After watching the videos below, please discuss Native American mascots, and answer these questions in what ways do Native American mascots reflect and perpetuate Anti-Indianism; What are the “function” and cultural/racial/national significance of Native American mascots?
Ethnic Studies 101 
These videos gave a lot of in sight to not only different kinds of people and their sensitivity but also our nations opinions on minorities. It was surprising to me that Obama is only the 4th sitting president to visit Native American reserves and it says a lot about our nation and its priorities. Although it’s nice of Obama to do such a thing, the laws that are meant to help the Native Americans weren’t compensation for what we have previously done to their ancestors. This first video made me think of how some people say the government should pay back blacks for slavery as a reparation and how maybe we should consider doing the same for Native Americans. I also liked the first videos comical approach to the issue. I believe it truly puts racism into perspective for the younger generations such as college students. I also enjoyed the other two videos. I wanted to also say thank you for giving us multiple videos that express different kinds of perspectives. I appreciate professors to hide their own bias from students decisions on their standings of the issues, so again thank you. Continuing on I think talking about these certain issues especially people like Snyder help the world understand more the true issues. I also like the point that was brought up about internal discussion. I truly believe that Native Americans should be able to say what is correct for the rest of the world to say. I understand where this argument is coming from because I hate it when people call me Hispanic. I find it extremely offensive and heres why. The world hispanic has a connotation to Spain and because Spain took over Mexico sometime during history many like to consider us as “Hispanic” This term to me makes it seem as if Mexico never won their independence and we are still deprived under their rule. It truly is a sign of weakness still to this day in some parts of Mexico. So I know I will be more aware of the term “Red Skin” from now on thanks to these videos.
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Just the other day, I read a comment that basically said Native Americans shouldn’t be upset about the current state of their people and tribes because if the genocides hadn’t happened, America wouldn’t be what it is now. The ignorance surrounding this topic is truly profound. The man in the second video pointed out something that I think is very important to deal with racism today: the idea that white Americans (or any Americans) have a right to decide what is and is not offensive to people of color/Natives/gay people/etc is ridiculous. A group in power cannot say what is derogatory to a marginalized group. It doesn’t make sense. The reading said that these names have serious psychological implications for youth and I speak from experience when I say that the things people say to you and call you when you’re a child stay with you for the rest of your life. If Native Americans are made into caricatures, how can they have pride in themselves? It’s the same with women; if young girls are taught that they can’t or shouldn’t do anything but stand there and look pretty, how can they grow up as confident and strong individuals? Mascots are demeaning. This name (Red Skins) is not a celebration of the culture or the people, it is offensive and perpetuates the “savage” stereotype (which whites can now cash-in on because they get to drop their “civilized ways” to pump up a team), making it seem as if Natives deserve their treatment and their ancestors’ suffering.
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The American Indian has always been a laughing matter in the United States. They have always been looked at in some of the worst ways possible. The visit by Obama shows that we as a nation has always never paid very much attention to the Indian nation. That they have been considered been on the back burner. The first video is showing how racism is a laughing matter, that its okay to make fun of people on tv, but in real life it is just wrong. There was a video made by VICE entertainment about the issues with Indian reservations and how the United States is still trying to take over reservation land. Native American Mascots have always had a big difference between the way we see native mascots and how native americans see there mascots.
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It’s new thing that Obama is only the 4th sitting president to visit Native American, in the same time it’s humanity thing because a lot of people will about nation american. Native american still human being I don’t know why they deserve all of the bad treatment!!because their color, face, culture.Before hundreds of years ago their ancestors were abused and killed (cleaning land) because of occupation of their country.
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the president should take care of their country, and doesn’t discriminate between people. That to have safe country and getting other positive ways.
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It’s new thing that Obama is only the 4th sitting president to visit Native American, in the same time it’s humanity thing because a lot of people will about nation american. .Before hundreds of years ago their ancestors were abused and killed (cleaning land) because of occupation of their country.
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