statement" (PDF). Society of Indian Psychologists. January 27, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 31, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  87. ^ "Opposition to Use of Stereotypical Native American Images as Sports Symbols and Mascots" (PDF). American Counseling Association. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  88. ^ "Summary of the Resolution Recommending Retirement of American Indian Mascots". APA.org. American Psychological Association. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  89. ^ "Statement by the Council of the American Sociological Association on Discontinuing the Use of Native American Nicknames, Logos and Mascots in Sport". American Sociological Association. March 6, 2007. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  90. ^ "AAA Calls on Sports Organizations to Denounce Inappropriate American Indian Mascots" (PDF). American Anthropological Association. March 25, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 9, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  91. ^ James Loewen. "Why Historians Should Demand the Redskins Change Their Name". History News Network. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  92. ^ J Gordon Hylton (2010). "Before the Redskins Where the Redskins: The Use of Native American Team Names in the Formative Era of American Sports, 1857–1933" (PDF). North Dakota Law Review. 86: 879. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 16, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  93. ^ "Anti-Defamation and Mascots". National Congress of American Indians. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  94. ^ "NCAI Releases Report on History and Legacy of Washington's Harmful "Indian" Sports Mascot". National Congress of American Indians. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  95. ^ Ryan Van Bibber (June 19, 2014). "12 questions (and answers) that explain the 'Redskins' trademark case". SB*Nation. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  96. ^ "NCAI Amicus Brief" (PDF). Native American Rights Fund. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  97. ^ "Letter to The Honorable Maria Cantwell, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs" (PDF). Change the Mascot. November 1, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  98. ^ Gene Lehmann. "Leaders of Five Tribes gather at Chickasaw Nation's Artesian Hotel for Intertribal Council". Chickasaw Times. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  99. ^ "Resolution Supporting Renaming of the Washington Redskins" (PDF). July 10, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  100. ^ Theresa Vargas; Annys Shin (November 16, 2013). "Oneida Indian Nation is the tiny tribe taking on the NFL and Dan Snyder over Redskins name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  101. ^ "USET Resolution No. 2014:015 Calling On the National Football League to End the Use of the Washington D.C. Racially Offensive Slur Team Mascot Name" (PDF). October 31, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  102. ^ a b "Navajo Council, UN expert criticize Redskins name". Yahoo news. Associated Press. April 11, 2014. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  103. ^ "Native American Bar Association of Washington, D.C. Resolution # 2015 - 1" (PDF). changethemascot.org. November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  104. ^ "National Caucus of Native American State Legislators" (PDF). changethemascot.org. August 18, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  105. ^ "SAIGE Position on Derogatory Sports Mascots and Team Names" (PDF). saige.org. December 5, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  106. ^ Michelle Boorstein (December 12, 2013). "Full text: Resolution on the changing of the Washington Redskins name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  107. ^ Theresa Vargas (December 12, 2013). "Civil rights coalition asks Washington Redskins to change name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  108. ^ "Washington Redskins Response Statement". December 13, 2013. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  109. ^ "Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Patent Office Decision on Washington Football Team Name". The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. June 18, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  110. ^ "NAACP Statement on the U.S. Patent and Trade Office Decision to Cancel the Washington Football Team's Trademark". NAACP. June 18, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  111. ^ John Woodrow Cox; Mark Maske (January 19, 2015). "Civil rights group closely allied with the NFL calls for the Redskins to change its name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  112. ^ "Resolution Adopted by the CCAR: Racism". 1992. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  113. ^ "ADL Signs Letter Urging Broadcasters To Avoid Using The Name 'Redskins'". The Jewish Daily Forward. September 5, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  114. ^ "U.S. Jewish Reform Groups Call on NFL's Washington Redskins to Change Name". Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd. December 16, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  115. ^ "Letter to Goodell and Snyder". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  116. ^ Scott Taylor (June 29, 2015). "Cleveland church calls on Washington Redskins to change name, logo". 19 Action News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  117. ^ Dan Steinberg (June 3, 2014). "The Great Redskins Name Debate of ... 1972?". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  118. ^ Fred Hiatt (September 21, 2014). "Moving beyond the 'imaginary Indians' perception". Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  119. ^ "Indians Protest". The Pittsburgh Press. January 23, 1988. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  120. ^ "2,000 at Metrodome Protest Indian mascots". The Times-News. Associated Press. January 27, 1992. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  121. ^ Todd Unger (October 13, 2013). "Protesters call for Washington NFL team to change its name". WFAA-TV. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  122. ^ "Battle over controversial Redskins name comes to Dallas". The Dallas Morning News. Associated Press. October 13, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  123. ^ Simon Moya-Smith. "'It's always been about the hatred of Indian skin': Native Americans, allies protest Washington Redskins in Denver". NBC News. Archived from the original on January 30, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  124. ^ Will Brinson (October 26, 2013). "Metrodome will use 'Redskins' name in stadium despite protests". CBS News. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  125. ^ Mark Maske (November 7, 2013). "Hundreds gather outside Mall of America Field to protest Redskins' name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  126. ^ Dan Steinberg (November 7, 2013). "Minneapolis mayor condemns Redskins name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  127. ^ Tad Vezner (November 7, 2013). "Metrodome protesters condemn nickname of Vikings' opponent". TwinCities.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  128. ^ "Protesters of Redskins name rally in Glendale". azfamily.com. KTVK-3TV. Associated Press. October 12, 2014. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  129. ^ "Thousands stage Redskins protest". ESPN. Associated Press. November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  130. ^ John Woodrow Cox (November 2, 2014). "In Minnesota, thousands of Native Americans protest Redskins' name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  131. ^ Jeff Gammage (October 20, 2017). "At Monday's Eagles game, demanding an end to use of 'Redskins'". The Inquirer. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  132. ^ Matthew Impelli; Donica Phifer (October 25, 2019). "Washington Redskins Spokesman Says Native Americans 'Proud' Of Name, Team Will Continue To Use It Despite Recent Protest". Newsweek.
