Native American Heritage Month Lecture: "What is so wrong about Using Native American Sports Mascots?"

Dr. Larry Zimmerman
Wednesday, November 4, 2015, 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm
Campus: 
Dayton
Millett Atrium
Audience: 
Future Students
Current Students
Faculty
Staff
Alumni
The public

Since the late 1960s, many Native Americans continue to complain about the use of Native sports mascots by professional, university, and high school sports teams, as well as inappropriate representation of Native Americans in logos and advertising.  Although several states have insisted on change and the United States Civil Rights Commission has declared Native team names and mascots to be socially damaging, more than 400 high schools still call themselves “Indians”, more than 100 are the “Braves”, and 56 are the “Redskins”, while nearly 70 use “Warriors,” and employ Indigenous imagery. Others are “Chiefs” or use specific tribal names, even though that tribe was never in the region.  Many non-Indians argue that such names and mascots honor Indians and commemorate their bravery as warriors.  Others claim that getting rid of Indian team names will harm school traditions. Obviously, issues are complex and spark strong emotions.

Dr. Larry Zimmerman, Professor of Anthropology & Museum Studies and Public Scholar of Native American Representation at Indiana University—Purdue University, Indianapolis, will discuss why Native American mascots have been so persistent; why many Indians don’t feel “honored” by such mascots, while others do; and how their use damages the self-esteem of many Native people.  

All events are free and open to the public unless noted otherwise.  For more information about past and current events, visit our web site at wright.edu/ana or call the Asian and Native American Center, (937) 775-2798.

For information, contact
Mia Honaker
Administrative Support Coordinator
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