Native American Mascots essays

Native American Mascots essays Throughout thousands of years from long before the days of slavery, and to present day America prejudice and stereotypes have played a giant role in our history. So what is it that makes this situation any different? This problem has been debated for many years, and the end is not in sight. So it is up to you which is right and which is wrong. It all started in the early twentieth century. The first school to use a Native American mascot was the University of Wisconsin in 1909. The term Indians was placed as the schools mascot. And it wasnt long before other schools and professional sport teams took on the roles of these Natives. Some might say that the reasons for these mascots are to honor the culture, when it really degrades it. At the football games for Florida State (the Seminoles), the fans, many in Indian costumes themselves, then proceed to chant faux-Indian melody, swinging their arms in a synchronized tomahawk chop. These false portrayals of the Native Americans are popular at many of these events. It shows how little people really know about these cultures. Grown adults are not the only people who are against the idea of having Native American mascots. What impact do these ideals put into the heads of the next generation? For most children, their second home is school. This is a place where these children learn almost everything they need to know, from intellectual learning to emotional and physical skills. The logos, along with other societal abuses and stereotypes separate, marginalize, confuse, intimidate and harm Native American children and create barriers to their learning throughout their school experience. The children of these heritages are being brainwashed into believing that their culture is exactly how it is with these mascots, and how they are portrayed at the games and other celebrations. ...