  133. ^ Megan Hart (December 8, 2019). "Protesters Speak Out Against Washington's Logo, Mascot At Lambeau Field Sunday: Statewide Task Force Against Native American Mascots Organized Event". Wisconsin Public Radio.
  134. ^ Eliott C. McLaughlin (September 24, 2014). "Tribal chief: No FedEx until Redskins change team name". CNN U.S. Archived from the original on October 3, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  135. ^ "NARF ends FedEx service over FedEx's sponsorship of the Washington NFL football team". June 5, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  136. ^ Melissa Griffiths (June 25, 2015). "Alaska's largest tribe boycotts FedEx". Juneau Empire. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  137. ^ Erik Brady (May 10, 2013). "Daniel Snyder says Redskins will never change name". USA Today. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  138. ^ Michelle Boorstein (October 9, 2013). "Letter from Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder to fans". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  139. ^ Michelle Boorstein (October 12, 2013). "Letter from Red Cloud Indian School on the Washington Redskins name". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  140. ^ "U.S. reps urge end to 'Redskins'". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  141. ^ "Roger Goodell defends Washington Redskins' nickname". NFL.com Wire Reports. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  142. ^ "Roger Goodell Insists Washington Redskins Won't Change Name After MLB's Indians Ditch Chief Wahoo". January 31, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  143. ^ "3rd Annual NFL Poll" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. January 2, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  144. ^ "Poll: Americans Don't Want Name Change". The Washington Football Team. January 2, 2014. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  145. ^ Bruce Allen (May 23, 2014). "The Truth about the Redskins Name and Logo" (PDF). The Washington Redskins. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  146. ^ Dan Steinberg (October 15, 2013). "Charles Krauthammer and George Will debate 'Redskins'". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  147. ^ Pat Buchanan (October 22, 2013). "Hail to the Redskins!". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  148. ^ W. James Antle III (November 13, 2013). "Redskins: A Manufactured Controversy". The National Interest. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  149. ^ Rich Lowry (October 8, 2013). "Liberals Fabricate Outrage Over 'Redskins': The team name is an anachronism, but a harmless one". National Review. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  150. ^ Dennis Prager (August 13, 2013). "The Left vs. the Redskins: Teaching people to take offense is one of the Left's black arts". National Review. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  151. ^ Ben Nuckols (May 2, 2013). "US poll finds widespread support for Redskins name". AP News. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  152. ^ "60% Don't Think Washington Redskins Should Change Their Name". Rasmussen Reports. June 24, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  153. ^ a b "Poll: 71 percent say keep Redskins". ESPN.com. September 2, 2014.
  154. ^ "Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #20802". October 15, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  155. ^ "Should the Washington Redskins change their name?". The Washington Post. July 30, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  156. ^ Greg Cohen (September 25, 2014). "DC Speaks: Keep Redskins name". WUSA. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  157. ^ John Woodrow Cox; Scott Clement; Theresa Vargas (May 19, 2016). "New poll finds 9 in 10 Native Americans aren't offended by Redskins name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  158. ^ Scott Clement; Emily Guskin (May 19, 2016). "How The Washington Post conducted the survey on the Redskins' name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  159. ^ "Washington Post poll of Native Americans on Redskins' team name - Survey conducted December 16, 2015 to April 12, 2016". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  160. ^ Fryberg, Stephanie A.; Eason, Arianne E.; Brady, Laura M.; Jessop, Nadia; Lopez, Julisa J. (March 12, 2020). "Unpacking the Mascot Debate: Native American Identification Predicts Opposition to Native Mascots". Social Psychological and Personality Science. 12: 3–13. doi:10.1177/1948550619898556. S2CID 216371787.
  161. ^ Yasmin Anwar (February 4, 2020). "Washington Redskins' name, Native mascots offend more than previously reported". Berkeley News.
