Responses to the controversy Washington Redskins name controversy

1 responses controversy

1.1 individual native american opinion in support of redskins name
1.2 political opinion

1.2.1 dc metro area jurisdictions


1.3 name change business decision
1.4 other teams use name redskins

responses controversy

following february 2013 symposium racist stereotypes , cultural appropriation in american sports @ smithsonian national museum of american indian, 10 members of congress sent letter redskins owner , nfl commissioner requesting name changed since offensive native americans. in response, daniel snyder told usa today: ll never change name. ... s simple. never—you can use caps. snyder addressed open letter fans published in washington post on october 9, 2013; in stated important meaning of name association fans have memories of personal history team. snyder states name chosen in 1933 honor native americans in general , coach , 4 players @ time native american; , in 1971 coach george allen consulted red cloud indian fund on pine ridge indian reservation when designing logo. in 2013, red cloud athletic fund sent letter washington post stating organization, red cloud indian school has never—and never—endorse use of name redskins . many native american organizations across country, members of our staff , extended community find name offensive.

snyder s response, , of other supporters , fans, reflects psychology of identification sports teams. self-esteem becomes bound players , team, many beneficial unfortunate consequences, including denial or rationalization of misbehavior.

in june 2013, nfl commissioner roger goodell defended name citing origins, traditions , polls support popularity.

on website team states 2014 annual nfl poll showing 71 percent support name, along poll taken among native americans annenberg institute, demonstrates continued, widespread , deep opposition redskins changing our name... respect point of view of small number of people seek name change, important recognize few people agree case making.

the team s president, bruce allen, addressed letter dated may 23, 2014, senator reid repeating position name originated native americans refer themselves, logo designed , approved native american leaders, , vast majority of both native americans , public not find name offensive.

conservative columnists george , pat buchanan state opponents of team name being oversensitive, although charles krauthammer drew parallel between evolution of negro , redskin being in common use being condescending , insulting. w. james antle iii, rich lowry, , dennis prager wrote outrage on mascots manufactured white liberals, rather being authentic voice of native americans.

individual native american opinion in support of redskins name

in may 2013, redskins website reported opinions of local fan, stephen d. dodson, claimed chief , full-blooded american inuit aleutian tribes of alaska . said not redskins not offensive him , whole family , term of endearment indians on reservation ... call each other . roger goodell wrote letter congress in part pointed recent remarks chief steven dodson, american inuit chief indicate support nickname among native americans. reported dodson neither full-blooded inuit nor chief , court records linked him instances of theft, paternity, , domestic violence matters. executive director of inuit circumpolar council-alaska, said neither chief nor indian terms used alaska s native peoples.

also in 2013, brother , sister in oneida, new york, stated native american (mohawk) , ardent redskins fans. 3 virginia indian leaders said in 2013 not offended name redskins more concerned other issues such lack of federal recognition virginia tribe. robert 2 eagles green, retired chief of fredericksburg area patawomeck tribe, stated on radio talk show offended if team changed name. in article in american spectator, current chief of patawomeck tribe, john lightner, said while not offended current name, support changing team washington potomacs.

on november 25, 2013, part of nfl s salute service month , native american heritage month, washington redskins recognized 4 members of navajo code talkers association briefly during commercial break. 1 of them, roy hawthorne, has stated, opinion s name not team should keep, s name s american. action criticized amanda blackhorse, navajo, , described publicity stunt. in april 2014, navajo nation council voted in favor of statement opposing name of washington team, other disparaging references american indians other professional sports franchises. later year, members of navajo , zuni tribes , students red mesa redskins high school attended redskins vs. cardinals game guests of washington team.

in 2014 redskins released two-minute video on youtube entitled redskins powerful name in several native americans express support team. of fourteen individuals, 5 members of chippewa cree tribe on rocky boy indian reservation in montana , associated team redskins rodeo club. 2 mike wetzel , don wetzel, jr. (blackfeet), descendants of logo designer, , 6 others members of various tribes , state fans of team , find nothing wrong name, or think positive. 1 of individuals in video mark 1 wolf, reported being born mark e. yancey in washington, d.c., of african-american , japanese descent.

