Nicknames and Mascots, Part 2: Native People are NOT your Mascot
Jan Plotczyk • March 16, 2021
Read Part 1 here.
The nation is currently debating whether it is wrong to use Native American nicknames and mascots for schools and athletic teams. Five of Maryland’s Eastern Shore high schools still use Native American nicknames. While some of those schools have taken steps to discontinue the use of more offensive images and characterizations, the question remains: should Native American nicknames and mascots be used at all, especially by schools, or are they racist appropriations that knowingly or unknowingly perpetuate stereotypes?
Many fans and members of affected school communities have reacted negatively to name changes or even suggestions of name changes. They cite political correctness run rampant and decry the "cancel culture" of today’s society. Defenders of the names claim they draw on tradition. Most who object to changing the names and mascots claim that their use is intended to honor or commemorate Native Americans, not to denigrate them. They claim that Native people support the use of these nicknames and mascots. Theirs is a defensive posture claiming to preserve history.
But who should write the history of Native peoples? And what are the effects of these nicknames on Native Americans and on society?
To examine these questions, Ezra J. Zeitler wrote his 2008 geography doctoral thesis on this subject: Geographies of Indigenous-based Team Name and Mascot Use in American Secondary Schools. In it he makes the case that “the issue of Native American mascots is an important one in the struggle for Indigenous autonomy and self-definition.” He contends that the nicknames and imagery are harmful because they communicate a false image of Native people as being characteristically and stereotypically belligerent and warlike.
Zeitler goes on to say that when these nicknames and images are used in learning environments, they take on added authority, and that the significant influence of teachers and peers can reaffirm racial stereotypes.
The American Psychological Association passed a strongly worded resolution 15 years ago calling for the immediate retirement of all team nicknames, mascots, and other derogatory representations based on Native American heritage. It based this position on key findings from a wide range of psychological and sociological research that shows the harmful effects of racial stereotyping and inaccurate racial portrayals.
The APA wrote that racist and derogatory nicknames and mascots can establish an unwelcome and hostile learning environment for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students. But just as importantly, these mascots undermine the educational experience of all students, particularly those with little or no contact with Indigenous people — as in our Eastern Shore high schools. The symbols, images, and mascots teach non-Indian children that it's acceptable to perpetuate mistaken beliefs about American Indian culture.
A 2001 statement from the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights (calling for an end to the use of Native American images and team names by non-Native schools) explains: “The stereotyping of any racial, ethnic, religious, or other groups when promoted by our public educational institutions, teaches all students that stereotyping of minority groups is acceptable, a dangerous lesson in a diverse society. Schools have a responsibility to educate their students; they should not use their influence to perpetuate misrepresentations of any culture or people.”
The APA also found that these representations have a direct negative impact on the self-esteem of Native American youth. Dr. Stephanie Fryberg, the leading researcher in this area and a psychology professor at the University of Arizona, states that “American Indian mascots are harmful not only because they are often negative, but because they remind American Indians of the limited ways in which others see them. This, in turn, restricts the number of ways American Indians can see themselves.”
There is no good reason to limit children’s image of themselves and of what they can be.
Cierra Fields, a Cherokee and member of the National Congress of American Indians Youth Cabinet, says in the APA paper: “When I see people wearing headdresses and face paint or doing the tomahawk chop, it makes me feel demeaned. The current society does not bother to learn that our ways, customs, dress, symbols, and images are sacred. They claim it’s for honor but I don’t see honor in non-Natives wearing face paint or headdresses as they are not warriors who have earned the right. My heritage and culture is not a joke. My heritage and culture is not a fashion statement. For me, it ultimately boils down to respect. Respect our heritage by not using a caricature of a proud people but by learning about our history.”
IllumiNative is a new nonprofit project, created and led by Native peoples. It is designed to increase the visibility of — and to challenge the negative narrative about — Native Nations and peoples in American society. Their website announces that “Native People are NOT your Mascot.” The organization advances several arguments that support the end of the use of Native American nicknames, mascots, and imagery.
