grammar

indian_chant.docx

Indian Chant / Tomahawk Chop

In the article “Indian Chant/Tomahawk Chop” by Ward Churchill, Churchill paints a stronger image to the readers as to why these names are offensive and are insulting a certain racial group. The definition of blatant racism is the act of being discourteous in a very noticeable way, which perfectly describes the situation of this article. Ward claims that these other mascots are also examples of blatant racism because all of these famous sports club names, such as Atlanta “Braves”, Kansas City “Chiefs”, Cleveland “Braves”, Washington “Redskins”, and even some high school sports teams such as the Colorado “Savages” are using the symbols of the Native American people in a non-respectful and demeaning way like dressing up as them, all the way from putting war paint on their faces to actually carrying spears at games. These acts and labels are reducing the value and admiration for their culture and traditions that it is insulting them greatly. It is offending them to the point where even Russell Means (American Indian Movement leader) has associated this situation with the Germans naming their soccer team the “Jews” while wearing sports uniforms with “grotesque caricatures of Jewish faces taken from the Nazi’s anti-Semitic propaganda of the 1930’s” (1). And that is one of the reasons as to why this problem should have a stop to it because it is truly an act of blatant racism and is offending an entire race of people. I thoroughly agree with Churchill, I don’t believe any sports team or fans should find fun, humor, or even enjoy dressing up, as a specific race of people disregarding what that race would feel. Every individual can relate back to his/her own origins and find a great attachment and appreciation of their own culture, customs and beliefs, and no in is in a position that makes it okay for them to reduce the importance and respect for any other culture.

When I began to read Churchill’s comparisons of the Indian mascot to other stereotypes of African Americans, Hispanics and other ethnic groups, it really had an effect on myself because I started to realize and come to my senses about how bad this situation actually is, and how it is not being stopped by authorities. The part that stood out prominently in my mind was when Churchill mentioned, “Half-time festivities for fans might include a simulated stewing of the opposing coach in a large pot while players and cheerleaders dance around it, garbed in leopard skins and wearing fake bones in their noses.” (1) This is when I came to consciousness and awareness that this has to stop! And Churchill knew exactly how to form his analogies for his reader to really paint a picture in his/her mind and imagine what it would be like from a different perspective. When Ward Churchill mentioned, “Lets see, who’s left out?”(2) It was as if he was trying to reach every group of people to get them to feel what the Native Americans are feeling. The analogies he used with gender and sexuality didn’t strike me as hard as how his analogies with other ethnic groups. I, myself, was able to relate more to the different ethnic groups because I come from a country full of culture, tradition, history and beliefs and I’m a true believer of not judging other people based on where they are from or how they look like.

I really enjoyed reading and analyzing this article. Ward Churchill did the perfect explanation in proving his points clearly and giving his readers several cases to support his ideas.