Washington's NFL Football Team

This year Washington’s NFL football team has been the focal point over its name, “Redskins”.  Daniel Snyder the team’s owner has not only remains adamant that the team’s historic name should remain, but he is firm that it will never change as long as he owns the team. He states that it is a cherished historic name and one that honors Native Americans.

Initially I was ambivalent when the debate first started, not taking a position either way. The advocates for the name change argue “Redskins” was a racial and derogatory name, akin the racial slurs used to speak negatively of Italians, African Americans, Mexicans, Germans, Chinese, Japanese, etc.  Though the name doesn’t carry the same racial overtones as in the mid 1800s to early 1900s, the overtones are a part of the name regardless how we wish to deny it coupled with claims that the name honors the Native Americans.

Racism is not as blatant as it was in the past, but it continues into the present in more refined and subtle tones. While we must not quickly put honest disagreements and mistakes through a racial filter, we must not be quick to dismiss it when it arises in its subtle and not so subtle forms. I hope that one day the team will change its name. Hopefully that day will come in the next year or two rather than a decade or more.

I will no longer use the team name, or purchase any merchandise or wear any item with the team name on it.  I will be referring to the team as either “Washington” or “the Washington Football Team.”