Native American Mascots

Synthesizing the Appropriation of Sensitive Cultures and the Effects Stereotyping has on Identity

America loves appropriating African-American culture –even when black people don’t get that same love reciprocated. This appropriation is seen many times in pop culture, schools, and the media. In the passage, “Appropriating Native American Imagery Honors No One but the Prejudice” by Amy Stretton, she emphasizes that racial stereotyping and inaccurate racial portrayals do not honor a living breathing people. Similar to black culture, Native American culture is often appropriated through the use of mascots and offensive naming of sports teams. The following passage depicts the negative effects that stereotyping can have on a person’s identity.
Steele describes the effects that stereotype threat has on a person’s sense of self and actions. Whereas several critics today –such as Amy Stretton and Claude M. Steele –recognize the damage caused by Native American mascots, and culture
I understand how insensitive and disrespectful these mascots are to Native Americans, but I never thought about how they are harmful to regular Americans. Stretton claims that the stereotypical images of American Indian mascots had a negative effect on all students. According to the American Psychology Association, American Indian Mascots “undermine the educational experiences of members of all communities –especially those who have little or no contact with Indigenous peoples” (524). By including this quote from APA, Stretton urges us to consider the negative effects that stereotyping has on both American Indian and American students. The author advocates that these mascots promote ignorance towards Indigenous people and bullying within the school-house. I happen to sympathize with Stretton, though, perhaps because my culture is also a constant victim of appropriation. As an African-American female, it is easy to be upset by today’s culturally appropriated runways, workplaces, online shopping stores and even