WOULD BARACK OBAMA BE HONORED BY THE “BLACKSKINS”

Posted on January 15, 2008 - Filed Under Political |

Washington Blackskins

On January 14, 2008, Tim Giago wrote an opinion piece for Indianz.com, entitled “Sen. Barack Obama and the R-Word.” The following is an excerpt:

“On Saturday during the New Hampshire debates, a debate that saw the Republicans take the stage first, Obama was asked if he had been watching the Republican debate before he came on and he replied, “I was switching between it and the Redskins football game.” I use the “R-Word” here as a direct Obama quote and in this case the “R-Word” does not mean “Recession.” This lack of sensitivity resonated in Indian country. It made one wonder whether Obama ever considered the meaning of the word that is as hurtful and degrading to Native Americans as the “N-word” is to African Americans…. What is the difference between racism against American Indians and African Americans? Any Indian living in North or South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho or Nebraska can tell you there is no difference. After all, the white residents of these states have been known to call Indians “prairie niggers and red niggers.” There’s that dreaded “N-Word.” But before any African American gets upset, the “N-Word” used in this sentence refers to Native Americans. Sen. Obama should learn how Native Americans feel about the “R-Word.” If he looks it up in the dictionary he will find that the word “Redskin” is an insult to all Native Americans. Now where is the national mainstream media, a media so quit to jump all over the Clinton’s, when it comes to a Black presidential candidate demeaning Native Americans? Are racial insults reserved for African Americans only? Where is the Indian Al Sharpton?”

Honor Indians Institute asks Senator Obama, “would you be honored and root for a sports team named the BLACKSKINS?”

 

No Obama

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Comments

One Response to “WOULD BARACK OBAMA BE HONORED BY THE “BLACKSKINS””

  1. Audreya on February 3rd, 2008 12:22 am

    I see the point here…but I didn’t even know what the “R”-word meant exactly. I now know how offensive it is to Native Americans but who is to say Obama knew? Maybe he did maybe he didn’t. The problem is who came up with the team name “Redskins?” That is the person who needs to be adressed. (student from CW’s class for Extra credit)

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