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Oxford Dictionary: Redskin
topdawgnc
Member Posts: 7,838
in Tug Tavern
Usage
Redskin is first recorded in the late 17th century and was applied to the Algonquian peoples generally, but specifically to the Delaware (who lived in what is now southern New York State and New York City, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania). Redskin referred not to the natural skin color of the Delaware, but to their use of vermilion face paint and body paint. In time, however, through a process that in linguistics is called pejoration, by which a neutral term acquires an unfavorable connotation or denotation, redskin lost its neutral, accurate descriptive sense and became a term of disparagement. Red man is first recorded in the early 17th century and was originally neutral in tone. Red Indian is first recorded in the early 19th century and was used by the British, far more than by Americans, to distinguish the Indians of the subcontinent from the Indians of the Americas. All three terms are dated or offensive. American Indian and Native American are now the standard umbrella terms. Of course, if it is possible or appropriate, one can also use specific tribal names (Cheyenne, Nez Percé, etc.).
Nope ... nothing about Redskin = scalping
Oklahoma means ... Choctaw words “okla” and “humma,” meaning “red people.”
What do Redskins have to say about it?
Whitman says the color carries a different meaning.
“It’s a symbolic color of life, the color red, in my tribe.”
But for several Oklahoma high schools, Capitol Hill, Tulsa Union, Rush Springs, Kingston and McLoud, their Redskins mascot name is a source of pride.
“I’m very proud to be a Redskin,” Joseph Wood, a member of the Kickapoo tribe, said Thursday.
Wood recently graduated from McLoud High School, proudly played quarterback for the McLoud Redskins, and says he wouldn’t want the state’s name changed either.
“It’s very ridiculous because then you’d have to change other states,” he said. “Indiana, land of the Indians.”
He says his tribal leaders, and many others, very much appreciate being represented by the NFL.
“If you ask them, it is an honor to have a mascot portraying them,” he said, “to represent them.”
.....
Baaaaahhhh
Redskin is first recorded in the late 17th century and was applied to the Algonquian peoples generally, but specifically to the Delaware (who lived in what is now southern New York State and New York City, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania). Redskin referred not to the natural skin color of the Delaware, but to their use of vermilion face paint and body paint. In time, however, through a process that in linguistics is called pejoration, by which a neutral term acquires an unfavorable connotation or denotation, redskin lost its neutral, accurate descriptive sense and became a term of disparagement. Red man is first recorded in the early 17th century and was originally neutral in tone. Red Indian is first recorded in the early 19th century and was used by the British, far more than by Americans, to distinguish the Indians of the subcontinent from the Indians of the Americas. All three terms are dated or offensive. American Indian and Native American are now the standard umbrella terms. Of course, if it is possible or appropriate, one can also use specific tribal names (Cheyenne, Nez Percé, etc.).
Nope ... nothing about Redskin = scalping
Oklahoma means ... Choctaw words “okla” and “humma,” meaning “red people.”
What do Redskins have to say about it?
Whitman says the color carries a different meaning.
“It’s a symbolic color of life, the color red, in my tribe.”
But for several Oklahoma high schools, Capitol Hill, Tulsa Union, Rush Springs, Kingston and McLoud, their Redskins mascot name is a source of pride.
“I’m very proud to be a Redskin,” Joseph Wood, a member of the Kickapoo tribe, said Thursday.
Wood recently graduated from McLoud High School, proudly played quarterback for the McLoud Redskins, and says he wouldn’t want the state’s name changed either.
“It’s very ridiculous because then you’d have to change other states,” he said. “Indiana, land of the Indians.”
He says his tribal leaders, and many others, very much appreciate being represented by the NFL.
“If you ask them, it is an honor to have a mascot portraying them,” he said, “to represent them.”
.....
Baaaaahhhh
Comments
What the point is:
But for several Oklahoma high schools, Capitol Hill, Tulsa Union, Rush Springs, Kingston and McLoud,
Those are high schools with Redskin as a mascot in the heart of a state that has the largest Native American population in the Union.
The point is that they could name the team the Washington Niggers if the NFL would allow it. The government has no say here. 1st Amendment.
Help me understand why we are not boycotting those schools?
I think the market loves the name, by the way. 3rd most valuable team in the league.
I am not a legal scholar but there may be provisions in various laws against disparaging ethnic groups. Regardless, just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do something.
If the name was selected by various tribesfolk I would consider that meaningful. Just having the name means that there isn't enough pushback to change it. I recognize there is not a complete uproar against it.
There used to be a time in this country where we would protect neo Nazis (!!!!) with police escorts while they held rallies, because we were THAT serious about protecting the 1st Amendment. I think you may be missing the point.
There's also a common sense argument here. The owner paid for his team with his money and he can do what he damn well pleases with it. If the name is offensive, his business will suffer. Obviously it's not. Since when can the government tell someone what to do with their own assets?
Just because the government protects a right to be racist through the first amendment doesn't mean you should be racist. Again you are falling back on these market-based arguments. The market may be racist. There are a lot of racists in America. If you are one of them that is fine. I am not telling you that you can't be and I am not telling you that you don't have a right to be racist. I am not sure that the existence of other racists justifies racism though.
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