For many years, various American sports teams have been using the images of Native Americans as their nicknames, mascots, and logos. It has become the point of issue, as one people think that the use of Native American imagery is the sign of pride and honor, while others argue with them and state that it is nothing more than racism. The mascot controversy of the Florida State University has bigger scales but generally does not differ from the similar issues across the country.
The main decision issues that appear in the case of the mascot controversy include the following questions: How do the Indian tribes refer to the use of their images? What are the relationships between the state and the tribe? How deep is the history of the logo and mascot? How strong is the social identity of the local Indian Tribes? Powel states that the Florida State University has close relations with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the Seminole Tribe members do not stand against the use of their imagery (Powell, 2005). However, he writes only about the opinion of sports fans, but what is the opinion of those Indians who do not like sports and have deeper connections with their roots? Furthermore, one should notice the relationship between Native American students and students with other skin colors. Do the manifestations of racism take place among the University students? How appropriate is the use of the Indian imagery if the answer is ‘yes’?
The answers to these questions require knowing of the essential facts that include the historical research of the relations between Indian Tribes and states and the head count of their opinion. Furthermore, one requires additional information related to the interracial relations between students and social identity of the Tribe members. The key actors in the case of mascot controversy are the state’s authorities, the University’s (school’s) authorities, the representatives of the N.C.A.A., and the representatives of the Indian Tribe.
The mascot controversy is the issue of the social identity theory. According to social identity theory, each group of people has self-esteem and pride and wants to belong to the social world. In the case of the mascot controversy, this theory can have contradictory manifestations. On the one hand, Native Americans want to belong to the dominant social world of the United States, the world where they have good relations with the State and Whites. Let’s imagine that in real life, the Seminole Tribe does not want the Florida State University to use its images. The discontent of Seminoles will not lead to an immediate change of the University’s mascot and logo but will dramatically ruin the relations between the tribe and the state. In this instance, it seems that it would be better to say nothing. On the other hand, Native Americans have their national identity and pride of their roots. In this case, the use of the Indian heritage by Whites can seem to be offensive and mean the assumption of the foreign culture. In any case, Indians should make a final choice between the issues of pride and belonging, but their decision could often be at variance with their real thoughts.
The possible alternative solutions that can occur in the case of the mascot controversy may include the negotiations between schools/Universities and the Indian representatives about the use of the imagery and the refusal to use the imagery if the Indians are against it. However, this solution has more advantages for the Indians, as the final decision is made on the basis of their opinion and prejudices the rights of the University. This deal can hardly be possible in the modern America. Furthermore, the mascot can be understood with the fresh perspective without its relation to the local Indian Tribes. It can make people more open-minded but sometimes can be difficult for the implementation as far as some mascots and logos require significant imagination to be perceived apart from Native Americans.
References
Powell, R. A. (2005, Aug 24). Florida State can keep its Seminoles. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/24/sports/florida-state-can-keep-its-seminoles.html?_r=2
