Redskin
Encyclopedia
"Redskin" is a racial descriptor for Native Americans and one of the color metaphors for race used in North America
and Europe
since European colonization of America. The term is controversial and considered by some to be offensive.
The term was once in common use, as evidenced in Western movies, but is now largely considered a pejorative
and is seldom used publicly (aside from the football team - see below). As with any term perceived to be discriminatory, different individuals may hold differing opinions of the term's appropriateness.
The terms "Red People" and "Red Skinned" have also been used to refer to the people of the Indian sub-continent (Wells).
According to the Oxford English Dictionary
(OED), the term "redskin" came from the reddish skin color
of some Native Americans, as in the terms red Indian and red man, and the OED cites instances of its usage in English dating back to the 17th century (and cites a use of red in reference to skin color from 1587). Multiple theories fight for prominence as to the true historical origin of the word 'redskin.' One theory, mentioned above, is that the term was meant as merely a physical indicator, similar to the words "white" and "black" for Caucasians and Africans, respectively. Another theory holds that it was first used by Native Americans during the 1800s as a way of distinguishing themselves from the ever-growing white population. An often mentioned third but not proven origin involves the bloody skins (red-skins) of Native people as "prizes," in which they would be scalped after battle and their skins bought and sold in local towns. To date there is no historical documentation or evidence to support this theory. Another theory is that the term "Red Indian" originated to describe the Beothuk people of Newfoundland who painted their bodies with red ochre, and was then generalized to North American indigenous people in general.
" is currently used for an NFL
football
team. The team was founded in 1932 and was originally known as the Boston Braves, for their landlords, the baseball
team called the Boston Braves
. In 1933 the name was changed to the synonymous "Boston Redskins" when they left Braves Field
for Fenway Park
, the home of the Boston Red Sox
. Some accounts state that the name "Redskins" was chosen to honor the team's coach, William "Lone Star" Dietz
, who began coaching in 1933, and whose mother was allegedly Sioux
. In 1937 the team moved to Washington, D.C.
and became the Washington Redskins
, joining Capitol Hill as the second football team of Washington, D.C.
.
In recent years the name has become controversial, with some Native American groups and their supporters arguing that since they view the word "redskin" as an offensive racial slur that it is inappropriate for a NFL team to continue to use it, regardless of whether any offense is intended. In contrast to amateur teams governed by the NCAA or other organizations, which can level sanctions against member schools, the professional Washington Redskins franchise and nickname are subject only to the other clubs in the NFL and, presumably, approval or disapproval as expressed through ticket and merchandise receipts, or lack thereof, from the public. As there has apparently been no adverse market reaction, there has been little or no incentive to change the name.
An attempt to revoke the trademark registration of the Washington Redskins team name failed when an initial revocation of the trademark was reversed the 2005 court case of Pro-Football, Inc. v. Harjo
. Harjo's case inspired many other Native American civil rights groups to pursue this controversial topic, and subsequent lawsuits followed. One complaint filed stated: “The term ‘redskin’ was and is a pejorative, derogatory, denigrating, offensive, scandalous, contemptuous, disreputable, disparaging and racist designation for a Native American person.” Despite these attempts, the use of the word ‘redskin’ as an NFL mascot has yet to be revoked.
Another non-NFL controversy over the term "redskin" took place at James S. Rickards High School
in 2000, when the team name was changed from Rickards Redskins to Rickards Raiders due to perceived racial implications of the word.
In 2001, under threats of litigation from the Native American Bar Association, Consolidated School District 158
in Huntley, Illinois
changed the team name "Huntley Redskins" to "Huntley Red Raiders".
In California
, a bill, presented by Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, to ban the use of the name Redskins as a public school mascot was vetoed more than once. There were many opponents of the bill, including students from schools with the Redskin mascot - most prominently Tulare Union High School
in Tulare
, and Chowchilla Union High School in Chowchilla
; as well as members of the Tachi-Yokut tribe who stated that schools having "Redskin" as a team name promoted a sense of pride among their people.
In April 2001 the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights called for an end to the use of Native American images and team names by non-Native schools, stating, "These references, whether mascots and their performances, logos, or names, are disrespectful and offensive to American Indians and others and are particularly inappropriate and insensitive in light of the long history of forced assimilation
that American Indian people have endured in this country." The commission declared that "the stereotyping of any racial, ethnic, religious or other group, when promoted by our public educational institutions, teaches all students that stereotyping of minority groups is acceptable, which is a dangerous lesson in a diverse society," and noted that "false portrayals encourage biases and prejudices that have a negative effect on contemporary Indian people."
