Post on 17-Jul-2015
At issue:
• Tradition vs. “Tradition”
• Actual origins vs. “stories”
• Embedded racism
Tradition: a brief history of
the Redskins logo
From: http://www.thesportsdesignblog.com/thegoodstuff/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Logo_changes-Was.jpg
Interesting moment: 1965
From: http://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/1064/Washington_Redskins/1965/Primary_Logo
Used from 1965 to 1969, this is one of only two Redskins logos that doesn’t feature a face. It bears a striking resemblance to the Florida State Seminole logo which was approved by the Seminole tribe.
Interesting moment: 1965
From: http://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/6378/Washington_Redskins/1960/Alternate_Logo
That logo, however, came after 5 years of this one being used as a “secondary” logo on merchandise and publications.
Interesting moment: 1970
From: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xxJWs1i2nc0/SERU3zvA4II/AAAAAAAAAww/YVNWLbcNqeo/s400/Redskin+Logo
Wanting a fusion of his beloved Green Bay Packers logo and the Redskins usual motif, Lombardi proposes this logo which lasts a single season.
Virtually unchanged since ‘72
From: http://www.redskins.com
The current logo, which other than some minor tweaks has been unchanged since replacing the Lombardi R logo in 1972.
The story that saves them…
The claim from Snyder has been that
the team was renamed in the 1930s to
honor their coach and a number of
allegedly Native American players.
The NFL has used this story to defend
the name as being “homage.”
Except, you’ll recall…
The history of “redskin”
Meanwhile, as noted earlier, the
term “redskin” holds the traditional
legacy of hate speech, with
historical evidence showing at least
two cases where the phrase was
used to advertise what were
essentially bounties on innocent
people.
What is TRULY at issue...
In my recent studies of video games
and other popular culture (Comic
Books, Movies, etc.) I’ve noticed a
repeated trend.
I do not think the creators of current
content are particularly racist. They
believe the narrative.
http://hellogiggles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/17/Johnny-Depp-as-Tonto-Lone-Ranger-624x438.jpg
http://www.oafe.net/yo/art/dcuc18_ac6.jpg.jpg
https://commandboard.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/baine1.jpg
The narrative, part 1
Looking at reactions to the Redskins, many share the view that concern over the mascot should be “let go.” That it’s not an issue “anymore.”
This narrative is commonplace when discussing “Indians” in America. The “let it go” narrative.
The narrative, part 2
Another element of that narrative is
the belief, extending back to the
Western genre, that the “Indian” in
media reflects strength and nobility
and honor– a proud warrior!
The narrative, part 3
Sadly another element in play here,
similar to my first narrative point, is
“Hey, it’s been this way for years!”
The implication that longevity of a
practice legitimates the practice is a
hallmark of contemporary America.
What I believe has happened
We’re dealing with an onion...
The difficulty we face...
... is that for the Native American,
the anger is just as fresh. Redskin is
demeaning. It’s hurtful. It’s, frankly,
unacceptable if we look at the
treatment of other hate terms. Try to
imagine...
From: http://ashtabulacurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/2013-ac-WNS-new-teams-racist-logos.jpg
From the other side...
... It isn’t truly unreasonable to
understand the attitude of fans who
say “but it’s been this way forever,”
because part of the shame is that
it’s been roughly a century of
Washington with that name.
From the other side...
... They’ve also been told that their
use of the “Indian” represents
nobility and warrior pride, ferocious
and mighty and deeply reverent.
Easy mistake to make, given images like this.
And there’s this guy…
We need a drill...
Our “drills”...
• Contextual, rhetorical education (e.g. the use of the word “Redskin”)
• Pushing for accurate historical education, particularly in relation to things like “Thanksgiving” and Christopher Columbus
• Finding a place at the table for our voices and our theorists and artists; the absence of Native Americans makes us easier to minimize.
Let’s start with this…
... and see what happens.
Phill Alexander
alexanp3@miamioh.edu