First, contrary to dominant culture claims, Native peoples do not support Native mascots. Flawed opinion polls have been used to silence Native people on this subject and to justify the perpetuation of Native nicknames and mascots. New peer-reviewed scientific studies show, however, that Native peoples are overwhelmingly offended by team names that are racist slurs, and by Native mascots and racist fan behavior.
Next, as mentioned above, research on the psychosocial effects of Native American mascots on Native youth shows these damaging effects: lowered self-esteem; increased rates of depression, self-harm, and substance abuse; and increasing discrimination in schools against Native students.
Finally, racist imagery desensitizes us all to violent and oppressive behavior toward other people. Degrading and humiliating stereotypes dehumanize entire groups of people. Use of these images encourages fans to mock Native people, defame Indigenous cultures, and perpetuate negative stereotypes by “playing Indian” — doing things like wearing sacred headdresses, shouting war whoops, and doing the “tomahawk chop.”
The Center for American Progress, in a 2014 report, recommended among other steps that State-level boards of education and education agencies should identify schools in their state using Native American nicknames and imagery, examine their impact, and develop recommendations to remove harmful representations. Perhaps it’s time for the Maryland State Board of Education to update its 2001 guidance on stereotypical nicknames and mascots, since virtually no progress has been made since then.
There is also no reason why local government agencies cannot get involved. The Montgomery County School Board prohibited the use of Indian names or racial, gender, or cultural stereotypes for mascots, logos, and school team names in 2001. If the state will not mandate this, perhaps the local school boards will.
Finally, the time has never been better to raise this issue with the Cecil, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester boards of education. Yes, there’s still covid-19, but that should not stop these conversations. Be prepared for a major money objection; the few schools that have changed names recently have needed about $80,000 for rebranding — everything from signs to stationery to uniforms. The alumni/ae community will probably be against such a move, citing tradition, but the current students may well be more empathetic than their parents and grandparents.
The spotlight is on discriminatory and racist behavior and institutional racism, and it is time to address the negative impacts of Native American nicknames, mascots, and imagery in sports, schools, and society. There is really no reason to retain them. The use of disparaging Indigenous-based nicknames not only negatively affects Native Americans, it affects everyone.
Racism hurts us all.
Sources:
Zeitler, Ezra J., "Geographies of Indigenous-based Team Name and Mascot Use in American Secondary Schools" (2008).
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=geographythesis
American Psychological Association, “Summary of the APA Resolution Recommending Retirement of American Indian Mascots,” (2005).
Statement of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on the Use of Native American Images and Nicknames as Sports Symbols (2001).
https://www.usccr.gov/press/archives/2001/041601st.htm
https://illuminatives.org/change-the-name/
Fryberg, Stephanie A, Eason, Arianne E, Brady, Laura M., “Unpacking the Mascot Debate: Native American Identification Predicts Opposition to Native Mascots” (2020).
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1948550619898556?journalCode=sppa&
Davis-Delano, Laurel L., Gone, Joseph P., Fryberg, Stephanie A., “The psychosocial effects of Native American mascots: a comprehensive review of empirical research findings” (2020).
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13613324.2020.1772221?journalCode=cree20
Phillips, Victoria, and Stegman, Erik, “Missing the Point: The Real Impact of Native Mascots and Team Names on American Indian and Alaska Native Youth” (2014).
https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1003&context=fasch_rpt
Resolution of the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs (2001).
https://aistm.org/maryland.resolution.2001.htm
Jan Plotczyk spent 25 years as a survey and education statistician with the federal government, at the Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. She retired to Rock Hall.
