This lesson focused on the Indians and why there are still mascots today that are indians. We had to watch a video about an Indian mascot and what it's people thought about it. This lesson asked why did schools ban other mascots but the Indian mascot still remains today.
EDUC 2120 – Lesson 13 – In Whose Honor?
Evaluation
When the trustees and fans say that the portrayal of Chief Illiniwek is honorable, do you think they’re sincere?
The portrayal of Chief Illiniwek is different concerning the fans and trustees, versus the people of Chief Illiniwek’s tribe. The trustees and fans are sincerely honorable of Chief Illiniwek because he’s their mascot, but his tribe people are honorable of him because of who he is to them.
Who do you think should have the final say on whether something is prejudiced? Should it come down to whatever the target group thinks, so that people of color have the final say with respect to racism, women have the final say with sexism, and so forth?
The First Amendment gives us freedom of speech, but we shouldn’t use that amendment as an excuse for hurting a person or person’s feelings. I think the person or persons who are being targeted should have the final say on whether something said is prejudice or not. I think that if the majority of the group that is being targeted says that what is being said is prejudice, then it should be recognized as prejudice.
Can you imagine any other religious or spiritual figure being used at a half time event? If a rabbi or a priest wouldn’t be acceptable, why is an Indian chief or medicine man okay?
Using a rabbi or priest in a half-time event isn’t acceptable because it goes against school religious policies, when using a mascot of any kind doesn’t. Although some mascots may offend a group of people, it doesn’t violate the school rules.
Why do you think caricatures such as Little Black Sambo and the Frito Bandito were banished long ago while the Cleveland Indian logo remains?
The caricatures were banned long ago because they were both types of discrimination that maybe went too far. They were caricatures of how the majority of Caucasians viewed them and it was offensive, so they removed them. I’m not really sure why the Cleveland Indian logo remains because it’s a stereotype as well.
At one point in the film, there’s a poster with four pennants (the Pittsburgh Negroes, Kansas City Jews, San Diego Caucasians, and Cleveland Indians), with the line “Maybe now you know how Native Americans feel.” Is there a double standard when it comes to Indian mascots, and if so, why does it exist?
Do you notice Indian names and stereotypes, or have you become deadened to them? For instance, when you see a TV commercial or magazine advertisement for Jeep Grand Cherokee, do you make the connection that Cherokee is the name of an Indian nation?
I think I’ve become deadened to most stereotypes, now. I honestly have never put two and two together for Jeep Grand Cherokee. I know that from Cherokee is a name of an Indian nation, but never really thought more about it when they put the name on a Jeep.
If you don’t notice the use of a racial stereotype, is that a form of racism?
Just because you don’t notice the use of racial stereotype doesn’t mean that it isn’t a form of racism. Whether you notice it or not, it’s still considered racism.
Is there a difference between calling a team the “Redskins” and calling them other derogatory names?
If Redskins is the name of their school or mascot, then yes, there is a difference in calling them other derogatory names. Redskins would be the name. If someone were doing it to be ugly by calling them the Redskins, then there’s no difference in calling them another derogatory name.
Is the use of Indian mascots in schools a form of legalized discrimination against a minority group?
Every school should and has the right to have a mascot in my opinion. It’s just for fun, and to get the students excited at school events. I think the only reason for a school not to have a mascot is if the mascot is offending or discriminating to a group of students. As for the Indian mascots, I think that if students are all okay with an Indian mascot, it should be fine. I went to a high school that had an Indian mascot, and all students loved it.
Why do you think it’s so important to Illinois fans, alumni, and trustees to retain Chief Illiniwek as their mascot?
Because Illinois has been using Chief Illiniwek as their mascot for many years, they don’t want to change it now just because a few people aren’t pleased with it. They’re town loves it. Chief Illiniwek helps them get excited for many events and they enjoy him as their mascot and don’t want to get rid of him now.
One of the handouts discusses a “positive racial stereotype” – Is there such a thing as a “Positive Racial Stereotype”? Describe.
I think an idea of a stereotype can be positive, but even then it can turn out to be offensive. So no, I don’t believe there is such a thing as a positive racial stereotype. Stereotypes can be very hurtful to people and no matter how positive you think it is, it’s offensive to that person because you’re placing them into a category that doesn’t even describe them.
Summary
I thought this was an interesting lesson, as well are all the others. I thought it was interesting to see how people really reacted with Indian mascots. When most people don’t think much about the stereotyping of Indian mascots, there is always the one group that cares.
Research Question
Why are Indian mascots considered as a stereotype?
Reference(s): http://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/indian-mascots.aspx
Research Analysis
Indian mascots are teaching students who aren’t of the Indian culture that it is acceptable to impersonate the Native American culture even when the actions of the mascot are incorrect. It is uninviting to the students who have an Indian culture background. It’s stereotyping their culture.
Indians today find it disrespectful and offensive to their spiritual beliefs. The mascots do not give students the chance to learn what the Indian culture is really about. Indian mascots are a form of discrimination that can lead to negative relations between groups.
Research Summary
I thought my research was interesting also. I’ve never really thought about how the Indian culture would be unhappy by having an Indian mascot represent their school. I always thought it was a compliment to them to have all people know about the Indians, but I from reading my research article, I can see some what of why it doesn’t please them.