  162. ^ Paul Woody (May 15, 2013). "American Indians in Va. have no problem with "Redskins"". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  163. ^ Dan Steinberg (May 29, 2013). "Retired Patawomeck chief says he'd be offended if Redskins change name". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  164. ^ Mark Sullivan (July 3, 2014). "Patawomeck Tribe: Snyder Could Rename the Redskins After Us". The American Sectator. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  165. ^ Matthew Brown; Felicia Fonseca (November 27, 2013). "Code Talker says Redskins name not derogatory". AP News. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  166. ^ Mike Jones (November 25, 2013). "Redskins honor members of the Navajo Code Talkers Association". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  167. ^ Erik Brady (November 27, 2013). "Woman suing Redskins says Code Talkers honor 'sugercoats' racism". USA Today. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  168. ^ Benjamin Freed (November 26, 2013). "Redskins Honor World War II-Era Navajo Code Talkers, Awkwardness Ensues: No one was fooled by the team's publicity stunt". The Washingtonian. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  169. ^ Megan Finnerty (October 10, 2014). "Washington Redskins pay for Natives to attend Cardinals game". AZCentral. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  170. ^ Dan Steinberg (August 12, 2014). "The Redskins now have their own YouTube video about the team name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  171. ^ Laura Stampler (August 12, 2014). "Washington Redskins Defend Name With Help From Native Americans". Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  172. ^ "Washington NFL team video features Indian Country supporters". indianz.com. August 13, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  173. ^ Dave McKenna (October 7, 2014). "Is The Redskins' "VIP" Indian Defender A Fake Indian?". Deadspin. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  174. ^ "Loudoun County urges Dan Snyder to change team name". wusa9.com. July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  175. ^ Nathaniel Cline. "Loudoun Board of Supervisors votes to send letter requesting name change for Ashburn-based Washington Redskins". Loudoun Times. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  176. ^ Harry Enten (June 20, 2014). "The Politics of the Washington Redskins Name Controversy". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  177. ^ Scott Clement (September 2, 2014). "New poll says large majority of Americans believe Redskins should not change name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  178. ^ Sarah Larimer (October 10, 2014). "N.J. lawmakers introduce Redskins resolutions, ask retailers to avoid the name". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  179. ^ Peter Callaghan. "Minneapolis City Council takes steps to ban offensive nickname from U of M stadium". MINNPOST. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  180. ^ "Bills". New York State Assembly. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  181. ^ "New York State Lawmakers Denounce 'Redskins' Name, Pass Unanimous Resolution". Indian Country Today. May 20, 2014. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  182. ^ The Associated Press (July 10, 2015). "California Assembly votes to urge Washington Redskins to ditch 'degrading' name". Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  183. ^ Jordan Fabian (November 5, 2015). "Obama: Teams should drop Native American mascots". The Hill. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  184. ^ "Letter to NFL Commissioner". May 21, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  185. ^ Mark Maske (May 22, 2014). "Senate Democrats urge NFL to endorse name change for Redskins". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  186. ^ John Keim (October 5, 2015). "Donald Trump: Redskins a 'positive' name, Washington shouldn't change". ESPN. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  187. ^ Serge Kovaleski (October 28, 1993). "Delays Push Back Stadium's Chances for 1995 Opening". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  188. ^ Mike DeBonis (January 9, 2013). "Redskins name change should be discussed, Vincent Gray says". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  189. ^ J. P. Finlay (January 4, 2015). "New D.C. Mayor wants Redskins back in city, but with new name". Comcast Sportsnet. Archived from the original on January 7, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  190. ^ John Keim (August 17, 2015). "Bruce Allen: Redskins won't change name in order to build new home". ESPN. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  191. ^ "Leading National Civil Rights and Racial Justice Organizations Announce Joint Opposition to Washington NFL Team Locating New Stadium in District of Columbia". NAACP. August 24, 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  192. ^ Philip Speake (September 16, 2011). "Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens Fans Battle for Maryland Supremacy". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  193. ^ Anita Kumar; Mark Maske (June 6, 2012). "Redskins moving training camp to Richmond in 2013". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  194. ^ Jonah Goldberg (September 26, 2013). "Terry McAuliffe, the Redskins, and the Big Lies of Liberalism". National Review. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  195. ^ Brian McNally (August 1, 2014). "Virginia Gov. Says It's Not His Place To Comment on Redskins Name". CBS Local Media. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  196. ^ Mike DeBonis (October 16, 2013). "Prince George's County executive calls on Redskins to consider name change". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  197. ^ Bill Turque (November 25, 2013). "Leggett considers asking Montgomery council to join in call for renaming Redskins". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  198. ^ Benjamin Freed (August 5, 2014). "Martin O'Malley Says the Redskins Should Change Their Name". Washingtonian. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  199. ^ John Woodrow Cox; Jonathan O'Connell (April 11, 2015). "Tug of war for new Redskins stadium is complicated by name debate". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  200. ^ "The Other Redskins". Capitol News Service. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  201. ^ Zielonka, Adam; Sinn, Dylan (December 19, 2017). "More than a Mascot: Redskins High Schools". Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Capital News Service. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  202. ^ Melanie Mason (October 11, 2015). "California schools barred from using 'Redskins' as team name or mascot". Los Angeles Times.
  203. ^ "Miami Tribe Relations". Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  204. ^ Murray Evans (April 22, 1998). "A Storm on the Horizon SNU Changes Nickname, Mascot". NewsOK.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]