The American Counseling Association
adopted a resolution December 2, 2001 opposing the use of stereotypical Native American images as sports symbols and mascots.
The American Psychological Association
adopted a Resolution August 21, 2005, recommending the immediate retirement of American Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities by schools, colleges, universities, athletic teams, and organizations. The APA stated that "racism and racial discrimination are attitudes and behavior that are learned and that threaten human development" and resolved to "denounce racism in all its forms, and take proactive steps to prevent the occurrence of intolerant or racist acts."
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
since European colonization of America. The term is controversial and considered by some to be offensive.
Historic use
The term was a myth used throughout the English-speaking world (and in equivalent transliterations in Europe) throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as a common term of reference for indigenous Americans.The term was once in common use, as evidenced in Western movies, but is now largely considered a pejorative
Pejorative
Pejoratives , including name slurs, are words or grammatical forms that connote negativity and express contempt or distaste. A term can be regarded as pejorative in some social groups but not in others, e.g., hacker is a term used for computer criminals as well as quick and clever computer experts...
and is seldom used publicly (aside from the football team - see below). As with any term perceived to be discriminatory, different individuals may hold differing opinions of the term's appropriateness.
The terms "Red People" and "Red Skinned" have also been used to refer to the people of the Indian sub-continent (Wells).
According to the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
(OED), the term "redskin" came from the reddish skin color
Human skin color
Human skin color is primarily due to the presence of melanin in the skin. Skin color ranges from almost black to white with a pinkish tinge due to blood vessels underneath. Variation in natural skin color is mainly due to genetics, although the evolutionary causes are not completely certain...
of some Native Americans, as in the terms red Indian and red man, and the OED cites instances of its usage in English dating back to the 17th century (and cites a use of red in reference to skin color from 1587). Multiple theories fight for prominence as to the true historical origin of the word 'redskin.' One theory, mentioned above, is that the term was meant as merely a physical indicator, similar to the words "white" and "black" for Caucasians and Africans, respectively. Another theory holds that it was first used by Native Americans during the 1800s as a way of distinguishing themselves from the ever-growing white population. An often mentioned third but not proven origin involves the bloody skins (red-skins) of Native people as "prizes," in which they would be scalped after battle and their skins bought and sold in local towns. To date there is no historical documentation or evidence to support this theory. Another theory is that the term "Red Indian" originated to describe the Beothuk people of Newfoundland who painted their bodies with red ochre, and was then generalized to North American indigenous people in general.
Current use
The name "RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
" is currently used for an NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team. The team was founded in 1932 and was originally known as the Boston Braves, for their landlords, the baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team called the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. In 1933 the name was changed to the synonymous "Boston Redskins" when they left Braves Field
Braves Field
Braves Field was a baseball park that formerly stood on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. The stadium was home to the Boston Braves National League franchise from 1915–1952, when the team moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
for Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
, the home of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Some accounts state that the name "Redskins" was chosen to honor the team's coach, William "Lone Star" Dietz
William Henry Dietz
William Henry "Lone Star" Dietz was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Washington State University , Purdue University , Louisiana Tech University , University of Wyoming , and Albright College compiling a career college football record of 70–47–6...
, who began coaching in 1933, and whose mother was allegedly Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
. In 1937 the team moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and became the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, joining Capitol Hill as the second football team of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
In recent years the name has become controversial, with some Native American groups and their supporters arguing that since they view the word "redskin" as an offensive racial slur that it is inappropriate for a NFL team to continue to use it, regardless of whether any offense is intended. In contrast to amateur teams governed by the NCAA or other organizations, which can level sanctions against member schools, the professional Washington Redskins franchise and nickname are subject only to the other clubs in the NFL and, presumably, approval or disapproval as expressed through ticket and merchandise receipts, or lack thereof, from the public. As there has apparently been no adverse market reaction, there has been little or no incentive to change the name.
An attempt to revoke the trademark registration of the Washington Redskins team name failed when an initial revocation of the trademark was reversed the 2005 court case of Pro-Football, Inc. v. Harjo
Pro-Football, Inc. v. Harjo
Pro-Football, Inc. v. Harjo, 415 F.3d 44 , is a case in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia considered the decision of the United States Patent and Trademark Office's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to cancel the registration of the Washington Redskins football team,...
