I don't even association the name "Redskins" with a derogatory term for American Indians, I associate it with the football team I grew up cheering for in the 1980s.

Maybe because I've never heard anyone EVER refer to American Indians as "redskins". So I guess I've just assumed the meaning in today's vernacular has changed. If someone says "Hey, how about those Redskins", does it ever occur to you they AREN'T talking about football?

I think it's been nearly a hundred years since people have used the slang term Redskins to describe American Indians that the term is no longer even associated with Indians. I'd be willing to bet most people today are unaware that Redskins is even a derogatory term. For those who are unaware of its origin most would say it is derived from things like when you play football you get hot and your face gets red or you get dirty and you look reddish. Maybe you might get a bloody nose and mixed with dirt your face might be reddish. Footballs are called pigskins and they are kind of reddish in color.

It's been so long since Redskin was used in common parlance as a derogatory slur against American Indians, I really don't think people put the two together anymore.

It's really a non-issue today because when people hear the word Redskins they immediately think of an NFL Football Team that won a few Super Bowls about twenty years ago and very few would ever think of George Armstrong Custer and American Indians.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come ON - this is NOT about sports. This is about racism.

Saying that because Jeff / Maria moved this to sports and fitness where it will collect dust.

Not really. More and more DCUM readers are using the "Recent Topics" link to read the fora. In that case, as long as people keep responding, this will keep floating to the top of the "recent topics" and getting more viewings and responses.

Love the redskins name

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as they're filling seats - and they are - the name won't change. I agree, it's shameful. You'd never have a team called the Darkies but somehow Redskins is ok.

OP here. They eventually changed the bullets to the wizards, though. So there's hope. The American Indians have been disrespected again and again and again. It makes me sick. I'm a white female, btw, it's not "personal" other than it's offensive to me as a person.

I totally agree, but the difference is that the Wizards were at the time owned by Abe Pollin, one of the most decent human beings to own a professional sports team (he also built a downtown sports arena on his own dime because it would be good for the city), whereas the Washington professional football team (as we call them) is owned by Dan Snyder, who seems to lack any shred of human decency, even as compared to most owners (he even makes the Lerners look not so awful).

The City paper had a contest recently to "rename" the team. I think the winner was the Pigskins, so I guess that's what they will be using to refer to the team.

Anonymous wrote:Come ON - this is NOT about sports. This is about racism.

Saying that because Jeff / Maria moved this to sports and fitness where it will collect dust.

Come ON - this is NOT about sports. This is about racism.

Anonymous wrote:As long as they're filling seats - and they are - the name won't change. I agree, it's shameful. You'd never have a team called the Darkies but somehow Redskins is ok.

OP here. They eventually changed the bullets to the wizards, though. So there's hope. The American Indians have been disrespected again and again and again. It makes me sick. I'm a white female, btw, it's not "personal" other than it's offensive to me as a person.

I totally agree. We like football but haven't been able to get into the team since moving here 10 years ago, because the name is so ridiculously appalling. It's bizarre to me that people gloss over it: redskins?! seriously?! Get un-used to it, Washington! I would love it if they changed the name. We would be big fans.

Very disturbing.

As long as they're filling seats - and they are - the name won't change. I agree, it's shameful. You'd never have a team called the Darkies but somehow Redskins is ok.

I'm a Lakota Sioux and an tired of all the disrespect in the media lately. Fashion has responded to the outcries over "Navajo" whatever, VS pulled an add, and in music No Doubt pulled a video. The sports names need to change.

American Indians are a culturally rich people that could teach the rest of the country many things. Instead, we are disrespected daily.

Agree

I agree. I don't support them nor will I allow my kids to wear any team logo gear for that reason.

Isn't it time we nix the racist name? My kids are not fans - mainly because the moment they were old enough to care about football they were also old enough to understand that the name "redskin" is racist as hell. (And FWIW, I feel the same way about the Cleveland Indians, though at least it's not a slur describing skin color). Anyway, it sickens me that our nation's capitol has a racist football team name, and it's embarrassing. I saw a DCist article suggesting that the redskins are now "America's" team. How terrible that we tolerate unmitigated, unveiled commercialized racism in this day and age.