Alfred Maria

Ms. Yolanda Franklin

ENC 1101
27 July 2015

The Cultural Crime of Appropriation

Appropriation is something that is very common in our culture today. It is seen in sports,
movies, and music and in the world around us as well. Appropriations in sports and music have
been a huge topic lately. There has been much controversy surrounding some sports teams such
as the Washington Redskins. In this post I will go over cases of appropriation in our culture
today and any issues or controversy surrounding them.
The first point I want to bring up is appropriation in sports. For one Florida States logo
and mascot is complete appropriation but it has not been surrounded by as much controversy as
other teams such as the Redskins. Most of the teams that use Native Americans as their team
name or logo use something that is pretty respectful such as Seminoles, Indians, or Blackhawks
but when it comes to the Washington Redskins that is not the case. The team that hails from our
Nations capitol is the team that has been criticized for using and offensive slur towards Native
Americans. For several years now Native Americans have been calling for a name and logo
change for the Washington team but the owner Dan Snyder refuses to do so. The term redskin is
viewed as a slur to Native Americans. So the fact that the team that plays in our nations capital is
using a racial slur as their team name is quite sad to be honest. When it comes to the other teams
that use Native Americans as their name they have not been really criticized as much as the

redskins for obvious reasons. But all of these teams the Seminoles, Redskins, Blackhawks and
Indians all have something in common and that is their logos. All of these teams have pretty
much the same logo.

Yes, they are all animated differently but they all

depict the same thing and at the end of the day this is an appropriation. The way that the teams
depict the Native Americans is all the same. Brownish skin, war paint, feathers and long black
hair. The issue with the Washington Redskins is not necessarily their team logo but their name.
The term redskin is like I said before a very offensive racial slur towards Native Americans.
Different tribes have all come together and agreed that the name needs to be changed. Many of
them have stated that they dont appreciate the use of Native American names and symbols by
non native teams such as the Washington Redskins. They view this as a type of ethnic
stereotyping. The Redskins owner, Dan Snyder, has also been a huge problem to the Native
American people because he showed no compassion for their culture. He consistently refuses to
change the name. In regards to changing the name Snyder wrote the following we cannot ignore
our 81 year history, or the strong feelings of most of our fans as well as Native Americans
throughout the country. After 81 years, the team name Redskins continues to hold the memories
and meaning of where we came from, who we are, and who we want to be in the years to come.
To me his response was quite inappropriate because it sounds like he is speaking on behalf of all
the Native American people. The Oneida Indian Nation which is a tribe based out of New York

has called to meet with Snyder multiple times to discuss the name of the team and multiple times
Snyder has refused. Its infuriating to me that every time Snyder is asked about changing the
name he comes up with a bullshit excuse on why not to change it.
Another thing about the Washington Redskins that falls right into the category of cultural
appropriation is the way the fans behave and dress at games. From August to January every year,
every Sunday for over 70 plus years Redskins fans have been dressing up wearing feathers,
headdresses resembling those of the Native Americans, spears, war paint, arrowheads and
anything that looks like it would be worn by a Native American.

In an article I recently read from the Washington

Post the writer, Kevin B. Blackistone, talks about his experiences as a Redskins fan and how he
would go to the games and just see thousands of people dressed up in costumes that resembled
those of the Native Americans. In the article he makes a pretty genius comparison between the
now infamous Rachel Dolezal and the fans of the Washington Redskins. As you may now know
Rachel Dolezal is the WHITE woman who claimed she was black so that she could run for
president of the NAACP. Dolezal changed how she looked everyday by taking things that were
usually accustomed to black people and copying them so that she could fit the part. This is pretty
much what Washington Redskins fans are doing by dressing up at the games to look like the
native Americans. Blackistone mentions how many of the fans would act like they were Native
Americans and would call themselves names that sounded like they were actual Native American
names. Im not even Native American and find this a bit disrespectful. Doesnt matter what
culture someone comes from when someone copies something that is near and dear to their heart
such as how their customs im sure that they will get angry. This is the situation the Native

American people in the northeast are in. they feel disrespected not only by the ownership of the
Washington Redskins but also the NFL, and the fans of the team. The NFL who has been about
respect and fairness lately has yet to get involved in the on going saga of the Redskins team
name. Dont get me wrong I am a huge NFL fan but its somewhat annoying when an
organization who has been all about doing the right thing lately and trying to make sure the fans
are happy doesnt get involved in one of the most controversial issues in the game right now.
I think that its time for people to realize and understand that its just not right to take what
belongs to a different culture. Appropriation is something that goes in the world everyday and it
gets worse and worse. Whether its white rappers who try and dress, talk and act like the black
rappers do or an NFL team that has a racial slur as their team name. I am only going to touch on
the topic of appropriation in pop culture briefly to make a comparison. Famous artists such as
Iggy Azalea, Riff Raff, Stitches or even Katy Perry who all try and take what black people have
been known to do in their culture make it seem ok to dress like a black guy or girl. Katy Perry
has been known to copy the looks of numerous other cultures as well such as when she
performed wearing clothing that is native to people in China or when she dressed up like she was
from Egypt. Its these same appropriations that are making it seem like its OK for sports teams
to steal what belongs to the Native American people.

I believe its the job of the NFL to get

involved and get the name changed for the sake of the Native Americans who have long
been waiting for it.
In conclusion I think its obvious that the world in which we live in today is one that
takes pride in copying what other cultures hold to be theres. Doesnt matter if it is
sacred or just something that is associated with a specific culture its just not right to take
that away from them and use it for personal gain. I really, truly hope that the issue of the
Washington Redskins gets resolved soon because it would do great justice to the Native
American people. But right now its on Dan Snyder, the NFL and the fans of the
Washington Redskins to help the cause. If there is enough people who openly side with
the Native Americans who want the team name changed then I truly believe the NFL will
get involved and Dan Snyder will give in.