Common Sense for the Eastern Shore
At Shore Progress’s monthly meeting last week, the tension between national politics and local opportunity was on full display. With President Donald Trump escalating his attacks on offshore wind, representatives from US Wind and the Oceantic Network made their case directly to members gathered in Salisbury. From the outset, the presenters stressed the scale of what’s coming to the Eastern Shore. “This project is the equivalent of building two nuclear power plants off our coast,” US Wind representative Dave Wilson said, pointing to plans for 114 turbines and four offshore substations. Together, he said, the project will generate two net gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power approximately 26% of the homes in Maryland. The presentation walked members through the timeline: a four-phase buildout beginning in the southeast corner of the lease area, with each phase, including its own export cable, routed through Indian River Bay into the regional grid at the Indian River Power Plant in Delaware. Environmental safeguards on display Slides showed how US Wind plans to minimize negative effects on wildlife. The company will use an aircraft detection lighting system to keep turbines dark until a low-flying aircraft approaches, reducing night-sky light pollution. Marine protections include bubble curtains to dampen noise during pile driving, visual and acoustic monitoring for whales, and strict shutdown zones if animals enter construction areas. Lights will be on less than 1% of the time in any given year, underscoring their view that offshore wind can coexist with migratory birds, commercial fishing, and marine transit. Economic promise for the Shore The discussion turned quickly to what the project means locally. US Wind pledged hundreds of jobs for the Shore, with commitments to use union labor and partner with minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. Officials noted that the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance has already received $700,000 from Maryland Works for Wind to build training programs, while community colleges are adjusting trade curricula to educate the next generation of turbine technicians. A planned operations and maintenance facility in West Ocean City will house technicians and crew transfer vessels, bringing steady employment and infrastructure investment to the harbor. A national fight with local stakes The meeting didn’t shy away from politics. Several members noted Trump’s repeated attempts to derail offshore wind projects including his latest push to revoke US Wind’s federal permit. US Wind officials acknowledged that such lawsuits could delay progress but insisted that the project’s federal approvals are on solid ground. “This is the Eastern Shore's moment,” Shore Progress Chair Jared Schablein said, referring to a slide that showed more than $815 million in offshore wind investments statewide. “The question is whether politics will slow us down, or whether we keep building for the Shore’s future.” The presentation had a clear message: Offshore wind is not just about clean power, but also about jobs, investment, and opportunity for Eastern Shore families. Jan Plotczyk spent 25 years as a survey and education statistician with the federal government, at the Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. She retired to Rock Hall.
Standing at the Legacy at Twin Rivers apartment community in Howard County, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order aimed at addressing his state’s deepening housing crisis. Titled Housing Starts Here, his order is designed to accelerate construction of affordable homes and cut through what Moore called years of “no and slow” decision-making in state housing policy. Maryland is facing a shortage of at least 96,000 housing units, according to state estimates, a gap that officials say has driven up prices, pushed families out of the state, and stifled economic growth. “Building pathways to wealth for Marylanders, creating jobs, attracting new businesses and residents, growing our economy, and securing our future all start with housing,” Moore said at the signing. “We need to be the state of yes and now.” Five guiding principles The executive order lays out five core priorities for state housing policy: Use state land for housing . Agencies must identify surplus properties and land near transit stations that can be converted into new housing developments. Cut red tape. State permitting processes will be streamlined, with new rules allowing third-party reviewers to accelerate approvals. Strengthen partnerships. A new State Housing Ombudsman will serve as a liaison to help coordinate projects between state agencies, local governments, and developers. Set clear goals. By January 2026, the state will publish housing production targets for each county and update them every five years. Incentivize affordable housing. Jurisdictions that meet housing targets or pass pro-housing policies will be recognized with new Maryland Housing Leadership Awards, making them more competitive for state funding. Speed as the priority State officials said the new framework is focused on cutting delays that can hold back projects for years. By digitizing applications, engaging multiple agencies simultaneously, and allowing outside reviewers, the state aims to expedite project completion while upholding environmental and community standards. What could this mean for us on the Eastern Shore? Moore acknowledged that housing affordability consistently ranks as Marylanders’ No. 1 concern. For young people in particular, high costs and long commutes are major reasons they leave the state. The order seeks to reverse that trend, tying housing growth to job creation and transit access. On the Eastern Shore , where rental availability and starter homes are limited, Moore’s order could open opportunities for mixed-use, transit-oriented projects on state-owned land, as well as accelerate approval for affordable housing initiatives backed by nonprofits and local developers. What comes next The Department of Housing and Community Development will publish the state’s first set of production targets by Jan. 1, 2026, followed by annual progress reports starting in 2027. Agencies have until March 2026 to implement many of the new permitting and funding acceleration rules. Moore framed the executive order as a generational investment. “Making housing more affordable is not just about building shelter, it’s about building a legacy,” he said.
