From MLB steroid investigations to proposals to alter the structure of NCAA college football playoffs, the United States Congress has made its presence known in the world of professional sports in recent years. The latest foray concerns the name of their hometown football team, the Washington Redskins. Ten members of Congress relayed their concerns about the racially charged name to the Redskins owner Dan Snyder, saying:
“Native Americans throughout the country consider the ‘R-word’ a racial, derogatory slur akin to the ‘N-word’ among African Americans or the ‘W-word’ among Latinos.”
Along with the support of over 50 Native American organizations from around the country, the letter from Congress supports its claims with a statement from the Native American Finance Officers Association:
“The term has never been acceptable in the Native community and causes harm to the collective self-esteem and status of American Indians in the larger society. . . What should be viewed as a national embarrassment has somehow turned into a celebrated namesake for a national sport.”
Snyder has decisively vowed to keep the name as-is, saying in a May 9 interview with the USA Today that “we will never change the name of the team.”
ESPN’s notoriously outspoken Stephen A. Smith responded to the controversy by saying that “the fact that it’s offensive to Native Americans is enough.” He also suggests that other professional leagues share a similar issue, including the MLB’s Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians, and the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.
The letter represents a non-binding resolution that in part looks to prompt reaction from sports fans, especially fans of the Redskins, to put pressure on the team’s owners to make a change.
“HOW DAAARE YOU!”