Since I don't watch sports, have no interest in sports, and don't care about sports, I care so little about what a mascot is for a team. But when I began reading TATD (The Absolutely True diary) I realized how racist the mascots are towards Native Americans. Now it could be overreacting on some parts but if there is a Native American mascot with the feathers, headdress, and painted face, why can't that apply to other groups of people? People tend to not think about Native American Mascots being racist because majority of people aren't Native American so they don't take personal offense. People tend to only be offended when something is directed at them so seeing a Native American mascot as racist is slightly difficult. But if there were to be other races or ethnic groups people would be much more offended. For example, get a mascot called the New York Jews and the mascot is a man with a yalmaka, curly hair and a Star of David necklace. That would be considered offensive or if you had mascot for New Mexico with a stereotypical Mexican man wearing a sombrero, a curly mustache and poncho, there would be an up roaring. Most people look at a type of mascot as a representation of their team or home state so whatever the mascot is, they won't take offense. However, when you stop and look at it, a stereotypical representation of a group of people is most likely racist. Even if most people don't know about Native Americans and only assume the stereotype of feathers, headdresses and bows and arrows, ignorance doesn't make the stereotypes okay. That would be comparable to seeing an Asian or Black person on the street and asking if they eat rice or chicken. Its a stereotype and ignorance to what the culture is really like doesn't make assuming those things okay. That is why I now take the stance of Native American Mascots as racist.
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