political opinion

although majority of advocating name change democrats, there no indication issue of real significance in electoral decisions given native americans such small percentage of electorate , not influence outcome of election. there 8 states natives make greater 2 percent of population: alaska, arizona, montana, new mexico, north dakota, oklahoma, south dakota , wyoming. however, polls show definite political difference in opinion of general public, 58% of democrats opposing name change versus 89% of republicans. statements political figures have been expressions of personal opinion rather recommendations government action. there have been non-binding resolutions advocating name change proposed in new jersey , passed in minneapolis, new york state , california.

the topic came in 2013 interview of president barack obama, stated if owner of redskins, consider changing name because offends many native americans, did not have stake in issue not owner of professional sports team. in november 2015 obama, speaking @ white house tribal nations conference, stated names , mascots of sports teams washington redskins perpetuate negative stereotypes of native americans , praised adidas new initiative schools change names , mascots designing new logos , paying part of cost of new uniforms. on may 22, 2014, fifty u.s. senators, forty-eight democrats , 2 independents, sent letter nfl commissioner goodell asking league, referencing donald sterling case, send same clear message nba did: racism , bigotry have no place in professional sports. 5 democratic senators declined sign letter, , republicans not invited so. no senators have publicly supported name, rather have either declined give opinion or stated opposition senate involvement in issue. during campaign, president donald trump defended name.

dc metro area jurisdictions

much of local political discussion has been building stadium, beginning in 1990s when maryland location chosen fedexfield. possibility of building new stadium in near future, both previous , current mayors of district of columbia have stated name change must part of discussion, team rejects possibiltiy. virginia governor terry mcauliffe has met owner discuss building of new stadium in virginia. many years, beginning departure of baltimore colts, redskins nfl team in large area maryland southern states. changing maryland nfl fans move baltimore ravens. several maryland politicians have stated name should change, governor larry hogan opposes change, citing desire keep stadium in maryland. virginia fans more numerous , dedicated supporters of redskins, , state , local governments have used economic incentives encourage team s relocation of facilities there, , maintain name entirely business decision team make. agency of commonwealth, virginia lottery, sponsor of team, , says has never had complaints.

name change business decision

two professors @ goizueta business school @ emory university summarized research in new york times editorial. found studies of college teams have changed names , mascots indicate doing has long-term financial benefit. while vocal opponents of change threatened withdrawal of support, never materialized. there have been no name changes professional teams, though comparison of nfl teams shows highest negative trend in brand equity affects washington redskins , kansas city chiefs, calling question business logic of retaining native american names or logos offensive minority. in commentary forbes, tom van riper states research considering fan loyalty , traditions of team indicates value of name brand significant, , unlikely change business reasons. alternative opinion team benefit re-branding, new name need selected. in 2014 sales of redskins merchandise declined 35% prior year. people having second thoughts wearing t-shirt logo or name has been called racist, said matt powell, senior analyst sportssourceone. team spokesman attributed decline dismal performance in 2013 season, other teams bad records have not seen such steep decline in sales. corporate sponsors have either made no public response media inquiries regarding name or stated play no role in decision, , defer team , nfl. despite name controversy, value of team has risen $700 million $2.4 billion (40%), making them third valuable franchise in nfl, based upon valuations published forbes magazine in 2014 , 2015.

other teams use name redskins

the number of high schools using redskins name has been in steady decline, 40% having had local efforts change name. 1988 until april 2013, 28 high schools in 18 states had done so, 62 schools using name @ time. since list compiled, other high school teams have dropped name, including 4 affected 2015 california law.

college teams had been redskins changed names voluntarily, university of utah became utah utes in 1972, miami university became redhawks in 1997, , southern nazarene university became crimson storm in 1998.

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