Since 1926, Chief Illiniwek has been the mascot of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne. In 2005 Chief Illiniwek was legally banned from university events, and in 2007 Chief Illiniwek’s logo, name, and mascot were retried from use, permanently (Wikipedia).
Chief Illiniwek has been a part of the university since 1926. He performed at sporting events, mainly, as well as other university events. But his image started bringing up controversy in the Native American community. Many natives view Chief Illiniwek and his various performing dances as a mockery of their heritage. As in the movie, “Ethnic Notions,” various characteristics were given to people of different races. The African American image that was portrayed in the media was one that was inaccurate and degrading towards the race. African Americans did not and do not like what this media image portrayed them as, and neither to the Native Americans in the case of Chief Illiniwek. The Chief’s mascot is seen dancing around, imitating Native American sacred dances at sporting events. This along with just how the image of Chief Illiniwek is portrayed is offensive to the Native American population.
But why ban a mascot that has been around for many decades, and has represented a university for so long? There are so many names, logos, mascots, and things out in this country, publicly on display, that could be offensive to every different race in this country. So should all things to could be offensive to someone be removed and legally banned from use? I do not think this is fair to do, because if you ban or change one, then you will have to ban or change them all.
I think Chief Illiniwek is a good example of how our country is all wrapped up in making past wrongs right. Yes, what our country did to Native Americans, along with other races, was not right in any means it happened hundreds of years ago. Whites could say that certain things are discriminatory and racist towards them, but change is not done towards things like the restaurant chain of Cracker Barrels. I think that people are focusing on the wrong thing here, and should be focused on making change elsewhere in regards to racial tensions.
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So, Adrienne, what’s your opinion about the controversy over African American sports nicknames, logos and mascots? Do you think they should be eliminated or not? Even more important, what do you think about the controversy over Asian American sports nicknames, logos and mascots? Should they be eliminated or not? Oh, did I hear you say that there aren’t any African American sports nicknames or Asian American sports nicknames? Well, dah!
And if you think the “cracker” in the Cracker Barrel name stands for race, when did you fall off the turnip truck? Are you actually for real? And if you think that Chief Illiniwek is about past wrongs rather than current racial stereotypes, no wonder Whites are clueless about why race-based sports nicknames are wrong.
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