Redskins? Sport Mascots, Indian Nations and White Racism

172 Pages·2017·4.182 MB·English

by  James V Fenelon

“In this provocative and pathbreaking book the savvy sociologist, James
Fenelon, demonstrates well that a great many white Americans are
still unwilling to listen and continue to harbor a deeply racist framing
of themselves as racially superior and of Native Americans as racially
inferior—and thus as a deserving target for an array of racially discrim-
inatory actions.”
Joe R. Feagin, Texas A&M University, from the Foreword
“With extraordinary precision and colorful prose, Lakota scholar James
Fenelon analyzes the use of Native American mascots by sports teams in
modern society. He interrogates the pejorative use of team names, first
circling in on the Washington Redskins then radiating out into many
related spheres, tying team names to racism, colonialism, ignorance, and
capitalism. National and international audiences will be interested in
this captivating and persuasive narrative.”
Clifford E. Trafzer, Rupert Costo Chair in American Indian Affairs,
University of California, Riverside
“Redskins? digs broadly, deeply, intricately into the dark side of Ameri-
can consciousness and racism toward American Indians. The American
Indian position is presented relentlessly, passionately, and supported
with direct experience, Indigenous sensibilities, as well as strategic
scholarly engagement.”
Duane Champagne, Professor of Sociology and American Indian
Studies, UCLA
This page intentionally left blank
Redskins?
This book assesses the controversies over the Washington NFL team
name as a window into other recent debates about the use of Native
American mascots for professional and college sports teams. Fenelon
explores the origin of team names in institutional racism and main-
stream society’s denial of the impact of four centuries of colonial con-
quest. Fenelon’s analysis is supported by his surveys and interviews
about the “Redskins” name and the Cleveland “Indians” mascot “Chief
Wahoo.” A majority of Native peoples see these mascots as racist,
including the National Congress of American Indians—even though
mainstream media and public opinion claim otherwise. Historical anal-
ysis divulges these terms as outgrowths of “savage” and “enemy icon”
racist depictions of Native nations. The book ties the history of conquest
to idealized claims of democracy, freedom and “honoring” sports teams.
James V. Fenelon is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Cen-
ter for Indigenous Peoples Studies at California State University, San
Bernardino. He has published Culturicide, Resistance, and Survival of
the Lakota (Sioux Nation) (Routledge 1998) and Indigenous Peoples and
Globalization, Resistance and Revitalization (with co-author Thomas D.
Hall, Routledge 2009), as well as numerous book chapters, articles and
special journal issues. He is Lakota/Dakota from Standing Rock, having
taught internationally, with indigenous peoples globally, and with urban
groups. James teaches Race/Ethnic Relations, Urban Sociology, Social
Movements, Indigenous Issues, Political Sociology and Sovereignty,
and dedicates his professional life to assisting social justice struggles.
New Critical Viewpoints on Society Series
Edited by Joe R. Feagin
Redskins?
Sport Mascots, Indian Nations and White Racism
James V. Fenelon (2017)
Racial Theories in Social Science
A Systemic Racism Critique
Sean Elias and Joe R. Feagin (2016)
Raising Mixed Race
Multiracial Asian Children in a Post-Racial World
Sharon H. Chang (2015)
Antiracist Teaching
Robert P. Amico (2014)
What Don’t Kill Us Makes Us Stronger
African American Women and Suicide
Kamesha Spates (2014)
Latinos Facing Racism
Discrimination, Resistance, and Endurance
Joe R. Feagin and José A. Cobas (2014)
