In recent news
I came across an article that I thought all of you would find remarkable! The
article can be found here and is definitely worth the read because a few weeks
ago we watched a symposium on thse use of Native Mascots:
<http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/03/26/native-american-rights-fund-applauds-sponsors-proposed-offensive-redskins-trademark>
It turns
out that The Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in
Trademark Registration Act of 2013 was recently introduced on March 21. This is a major step in promoting awareness
of racism and discrimination through the use of racialized stereotypes.
HOW AWESOME
IS THIS LEGISLATION!!!!
It's even cooler after watching the symposium and knowing all the oppression Natives have faced.
It would bar all professional and nonprofessional
sports teams from using mascots such as Natives. BUT on top of that it prevents schools from
engaging in acts such as pretending to kill natives at pep rallies and
such.
My mind is
blown. This is the first step in
creating a new visual history for Natives, and I hope it gives inspiration for
todays Native Youths. It ultimately
shows that Natives have made major progress in freeing their minds and bodies
from the stereotypes that refuse to relinquish their hold on Native culture and
life.
Sorry
fans, but say goodbye to images like these because they are offensive and
racist and do not belong in Pop or sport culture:
One major step in the fight against Racism!!!
I certainly hope this bill passes. I googled it, as I was curious, and I found a few blogs (written from a white, straight, masculine perspective for what that is worth) basically arguing that this is constitutional issue rather than a trademark issue. I think it is a constitutional issue as well, but perhaps not in the same manner these bloggers do. They are concerned with "free speech": they believe that discarding with the trademark name and logo of the team is tantamount to censorship of the worst Orwellian stripe. I tend to think of the line "We the people" overshadowing their argument. We are a nation of people, and by using an exaggerated image of a people as a metonym for savagery to promote a baseball team is to dehumanize them. I hope this bill passes.
ReplyDelete