It's Time Folks

When my alma mater changed the team's name from The Warriors to The Golden Eagles several years ago, I realized that I'd never thought about the fact that it was, in some way, mocking Native Americans. But that is because I'm not Native American and, aside from the "little bit of Indian" that most black people claim, I didn't really know any either. I didn't think of actual people when I saw the mascot, I thought of characters and that, in effect, de-humanizes a group of people.

With the recent outrage over white college kids having parties where they dress up like illegal aliens, pimps and hoes, and most recently as Aunt Jemima with a gun for MLK day (then appearing totally clueless as to why it would be offensive to their fellow students) I guess it is time that everyone begin to dismantle programs that, albeit steeped in tradition, turn people into characters and, even though people think they are in some way praising them, are mocking their heritage. After 81 years, The University of Illinois will retire their Native American Mascot.

The University of Illinois will retire its 81-year-old American Indian mascot, Chief Illiniwek, following the last men's home basketball game of the season on Wednesday.

The NCAA in 2005 deemed the buckskin-clad Illiniwek an offensive use of American Indian imagery and barred the university from hosting postseason events.

American Indian groups and others complained for years that the mascot, used since 1926, is demeaning. Supporters of the mascot say it honors the contributions of American Indians to Illinois.

Illinois still will be able to use the name Illini because it's short for Illinois and the school can use the term Fighting Illini, because it's considered a reference to the team's competitive spirit, school officials said. It is unclear if the school will get a new mascot.

"This is an extremely emotional day for people on both sides of the issue, but the decision announced today ends a two-decade-long struggle surrounding Chief Illiniwek on this campus," said athletic director Ron Guenther.

"Personally, as an alumnus and former athlete, I am disappointed. However, as an administrator, I understand the decision that had to be made."

I had a co-worker who got bent out of shape when I told him my school had changed mascots. He saw no issue with someone jumping around the floor imitating images of Indians they'd seen on television programs written and produced by white people. He didn't attend Notre Dame but I am assuming that he wouldn't have had a problem with their "Fighting Irish" mascot because it is based on the mythical leprechaun (not an Irish man who likes to get drunk and fight). I know some people are disappointed by UofI's decision because will seem to wipe away their memories and their school heritage. The sense of entitlement to be entertained and cheered up by their Indian Chief reminds me of ante-bellum southerners enjoying their darkies dancing in the yard while they sipped their cool drinks from the porch. There are still so many remnants of this kind of thing but, thankfully, some of it is fading off into the twilight where it belongs. (Now if these white kids would stop taking us 10 steps back by dressing up like "minorities").