Football (American), Social Sciences, Discrimination & Racism 

It's a symbol of success, pride, courage and achievement, say spokesmen and fans of the Washington Redskins. The team is an institution in the Washington community and has a long and proud tradition of honoring and respecting American Indians.The "redskins" term is rooted in the bounty-hunting trade and is the worst racial slur imaginable, equivalent to the "n-word," say many American Indians. The team name and related trademarks represent racial stereotyping at its worst, and are associated with low self-esteem and a host of more tangible problems affecting the Indian community.In Redskins: Racial Slur or Symbol of Success?, Dr Bruce Stapleton sorts out these and other issues related to Indian-themed mascots, and in particular the name and symbology of Washington's NFL team. In doing so, Dr. Stapleton doesn't just air the rancorous views of either side, as in so many highly-partisan treatments of this subject. He produces a systematic analysis of American literature for the past 150 years, using the full-text search capabilities of a comprehensive Internet database.Dr. Stapleton finds overstatement and oversimplification rampant on both sides of the issue. In the end, he does answer the title's question, although his reasoning may surprise you. He feels the 1999 Patent and Trademark Office ruling that the team's trademarks are disparaging raises serious First Amendment concerns, and questions whether the tactic will force a name change anyway. The book cites American Indian spirituality as a vital and often overlooked component in resolving the issue. Dr. Stapleton posits a direct connection between the advent of Indian sports mascots and government efforts to assimilate American Indians in the early 20th century. He specifies a set of conditions which may lead Washington to change its name, despite public pronouncements to the contrary. He also offers some interesting new names to consider. - from Amzon