Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

I want to express my appreciation and heart-felt thanks to the many people who supported the statement calling for the end of the use of American Indian team names and images as sports symbols that was submitted to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in March.

The commission adopted the statement last month. The hundreds of letters, e-mails and faxes show there is a grass-roots movement to end the use of American Indian mascots. I am impressed not only by the amount of support the statement received, but also by the broad cross section of support.

Letters came from American Indians and non-Indians, young and old, and professionals and non-professionals from all over the United States and parts of Canada. I am particularly pleased with initiative shown by the young people who sent letters and e-mails in support of the statement. It is encouraging to see our youth getting involved with matters that affect them.

Like you, I have heard the same explanations used to justify the use of American Indian team names and images as sport symbols - these mascots honor Native Americans, not all American Indians object to the use of American Indian mascots, other ethnic groups are not offended when they arc used as mascots, and Native Americans have bigger problems to worry about.

I realize many people honestly think they are honoring Native Americans when they use American Indian names and images as sport symbols. However, if these people would take an objective look at the issue, they would understand why many find the use of American Indian mascots objectionable. These American Indian-based symbols and team names are not accurate representations of Native Americans but are stereotypes that encourage biases and prejudices that have a negative effect on how contemporary American Indian people are viewed. Ask someone to describe an American Indian, and they will talk about feathers, face paint and war whoops, attributes of American Indian mascots. They do not speak of teachers, engineers, doctors or lawyers.

It is the case that not all American Indians are in agreement about such mascots being offensive. Some American Indians are indifferent while others are deeply offended. Still others do not even see this issue as anything connected to their own identity as an American Indian. How you ask Native Americans if American Indian mascots offend them is important, and how you interpret this difference of viewpoint is important as well.

Present Native Americans with the expression "Indians" or any other American Indian mascot, and ask them if they are offended, and they will probably say no. On the other hand, ask American Indians if they find the racial slurs, caricatures and demeaning comments associated with these images offensive, and chances are, the overwhelming majority will say yes.

My short answer to statements that other ethnic groups are not offended when they are used as sports mascots is that it is for those ethnic groups to decide what is and is not offensive to them. Their opinions and decisions should be respected. Native Americans only ask the same, that their opinions and decisions be respected also.

It is undeniable that many Native Americans face serious problems. I have lived on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation for most of my life. It historically has been the poorest county in the nation. Poverty, unemployment, shortage of housing, poor health - I have a pretty good idea of the problems American Indians face.

The movement to end the use of American Indian nicknames and images in sports is only one front of the larger battle to eliminate obstacles that confront American Indians. It is important to understand that advocacy for getting rid of these mascots is a starting point, not an ending point, in a larger initiative to eliminate the stereotypes American Indians encounter.

It was easy for me to offer to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights a statement calling for the end of the use of Native American team names and images as sports symbols. It was easy because of the efforts of countless people like you who have worked and work to educate people on the American Indian mascot issue.

You are the true leaders on this issue; I am only a supporter. The statement adopted by the commission is a product of your hard work and is meant to support your efforts to get people to take an objective look at the use of American Indian team names and images. As the statement says, "dialogue and education are the roads to understanding."