Another letter asking to end using Native American mascots and team names, as well as racist fan habits, was sent out to the NFL by a group of singers, stars, directors and models, including Minnie Driver, Jewel and Mark Ruffalo.
To Echo Hawk, the increased public assistance, especially from non-Native people, demonstrates how much the conversation has actually shifted. While her companys needs surpass merely altering the name– she hopes for an end to Native mascots everywhere, consisting of in professional and college groups, along with K-12 schools, and an apology to Native Americans for the prior use of racist images– the recent momentum of her movement has her enthusiastic for the future.
” Im actually hopeful in this moment that as more Americans begin to be informed about why these things are harmful, why theyre racist,” Echo Hawk stated. “And we comprehend theres some education to do, however we see the groundswell and we see I think that the American public and sports fans are going to significantly stand with Native Americans.”
On Monday, 15 Native American organizations, authors and advocates signed a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asking him to require Washingtons NFL group to alter its name. By Wednesday, more than 450 other groups had actually revealed their support.
In addition to altering the name, the letter asks the NFL to need the group to cease using Native American imagery, cease making use of surveys to validate ongoing usage of the name and prohibit using Native imagery from the league.
The Washington team name has been questionable for years, and in 2006, Navajo social worker Amanda Blackhorse was the called plaintiff in a federal suit seeking to strip the federal trademark rights from Daniel Snyders team. However as national discussions about systemic bigotry have magnified after the death of George Floyd and others, lots of Native leaders believe change may be coming soon.
Crystal Echo Hawk, executive director of a not-for-profit Native advocacy group called IllumiNative, just recently introduced a project called “The Time Is Now” advocating for a name modification and has actually already seen results– like the letter to Goodell.
” Nothings took place yet,” Echo Hawk stated. “But this is the closest I think Native individuals have actually come in nearly 30 years.”
Amongst those who justify the teams name, the 2004 National Annenberg Election Survey and a 2016 Washington Post survey are widely mentioned as polls that found that 90 percent of Native participants were not bothered by the groups name.
The studies looked at different names, logo designs and images, none of them found that these logos had a favorable effect on Native Americans. Particularly, Native American mascots lead to more stereotyping by non-Native individuals, and lower self-esteem from Native people.
” In light of this evidence, theres factor to question that a democratization, or easy ballot of peoples opinions and majority must rule, is the ideal way to proceed due to the fact that this proof suggests that there are negative effects,” Gone stated.” … So its not truly a concern of how numerous individuals agree or disagree, its the proof.”
In addition to the letter from Native organizations, a group called Athletes for Impact likewise wrote a letter to the NFL and the Washington group emphasizing the outcomes of the research studies and calling for a total restriction on Native mascots and team names in addition to racist habits by fans. The letter was signed by Indigenous and native athletes, including golf enthusiast Notah Begay III, track athlete Rosalie Fish and fighter Shiloh LeBeau. Among other significant signees were WNBA players Layshia Clarendon, Kelsey Plum and Katie Lou Samuelson, soccer star Megan Rapinoe and Olympians Hilary Knight, Simone Manuel and Ibtihaj Muhammad, and NBA player Kyle Korver.
” As professional athletes, we understand sports have power and we work out significant impact and can inspire people of all ages,” the letter read. ” As an intersectional cumulative of athletes representing a series of races, sports, genders and religious beliefs who are actively included in movements for justice, we ask that you right away end making use of Native mascots in the NFL.”
The research studies looked at different names, logo designs and imagery, none of them discovered that these logos had a positive impact on Native Americans. Particularly, Native American mascots lead to more stereotyping by non-Native individuals, and lower self-esteem from Native individuals.
In addition to the letter from Native companies, a group called Athletes for Impact likewise wrote a letter to the NFL and the Washington team emphasizing the results of the research study studies and calling for a complete ban on Native mascots and group names as well as racist habits by fans. The letter was signed by Indigenous and native professional athletes, consisting of golf player Notah Begay III, track athlete Rosalie Fish and fighter Shiloh LeBeau.
