Public opinion polls Washington Redskins name controversy

while varying somewhat, national opinion polls consistently indicate majority of general public not advocate name change: 79 percent (april 2013), 60 percent (june 2014), , 71 percent (september 2014). while yielding overall results similar national polls, majority supporting team keeping name, local surveys ask additional questions. in 3 polls, although supported team name, 59 percent, 56 percent, , 53 percent of dc, maryland, , virginia fans said word redskin offensive native americans in @ least contexts. september 2014 national poll found 68 percent think name not disrespectful of native americans, 19 percent shows disrespect, , 9 percent lot disrespectful. 2016 annual nfl poll found significant difference of opinion based upon age , race. older respondents opposed name change, between 18 , 29 (70%) in favor of change. while 77% of white fans believe name should not changed, 38% of african-american , 33% of latino fans agree, change since 2014 poll in there little difference between white , non-white opinion.

louis gray, president of tulsa indian coalition against racism , osage indian said, wouldn t [take poll] other race. wouldn t have african-americans vote decide whether or not sort of racial epithet offensive.

the survey cited opponents of change definitive of native american opinion performed in 2004 part of national annenberg election survey. among other questions regarding election year issues, respondents identified being native american asked: professional football team in washington calls washington redskins. native american, find name offensive or doesn t bother you? in response, ninety percent replied name did not bother them, while 9 percent said offensive, , 1 percent not answer. methods used in survey , conclusions can drawn have been criticized social scientists, native american scholars , legal experts years. in august, 2015, memo written senior researchers @ organization responsible collecting data survey made clear should not taken accurate reflection of native american attitudes @ time.

in may 2016, washington post released poll of self-identified native americans produced same results 2004 annenberg poll, 90% of 504 respondents not bothered team s name. ncai executive director jacqueline pata stated survey doesn t recognize psychological impacts these racist names , imagery have on american indian , alaska natives. not respectful native people. poll still doesn t make right. native american journalists association issued statement calling publication of poll, , reporting of significance, not inaccurate , misleading unethical. reporters , editors behind story must have known used justification continued use of these harmful, racist mascots. either willfully malicious or dangerously naïve in process , reporting used in story, , neither acceptable journalistic institution.

an alternative method standard opinion polls used center indigenous peoples studies @ california state university, san bernardino. survey conducted of 400 individuals, 98 individuals positively identified native americans. surveyors verified native american status of respondents claiming native affiliation. native american survey respondents collected @ pow-wows, form of non-probabilistic convenience sampling. 67% of native americans (n=66) polled agreed statement redskins racial or racist. response non-natives opposite, 68% responding name not offensive.