DC Councilman: ‘Change That Shameful Name’

District of Columbia Councilman David Grosso has introduced a resolution that Washington’s professional football team should change its racist, derogatory name, the one beginning with “R.” It’s a non-binding resolution, to say the least; the team doesn’t even play in DC anymore.

Removing Native American slurs and stereotypes from sports nicknames and mascots has been a nationwide trend, but the second part of Mr. Grosso’s resolution is a bit arcane, and puzzles lots of folks. He suggests changing the team’s name to “Washington Redtails.” This is in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots of World War II. While more people should know about the Airmen, even the few who do don’t know that “Red Tails” was their nickname, unless they saw the flop movie of the same name.

Congress: No Protection for Shameful Racist NFL Symbols

The U. S. Patent Office’s Trial and Appeal Board can’t decide if the DC NFL team name R-word slur deserves government protection, so members of Congress want to clarify it. Del. Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa) has introduced HR 1278 – Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act of 2013. Co-sponsors include co-chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Betty McCollum (D, MN-4) as well as Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Raul Grijalva (D, AZ-7), Karen Bass (D, CA-37), John Lewis (D, GA-5), Gwen Moore (D, WI-4), Donna Christenson (D-Virgin Islands), Michael Honda (D, CA-17).

The bill has been endorsed by the National Congress of American Indians, International Indian Treaty Council, the Wisconsin Indian Education Association, and the Morning Star Institute. “It’s wonderful to have such distinguished and courageous members of Congress stand up for us to oppose this indefensible racial epithet,” said Institute President Susan Harjo. “I hope this helps to open the eyes of those who have not seen or who have refused to see the harm this does to our young people.”

Football’s Shameful Name

“Redskins General Manager Bruce Allen said Thursday that the team has no plans to change its name despite ongoing controversy and a recent spike in debate about whether it is offensive to Native Americans.

Speaking to reporters in Richmond after the groundbreaking ceremony for the team’s new training camp site, Allen said the Redskins do not see any reason to change the name.

‘We’re not a new franchise. We’re 81 years old. … There’s nothing that we feel is offensive, and we’re proud of our history,’ Allen said, according to 106.7 The Fan’s Grant Paulsen.”

– ”Bruce Allen: No plans to change Redskins’ name,” Mike Jones, Washington Post blog

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“The Redskins were founded and owned for 37 years by George Preston Marshall, a virulent racist and anti-semite who initiated the NFL’s gentleman’s agreement to not hire black players, and made the Redskins the last team to integrate only after being threatened by the federal government.”

– “The Redskins Really, Really Want You To Know Their Team Name Is About Pride,” Barry Petchesky, Deadspin

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“Simply put, it’s not OK to rally behind a racial slur like ‘redskin.’ It’s not okay to depict an entire group of people (outside of the confines of humor or satire) as a literal cartoon, morphing them into your unfounded conceptions of a savage race prepared to take your scalp. ….

There are plenty of instances throughout the history of humanity where history has been left behind, rather than being saved, because it’s not consistent for what we should strive for as a society. Likewise, as a society, we should strive for something greater than needing to root for logos with generalizing, untrue, racist roots.”

 – ”Native American Logos and Monikers Need to Finally Be Removed From Sports,” Zach Stoloff, NESN.com

D.C.’s R-Word

“OF COURSE the team should change the name. Duh. It’s the worst racial slur used as a team name in American sports.” –Robert McCartney, “Drop ‘Redskins’ name? Time to take a stand.” Washington Post

“‘It is the worst name we can be called in the English language…. And it’s in the nation’s capital.’” –”Redskins name change demanded at Smithsonian forum,” Annys Shin, Washington Post

“Discussion at the American Indian Museum: Time to Put Racist Mascots to Bed,” [Storified] Smithsonian Magazine blog

 ”… 90,000 people screaming a racial slur.” ”Time for the Washington Football Team to Change Its Name?” Benjamin R. Freed, DCist

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“Who’s the Immigrant?”

Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D, IL-4) imagined what Arizona’s lawmen will have to do when they try to enforce the state’s “Show Me Your Papers” law.  He previewed the scenario as a new quiz show, “Who’s the Immigrant?”, on the House floor today:

Arizona: Show Me Your Papers!

The Supreme Court of the United States has overturned most of Arizona’s immigration law, denying the state’s right to make its own immigration policy. The court reasserted the constitutionally mandated powers of the Federal Government in these matters.

North Dakota Racism Referendum

In a referendum yesterday, North Dakotans voted to retire their state university’s “Fighting Sioux” nickname and symbols. We cannot confirm the rumor that University of North Dakota teams will henceforth be called the “Fighting Space Aliens” (above: new team logo?).

The North Dakota state legislature had passed a law directing UND to use the “Fighting Sioux” nickname and logo in perpetuity even though many constituents feel the practice is racist. “Sioux” is derived from an Ojibwe term for the Lakota people, many of whom live in the state, and is often regarded as an insult. The NCAA considers racial and ethnic logos and mascots ”hostile and abusive” and sanctions teams for their use, and UND is one of the last holdouts. Perhaps this referendum will convince the National Football League to change the name and logo of the “Washington Ethnic Slurs.”

North Dakota ballot measure results here.

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New NFL Uniforms for DC

Washington DC’s allegedly professional football team, the one with the racist name and the worst record in the NFL, has decided to stop embarrassing itself on the field and will now compete on the fashion runway. In a partnership with Portland-area couturier Nike, the oversized athletes will sport new designer ensembles as they lumber across your television screen this fall in a version of reality show America’s Next Top Model. Inexplicably loyal fans will want to compost their old replica team jerseys and buy new ones to profit billionaire team owner Dan Snyder, widely recognized as the worst owner in the NFL.

Related:

“Court Won’t Block State Vote on ‘Fighting Sioux’ Name,” Inside Higher Ed

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DC’s NFL R-Word

This week, many Washingtonians were shocked — shocked! – to realize that the name of their professional football team is a racial slur. The way the team plays, they probably assumed it was named after some type of potato.

More:

“You Know What’s Linsane? The Redskins’ Name,” Martin Austermuhle, DCist

“D.C. Officials Want Redskins Back, But What About That Name?” Elahe Izadi, DCentric

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Embarrassing End to Dismal DC NFL Season

Today’s final score in the final game of the season: Philadelphia 34, Washington 10. For the fourth straight year, Washington DC’s professional football team finished last in their division. Perhaps this abysmal season — and decade  — is the result of bad karma due to a team name that trademarks racial slurs and stereotypes. But don’t expect any change in the name or losing performance. The team is run by the worst owner in the league, Dan Snyder.

Related:

“It’s time once again to tell Washington’s football team to ditch the ‘Redskins’ racist moniker,” Courtland Milloy, Washington Post.

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