Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
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CHATHAM, ILLINOIS - The Ball-Chatham School Board voted 6-2 last night to end its references to American Indians as the mascots of its sports teams. The Chatham-Glenwood High School athletic teams will no longer be called the Redskins if the Board has its way. Likewise, the Glenwood Junior High School teams will no longer be referred to as the Braves.

This ends a long and heated debate and brings the Ball-Chatham schools into compliance with the recent recommendation of the United States Commission on Civil Right to end the use of Native Americans as sports mascots. In their April 13, 2001 Resolution, the USCCR wrote, "The stereotyping of any racial, ethnic, religious or other groups when promoted by our public educational institutions, teach all students that stereotyping of minority groups is acceptable, a dangerous lesson in a diverse society. Schools have a responsibility to educate their students; they should not use their influence to perpetuate misrepresentations of any culture or people."

Similar calls from the NAACP, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and many national churches and civil rights organizations have supported the priority that Native American Tribes throughout the country have placed on ending this form of racial stereotyping.

"The Board should be commended for its stance on racial justice," said Cyd Crue, President of the Illinois Chapter of the National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media. "Unfortunately, from some of the comments presented at the Board's meeting, many residents and students of Chatham still place their own selfish motivations ahead of the rights of Native Americans. They don't seem to understand that to call someone REDSKIN is analogous to calling others NIGGER, WOP, KIKE, GREASER, JAP, GOOK, CHINK, etc. Schools should not be promoting racism, but educating students about the benefits to all that comes from racial diversity and understanding."

In ending this form of invidious discrimination, Chatham joins the rapidly and ever-growing list of communities throughout the country that have come to realize that Native Americans are people not mascots.