Posted on February 25, 2008 - Filed Under MASCOTS THAT HONOR, Indian Mascots |
It has been a month since Honor Indians Institute first introduced an alternative “Mascots that Honors” for the Loup City, Nebraska Red Raiders. We opined that it was the most “racist” Indian mascot in Nebraska, and probably the United States. After much examination and discussion, we still stand by that opinion, but with a slight modification. Loup City shares the honor with at least 2 Massachusetts high schools, the North Quincy High School Red Raiders and the Watertown High School Raiders. We thank the New England Anti Mascot Coalition (NEAMC) for their work to end using Indian imagery mascots in the New England area. Their web site was extremely helpful.
Here are the “Red Raider/Raider” mascots used by Loup City, Nebraska, North Quincy and Watertown, Massachusetts:
Does Loup City’s Red Raider look similar to N. Quincy and Watertown? We thought so too. The Loup City Red Raider is “red” and the flag is now a spear. However, as my students pointed out, the spear is being carried over the shoulder and pointed to the rear, not exactly a fighting position. We also noticed that the Loup City Red Raider had a “Mohawk” hairstyle, not necessarily a plains Indian style.
Based on our limited research, North Quincy claims original ownership of this particular Red Raider mascot. We are certainly open for correction if this is not the case. Having said that, a writer, as found on NEAMC’s web site, claims that this mascot is modeled after a Quincy benefactor, Dr. Yacubian. They refer to their beloved icon as YAKOO. Loup City High School historians can certainly correct us if this is not the case, or maybe two different artists had the same vision of what an Indian Red Raider should look like. We would love to hear. Loup City, if you did borrow the image from N. Quincy, how can you claim such an undying love and loyalty to an icon that originally wasn’t yours?
To Loup City, N. Quincy and Watertown, and to the other schools that use the “Red Raider/Raider” Indian mascot: exactly what aspect of Indian lifestyle are you trying to honor? Our research indicates that a “Raider” is synonymous with someone who steals, burglarizes, and robs. Is this really an honor to Indians? I spent 2 years as a tribal court judge, and we honored Indian thieves by giving them their own private room with steel bars. Have you really stopped to think about what you are doing? Remember, you are educational institutions with mission statements that claim you are about the “…promotion of civic responsibility and ethics” (Watertown High School Mission Statement). We invite you to examine your school mission statement and ask yourselves if you are really living up to your stated mission.
Would you even consider “honoring” the African American community by calling yourselves the BLACK BURGLARS?
Or, how about “honoring” the Hispanic community by calling yourselves the BROWN BANDITOS!
If not, then why do you continue to “honor Indians” by clinging to your RED RAIDERS?
We would like to hear from you!
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Comments
These “Red Raiders” are just as degrading as the use of “Black Faces” to portray African-Americans, and you don’t see any black-faced actors anymore. When will the ACLU and NAACP start acting on these acts of degragation? Seems to me that the stereotypes are being played out here, even more so than, a “nappy-headed ho” comment.
I Agree. I do not think that the red raiders honor indians at all. Today, we are taught not to put color with people, and you do not see any other mascot with the black raiders. Even, if you did see that; something would be done fast, and it would be changed like that. Because it is wrong to call an African American black. Therefore it is wrong to call a African American black so why do peple call a Native American red. It is just as discriminative. I also think the other two pictures of the Black Burglars and Brown Banditos show that if you dont see those type of mascots why do we see “red raiders?” Its just discriminating against all Native Americans. That mascot seems to portray that all Native Americans are that way. And that is not true at all. So, why can’t people be just as respectful to Native Americans as all of the other races? Everyone who as this mascot should definately think about changing it!
[…] the African American community with Black Burglars, or the Hispanic community with Brown Banhttp://honorindians.com/231/University of Nebraska??LincolnIt is the policy of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln not to […]
Get a clue, and a life. Dr. Yacubian modeled for that image fifty years ago when he was a NQHS student. He’s WHITE. But when it comes down to it the local Indian community on the South Shore’s signed off on it, and only a handful of PC cranks oppose it. You sit back, munching your Doritos and filling your websites, while Native Americans out in reservations with no casinos have huge, serious problems with joblessness and alcoholism. But that’d take more than three minutes worth of your time, right?