American Indian Permission for Mascots: Resistance or Complicity within Rhetorical Colonialism?

Abstract

In 2005 the National Collegiate Athletic Association banned the use of American Indian symbols such as mascots, nicknames, and imagery in postseason sporting events. However, several universities successfully appealed this decision by demonstrating permission from eponymous American Indian nations. The focus of this essay is on the rhetorical implications of this permission argument within American Indian rhetoric about American Indian mascots, nicknames, and imagery. Drawing from the lens of rhetorical colonialism and an examination of the University of Utah Utes, I reveal how American Indian permission for mascots can be seen as upholding rather than challenging the system of colonialism through a form of self-colonization.

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“…Thus, given the widespread attention that this controversy generated in 2014 and the explicit link between this issue and the status of Native Americans, we hypothesize that negative 16 See also critiques of polls which purport to measure the opinions of Native Americans (Springwood, 2004) including who is allowed to "claim" indigenous identity (Staurowsky, 2007) and particularly in case of the 2016 Washington Post poll (Keeler 2016). Scholars also analyze how colonialist logics can be internalized by oppressed groups in the case of mascot issues (i.e., Endres 2005).…”

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“…Sport mascots have been the subject of much critical scholarship (e.g., Billings & Black, 2018; Black, 2002; Endres, 2015; King et al, 2002). This literature has pointed out the ways that mascot references to racial or ethnic stereotypes, particularly when those mascots mock or depict Native American cultures, can effectively reinforce hegemonic power structures in society (Billings & Black, 2018; Black, 2002; Endres, 2015).…”

“…Sport mascots have been the subject of much critical scholarship (e.g., Billings & Black, 2018; Black, 2002; Endres, 2015; King et al, 2002). This literature has pointed out the ways that mascot references to racial or ethnic stereotypes, particularly when those mascots mock or depict Native American cultures, can effectively reinforce hegemonic power structures in society (Billings & Black, 2018; Black, 2002; Endres, 2015). While this critical scholarship has rightly raised questions of representation and the implications for fairness and equity, research shows that fans (especially those not identifying with the ethnic group depicted) identify closely with mascots—often masking the insensitive nature of these representations and leading to a reluctance to change offensive depictions (King et al, 2002; Schultz & Sheffer, 2018).…”