Redskins? ─ Sport Mascots, Indian Nations and White Racism

Redskins? assesses the controversies over the Washington NFL team name as a window into other recent debates about the use of Native American mascots for professional and college sports teams. Fenelon locates the origin of many team names in institutional racism and mainstream society's denial of the impact of four centuries of colonial conquest. The author's analysis is supported by his surveys and interviews about the 'Redskins' name and Cleveland 'Indians' mascot 'Chief Wahoo', which a majority of Native peoples see as racist, - including the National Congress of American Indians - even though mainstream media and public opinion continue to claim otherwise. Fenelon's historical analysis traces back these contentious terms and associated semiotics to their origins in 'savage' and 'enemy icon' racist depictions of Native nations. Tying the history of conquest to idealised claims of democracy, freedom and 'honoring' sports teams, Redskins? makes a highly credible intervention in what is an increasingly contentious debate about the cultural appropriation of Native peoples.

James Fenelon is professor of sociology at California State University, San Bernardino, having published Culturicide, Resistance, and Survival of the Lakota (Sioux Nation); numerous book chapters and articles, and edited special journal issues. He is Lakota/Dakota from Standing Rock, having taught internationally, with indigenous peoples globally, and with urban groups. James teaches race / ethnic relations, urban sociology, social movements, indigenous issues, political sociology, sovereignty, and dedicates his professional life to assisting social justice struggles.