. Harjo's case inspired many other Native American civil rights groups to pursue this controversial topic, and subsequent lawsuits followed. One complaint filed stated: “The term ‘redskin’ was and is a pejorative, derogatory, denigrating, offensive, scandalous, contemptuous, disreputable, disparaging and racist designation for a Native American person.” Despite these attempts, the use of the word ‘redskin’ as an NFL mascot has yet to be revoked.
Another non-NFL controversy over the term "redskin" took place at James S. Rickards High School
James S. Rickards High School
James S. Rickards High School is a public high school in Tallahassee, Florida. Rickards was ranked 49th in Newsweek's list of 1,000 top high schools in 2009, due to the high number of AP and IB exams taken by its students...
in 2000, when the team name was changed from Rickards Redskins to Rickards Raiders due to perceived racial implications of the word.
In 2001, under threats of litigation from the Native American Bar Association, Consolidated School District 158
Consolidated School District 158
Community Consolidated School District 158 is a school district in Illinois. The district serves some nearly 8,200 students living in Huntley as well as western portions of Lake in the Hills and Algonquin and surrounding areas. The district employs over 1000 staff members...
in Huntley, Illinois
Huntley, Illinois
Huntley is a rapidly-growing village in McHenry and Kane Counties, Illinois. In 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the village's population to be 22,923. As of the 2000 Census, the village had a mere 5,730 people, meaning the village's population has more than tripled in eight years...
changed the team name "Huntley Redskins" to "Huntley Red Raiders".
In California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, a bill, presented by Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, to ban the use of the name Redskins as a public school mascot was vetoed more than once. There were many opponents of the bill, including students from schools with the Redskin mascot - most prominently Tulare Union High School
Tulare Union High School
Tulare Union High School is a public school for secondary education in Tulare, California, USA. The school's mascot is The Redskins. This high school is administered within the Tulare Joint Union High School District, along with Tulare Western High School and Mission Oak High School,...
in Tulare
Tulare, California
Tulare is a city in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was 59,278 at the 2010 census.Just eight miles south of Visalia, it is part of the Census Bureau's designation of the Visalia Metropolitan Area. The city is named for the currently dry Tulare Lake, once the largest...
, and Chowchilla Union High School in Chowchilla
Chowchilla, California
Chowchilla is a city in Madera County, California, United States. Chowchilla is located northwest of Madera, at an elevation of 240 feet . It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,720 at the 2010 census, up from 11,127 at the 2000...
; as well as members of the Tachi-Yokut tribe who stated that schools having "Redskin" as a team name promoted a sense of pride among their people.
In April 2001 the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights called for an end to the use of Native American images and team names by non-Native schools, stating, "These references, whether mascots and their performances, logos, or names, are disrespectful and offensive to American Indians and others and are particularly inappropriate and insensitive in light of the long history of forced assimilation
Forced assimilation
Forced assimilation is a process of forced cultural assimilation of religious or ethnic minority groups, into an established and generally larger community...
that American Indian people have endured in this country." The commission declared that "the stereotyping of any racial, ethnic, religious or other group, when promoted by our public educational institutions, teaches all students that stereotyping of minority groups is acceptable, which is a dangerous lesson in a diverse society," and noted that "false portrayals encourage biases and prejudices that have a negative effect on contemporary Indian people."
The American Counseling Association
American Counseling Association
The American Counseling Association is a professional organization of counselors in the United States. It is the world's largest association exclusively representing professional counselors....
adopted a resolution December 2, 2001 opposing the use of stereotypical Native American images as sports symbols and mascots.
The American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
adopted a Resolution August 21, 2005, recommending the immediate retirement of American Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities by schools, colleges, universities, athletic teams, and organizations. The APA stated that "racism and racial discrimination are attitudes and behavior that are learned and that threaten human development" and resolved to "denounce racism in all its forms, and take proactive steps to prevent the occurrence of intolerant or racist acts."
External links
- "I am a Red-Skin": The Adoption of a Native American Expression (1769–1826) (Ives Goddard, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution)
- Redskins Are Denied Trademarks, Washington Post, April 3, 1999
- Redskin: Linguistic Controversy, Ryan M. Dinkgrave, February 4, 2004