What is problematic about the mascots on Indigenous People?
Mascots are fictional icons of animals or people that were used to strike fear upon opponents and were believed to bring luck. According to Riley, mascots were used to lure college goers. Moreover she asserts that the mascots were exciting addition to football games which represented not only savage but were also capable of barely restrained violence. They acted as a reminder about the fighting spirit extinguished by America. This quality involved a lot of body smashing but was not completely unwelcome since the opposite which is noble savage was also introduced.
The mascots used a representation of noble savage which overlooked the genocide endured by the indigenous America, the theft of their children, cultures and even their land. The noble savage taught school children that manifest destiny had ended the tale of indigenous America for the onset of the better and new world. Native American mascots allow society to ignore real plight of indigenous people. There are also harm of mascots to children especially through lowering self-esteem and causing suicide. In addition the mascots enhanced racism. The imagery used clearly showed racial differences at times and encouraged discrimination thus promoting rivalry. Indians were objects of racial repulsion and represented human instincts and devolution of humanity. On the other hand, whites were expected to have moral uprightness and tempered with gentility.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
What are the mascots based on?
Mascots were based on luck and fortune. Names and figures or imagery would always be used as mascots. However, Riley observes that the mascots brought more harm to the society than good. She highlights that instead it lead to increase in poverty rates, gang involvement and alcoholism.
Reference
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/tara-houska/wall-street-journal-column_b_7936914.html
