Origin and meaning of redskin Washington Redskins name controversy

script logo used redskins (1972–present)

the historical context emergence in americas of racial identities based upon skin color establishment of colonies developed plantation economy dependent upon slave labor. before that, british identified christians rather white. @ start of eighteenth century, indians , europeans mentioned color of each other’s skins. midcentury, remarks skin color , categorization of peoples simple color-coded labels (red, white, black) had become commonplace.

documents colonial period indicate use of red identifier native americans emerged in context of indian-european diplomacy in southeastern region of north america, before later being adopted europeans , becoming generic label native americans. linguistic evidence indicates that, while tribes may have used red refer during pre-columbian era based upon origin stories, general use of term in response meeting people called white , slaves black . choice of red rather other colors may have been due cultural associations, rather skin color.

in debate on meaning of word redskin , team supporters cite paper ives goddard, smithsonian institution senior linguist , curator emeritus, asserts term direct translation of words used native americans refer , benign in original meaning. in interview goddard admits impossible verify if native words accurately translated. darren r. reid, history lecturer @ coventry university, contends native american usage attributed them european writers. reid states team logo works name reinforce unrealistic stereotype: not non-indians define idealized image of native american. positive stereotypes allow fans , supporters state honoring native americans, ...forcing idea of honour people onto them , that, fundamentally, disrespectful.

advocates of changing name emphasize current meanings in dictionaries of american english, include offensive , disparaging , insulting , , taboo . such meanings consistent usage found in books in period between 1875 , 1930, after studied goddard. john mcwhorter, associate professor of linguistics @ columbia university, compares redskin becoming slur other racial terms, such oriental , acquired implied meanings associated contempt.

a controversial etymological claim term emerged practice of paying bounty indians, , redskin refers bloody scalp of native americans. although official documents not use word in way, historical association between use of redskin , paying of bounties can made. in 1863, winona, minnesota, newspaper, daily republican, printed announcement: state reward dead indians has been increased $200 every red-skin sent purgatory. sum more dead bodies of indians east of red river worth. news story published atchison daily champion in atchison, kansas, on october 9, 1885, tells of settlers hunt redskins, view of obtaining scalps valued @ $250. c. richard king lack of direct evidence not mean contemporary native people wrong draw association between term empathizes identity based upon skin color , history commodified native american body parts.

trademark cases

the meaning of term redskin addressed in 2 cases challenging trademark registrations held pro-football, inc., team s corporate entity. challange based upon provision of lanham act prohibited registration of mark “may disparage persons, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or bring them contempt, or disrepute.” first case, harjo etal. v pro-football, inc. filed in 1992 suzan shown harjo , 6 other native american leaders. in 1999 trademark trial , appeal board (ttab) canceled federal registrations redskins marks. in 2005 united states district court district of columbia reversed ttab s decision on grounds of insufficient evidence of disparagement. subsequent appeals rejected on basis of laches, native american petitioners had pursued rights in untimely manner.

a second case filed younger plaintiffs not effected laches, led amanda blackhorse. linguistic expert petitioners, geoffrey nunberg, argued whatever origins, redskins slur @ time of trademark registrations, based upon passages books , newspapers , movie clips in word inevitably associated contempt, derision, condescension, or sentimental paeans noble savage. nigger began benign reference skin color, become racial slur through disparaging use. on june 18, 2014, ttab again voted cancel trademarks in 2 1 decision held term redskins disparaging substantial composite of native americans. evidence of disparagement include frequent references scalping made sportswriters sixty years when reporting redskins loss of game, , passages movies made 1940s 1960s using redskin refer native americans savage enemy. ttab majority held ncai represented 30 percent of native americans during time in question, board found satisfied substantial composite test of trademark law.

in december 2015, federal circuit court of appeals struck down disparagement prohibition in trademark law in case (matal v. tam) involving denial of trademark registration asian-american band slants. majority opinion stated, in part, [w]hatever our personal feelings mark @ issue here, or other disparaging marks, first amendment forbids government regulators deny registration because find speech offend others. on june 19, 2017, supreme court unanimously ruled in favor of tam, stating disparagement clause violates first amendment’s free speech clause. contrary government’s contention, trademarks private, not government speech. on june 29, 2017, both native american petitioners , justice department withdrew further litigation supreme court has rendered legal issue moot. while team owner daniel snyder expresses opinion court decision victory team, executive director of ncai asserts name remains slur, , decision grants first amendment protection not alter of arguments against continued use.

use native americans

supporters of redskins name note 3 predominantly native american high schools use name sports teams, suggesting can acceptable. however, in 2013 principal of 1 of these, red mesa high school in teec nos pos, arizona, said use of word outside american indian communities should avoided because perpetuate legacy of negativity term has created . teec nos pos, in navajo nation, 96.5% native american. wellpinit, washington, town within reservation of spokane people, 79.3% native american. in 2014, wellpinit high school voted keep redskins name. third school, kingston high school in kingston, oklahoma 57.69% native american.

native american writer , attorney gyasi ross compares native american use of variations of word redskin african-american use of variations of word nigger ; natives calling each other skins analogous nigga . use of terms members of minority communities not mean same may used outsiders; recognized white people regard black expressions, yet whites feel free how natives should feel redskin . ross notes there no consensus among natives regarding either opposition washington team s use of name, or importance of issue compared more immediate concerns. however, in response argument native americans ought focus on social issues larger team name, ross stated native people shouldn t forced choose between living or racial discrimination. false binaries.

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