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) has intensified her calls for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down, releasing a detailed report that she says proves his tenure has been a disaster for American families. The first senator to demand Kennedy’s resignation in May, Alsobrooks joined Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in unveiling a 54-page report that chronicles what they describe as the “costly, chaotic, and corrupt” record of Kennedy’s first 203 days at the department. Released before Kennedy’s Senate hearing last week, the report outlines examples of alleged mismanagement for each day since he was sworn in on Feb. 13. “Robert Kennedy’s tenure as America’s chief health officer has been higher costs, more chaos, and boundless corruption,” Wyden said. “His actions are endangering children, leaving parents confused and scared, and forcing families and taxpayers to pay more for their health care.” Echoing that assessment, Alsobrooks cited testimony from scientists at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland who she says have watched critical cancer research grind to a halt under Kennedy’s leadership. “His actions are increasing Americans’ health care costs, causing chaos, and furthering the Trump administration’s endless stream of corruption,” she said. The report argues that Kennedy has: Driven up costs by backing the Trump administration’s budget plan, which Alsobrooks says strips health coverage from 15 million Americans while handing tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations. Created chaos by dismantling HHS programs, undermining research institutions, and promoting vaccine misinformation. Engaged in corruption by using the office to advance personal and family financial interests, particularly around limiting vaccine access. Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, praised Alsobrooks’ leadership. “President Trump and Senate Republicans made a grievous error when entrusting Kennedy with our nation’s health,” the group said in. “It is far past time that President Trump rectifies this error by firing Kennedy before more lives are unnecessarily put at risk.” Alsobrooks appeared on the Morning Joe TV show on to discuss the findings and to reiterate her demand that Kennedy resign or be removed. “This is about protecting families and protecting science,” she said. “Our nation’s health system cannot afford another day under Robert Kennedy’s reckless watch.” As a community organizer, journalist, administrator, project planner/manager, and consultant, Gren Whitman has led neighborhood, umbrella, public interest, and political committees and groups, and worked for civil rights and anti-war organizations.