Mythologizing Black Women
Unveiling White Men’s Racist and Sexist Deep Frame
Brittany C. Slatton (2014)
Diverse Administrators in Peril
The New Indentured Class in Higher Education
Edna Chun and Alvin Evans (2011)
Redskins?
Sports Mascots, Indian Nations
and White Racism
James V. Fenelon
First published 2017
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2017 Taylor & Francis
The right of James V. Fenelon to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known
or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent
to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN: 978-1-6120-5739-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-6120-5740-8 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-52069-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Adobe Caslon Pro
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
CONTENTS
List of Illustrations viii
Foreword by Joe R. Feagin x
Opening Statement (Preface) xvii
Chapter 1 Introduction: Redskins, Wahoos
and Racism through the Ages 1
Chapter 2 Racist Formulation and the Indian
as Red Man 15
Chapter 3 Redskin: Race and Systemic
Racism in Sociolinguistic Analysis 35
Chapter 4 Surveying the Landscape of
Racist America 55
Chapter 5 Cleveland Indians and Washington
Redskins Surveys 78
Chapter 6 Legal Histrionics and the Legacy
of Racism 98
Chapter 7 The Red Man plays on 120
Bibliography 137
Index 148
vii
ILLUSTRATIONS
Paperback Cover Wahoo fan, Gathering of Nations pow-wow,
Redskins white racism image
Figure 1.1 Protest at Jacob’s Field, Cleveland 3
Figure 1.2 Protest poster, Honor versus Shame,
Cleveland, OH 4
Figure 1.3 Redskins logo timeline 5
Figure 1.4 Mass burial at Wounded Knee massacre, 1890 7
Figure 1.5 Hostile fans yell “woo hoo” threats 13
Figure 2.1 Poster on racism and stereotyping 17
Figure 2.2 Scalping at casinos 21
Figure 2.3 Mascot 4 Races T-shirt 23
Figure 3.1 National Coalition Against Racism in Sports
(NCARS) meeting at Cleveland Indians
demonstrations in 1997 and 1998 37
Figure 3.2 Clipping from Daily Republican, Dakota
genocide poster 45
Figure 3.3 Miami University of Ohio Redskins
billboard (1930s) 47
Figure 4.1 Indian fan yells “yee-haw Scalp ’em” at
Cleveland 55
Figure 4.2 Redskins huge cutout 1920s Miami of Ohio 56
Figure 4.3 Neo-Nazis protest integrating Washington
Redskins 58
viii
illustrations ix
Figure 4.4 Fan in plastic feathers and grinning redface,
Cleveland 60
Figure 4.5 Poster writing opposing UND name change 64
Figure 4.6 Poster disparaging UND Fighting Sioux by rivals 66
Figure 4.7 Poster disparaging Sioux Indians at UND 69
Figure 4.8 Patriotic Indian fans smile for racism 73
Figure 5.1 Advertisement with Wahoo Indians on
the Warpath 80
Figure 5.2 Wahoos in history 82
Figure 5.3 Mean by mode report of survey questions
by ethnicity 86
Figure 5.4-A Wahoo survey, bar chart for question 1 87
Figure 5.4-B Wahoo survey, bar chart for question 2 88
Figure 5.4-C Wahoo survey, bar chart for question 3 88
Figure 5.4-D Wahoo survey, bar chart for question 4 89
Figure 5.4-E Wahoo survey, bar chart for question 5 90
Figure 5.5 Redskins survey question 1 results 93
Figure 6.1 Wahoo racial oversized but still invisible
as racism 102
Figure 6.2 Blackhorse et al. v. Pro-Football, Inc.: Case
background/status 103
Figure 6.3 Winning Wahoo renewed 106
Figure 6.4 Arrest of protestors outside Jacob’s Field,
Cleveland 110
Figure 6.5 Protest signs anti-Wahoo Cleveland 115
Figure 7.1 Chief of the Wahoo fans who “honor” Indians 122
Figure 7.2 Flags of symbolic racism 125
Figure 7.3 Dakota SunDance worshipers from Cannonball,
near Porcupine, North Dakota (1930s) 126
Figure 7.4 Honoring American Indian graduates (California
State University, San Bernardino) at recognition
ceremony, held at a local Native Nation, 2014 131