The name “Redskins” has been a hot button issues for decades. But with the NFL meeting officials of the Oneida Indian Nation this Wednesday, could this issues finally laid to rest?
The Washington Redskins whose name has always had a link to Native American people are still adamant about not changing the name. Daniel Snyder (majority owner) has been unapologetic about not changing his team’s name.
Boston Braves (1932)
Boston Redskins (1933–1936)
Washington Redskins (1937–present)
“We’ll never change the name. It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps,” Daniel Snyder told USA Today Sports in May.
“I’ll never change the name of the Redskins,” “You have my word on that. In addition to that, it’s really what the Redskins mean that’s not quite out there. If you look at the facts, the facts are what it means is tradition. It means winning. It means a great tradition for the franchise.” Snyder told CNN’s Bob Novak in an interview in 2003
“There’s nothing that we feel is offensive,” “And we’re proud of our history.” – Bruce Allen, Redskins general manager
My problem isn’t necessarily that they won’t change the name, it’s how blind they seem to be that the name is a derogatory slur. It’s a child’s mentality to think this way. I hear no empathy in his words. All I hear is a child’s stubbornness from a 48-year-old grown man.
The push for a name change has had growing momentum in the last few months. Joining the Oneida Indian Nation in the fight are clergies and churches, including African Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and United Church of Christ just to name a few.
“Collectively, we’re speaking to thousands of people every week,” Hagler told them. Hagler has been speaking out against the team name for more than 20 years. (Rev. Graylan Hagler, senior minister at Plymouth)
The President of the United States has even weighed in on the issue: “If I were the owner of the team and I knew that the name of my team, even if they’ve had a storied history, was offending a sizable group of people, I’d think about changing it,” President Obama.
Daniel Snyder is missing a great opportunity – when life hands you lemons make lemonade. One of the suggested alternative names is The Washington Redtails. Think about that for a moment. The Tuskegee airmen (The Redtails) are one of the greatest stories in American history. African-American pilots who fought in World War II, who went above and beyond what was expected of them in service to their country breaking color barriers along the way. If Snyder was to use common sense and intelligence he could do great things. He could honor the native people by no longer using the name Redskin, while at the same time honor a truly unappreciated group of people in the The Tuskegee airmen. (The Redtails)
As of 2010 African-Americans, made up 50.7% of Washington, D.C. By naming the team the The Washington Redtails, you are telling your core demographic, we want to make this team and this city “one”, forever uniting the two and giving hope to all young African-Americans in D.C.
I Blame no one but Daniel Snyder. In this world we should look for things to unite us, not separate us. If he continues this foolish stand he is not only missing a great opportunity, but failing as a representative of the NFL.
If Washington is able to beat Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos this Sunday, none of the fans will care about their name. If anything they will yell out Redskins win, Redskins win. But they shouldn’t and nothing will change until they decided it should. Fans need to stand up, players need to stand up. Together they might get thought to Daniel Snyder.
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