Wicomico County leaders have announced plans to move forward with the federal government’s controversial 287(g) program, entering into an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that would deputize local officers to serve immigration warrants inside the county jail. Under the model selected, known as the Warrant Service Officer program, specially trained deputies at the detention center would be allowed to serve civil immigration warrants on individuals already in custody. County Executive Julie Giordano and Sheriff Mike Lewis emphasized that deputies would not conduct street-level immigration enforcement. “Public safety is our top responsibility,” Giordano said. “The Warrant Service Officer program provides our sheriff’s office with the tools they need to address individuals already in custody who may pose a risk to our community at no additional cost to the county.” Lewis added that the program “gives our deputies the ability to safely and lawfully carry out their duties while ensuring that Wicomico County remains a secure place to live, work, and raise a family.” Community pushback The announcement drew swift opposition from civil rights and community organizations, including the ACLU of Maryland, the Wicomico NAACP, and local grassroots groups such as Crabs on the Shore, who have warned that the agreement will harm immigrant families, sow fear, and erode trust between residents and law enforcement. Opponents also criticized the process, arguing that the decision was rushed through without meaningful public input despite repeated calls for hearings. “This is being framed as an administrative detail, but it has huge consequences for our neighbors,” one advocate said. Concerns about cost and precedent Supporters of the WSO model have emphasized that the partnership comes “at no additional cost” to Wicomico taxpayers, but critics point out that other jurisdictions have found otherwise. Anne Arundel County canceled its own 287(g) agreement, citing high costs and community backlash. The Camden Police Department in Delaware withdrew from a similar partnership after public protests in May. Advocates note that the federal government does not fully reimburse counties for the time, training, and legal exposure associated with 287(g) programs, leaving local taxpayers to shoulder hidden expenses. First on Delmarva If finalized, Wicomico County would become the first government or police agency on the Delmarva Peninsula to formally enter into a 287(g) agreement with ICE. Supporters say that distinction demonstrates a commitment to accountability and public safety. Opponents warn it risks branding the county as hostile to immigrant communities that have long been central to the Shore’s workforce, particularly in poultry processing and agriculture. The county’s decision comes amid a broader national debate about local involvement in federal immigration enforcement, with critics warning that partnerships like 287(g) make communities less safe by discouraging victims and witnesses from coming forward. For now, the final agreement is pending federal approval. But with strong opposition already mobilized, the fight over Wicomico’s new partnership is likely only beginning.
Wicomico County Republicans have moved forward with an agreement to join the federal 287(g) program, aligning the county with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). County Executive Julie Giordano and Sheriff Mike Lewis are backing the program to train county officers at the detention center to help ICE identify non-citizens for deportation proceedings. The agreement has triggered strong pushback from immigrant advocates, civil rights groups, and community leaders who warn that this partnership will erode trust between residents and law enforcement, risk racial profiling, and allot local tax dollars to assist federal immigration enforcement. Yet amid the growing controversy, the Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee has issued no response to the ICE agreement, even as residents voice frustration that the Democratic establishment’s silence has ceded the conversation to Republicans. Moreover, the Central Committee has remained silent with regard to recent comments by Democratic Councilwoman April Jackson, who told the Washington Post that the poultry industry should reduce its reliance on immigrant workers. Jackson also said, “a lot of Americans aren’t employed because the Haitians are taking our jobs.” Jackson’s remarks have drawn widespread criticism from immigrant advocates. For many residents, the Democratic leadership’s silence is as much of a concern as the county government’s new partnership with ICE. As the county waits for federal approval of the 287(g) agreement, the absence of a Democratic counterweight has left immigrant families and community organizers to carry the opposition on their own.
With speculation mounting that Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-37A) may run for County Executive for Wicomico County in 2026, the longtime Eastern Shore lawmaker will headline a Community Conversation in Dorchester County on Sept. 17 at 6 pm. Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Democrats, the event will give residents the opportunity to hear Sample-Hughes speak about local priorities — schools, public safety, health care access, and economic development in the mid-Shore. Sample-Hughes, former Speaker Pro Tem of the Maryland House of Delegates, has represented portions of Wicomico and Dorchester counties for more than a decade. Her record includes bipartisan work on district projects, as well as efforts to expand health services and invest in infrastructure. Although organizers emphasize that the Sept. 17 gathering is not a campaign event, the timing has fueled interest. Political observers note that any appearance by Sample-Hughes will be closely watched as Democrats weigh potential challengers for County Executive in the upcoming cycle. The forum will include remarks from the delegate, followed by a question-and-answer session. Seating is available first-come, first-served and residents from across the Shore are encouraged to attend. Key details What: Community Conversation with Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes When: Sept. 17, 6 pm Where: Dorchester County, venue to be announced by organizers. Format: Remarks followed by audience Q&A Before her election to the House of Delegates, Sample-Hughes served on the Wicomico County Council. Should she enter the county executive race, many believe she would be a serious challenger to Republican incumbent Julie Giordano.
