# Washington Redskins = racist, derogatory and horrible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 12, 2000, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-redskins-racist-derogatory-and-horrible/22148 "2000-06-12T18:29:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-redskins-racist-derogatory-and-horrible/22148/21 "2000-06-14T02:50:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Also, the Atlanta Braves were originally the Boston Braves. Actually, they were the Milwaukee Braves. (remember Hank Aaron?) ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-redskins-racist-derogatory-and-horrible/22148/22 "2000-06-14T04:37:31Z")
Yes, they were also the Boston Braves. Remember Warren Spahn? As a side note, somebody mentioned the “Bean-Eaters.” Well, that was the Braves name in about 1901, I beleive. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-redskins-racist-derogatory-and-horrible/22148/23 "2000-06-14T07:50:09Z")
IMHO, this is a non-issue. Do you, or anyone one you know, actually think that these names and mascots really represent native americans? Sure, it’s an old stereo-type, straight out of b-westerns, but so what? If you don’t like it, don’t support the franchise and don’t buy the merchandise. If enough people feel the same as you, then the team will change it’s name to survive as a business. If not, well then the people have spoken. Hell, you could rename the team Washington Dumb White Boys. I wouldn’t take offense because I wouldn’t see it as a reflection on me. Maybe I’m just missing the big picture. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Zambezi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Mr.Zambezi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Zambezi)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-redskins-racist-derogatory-and-horrible/22148/24 "2000-06-14T15:02:43Z")
No, spooje, you are missing the little picture, which is what these debates are about. The big picture has to deal with the myriad of problems on reservations, indian culture, it’s clash with Modernity, broken treaties, massacres, murders and a couple of wars and the alliances they spawned. Calling Gallaraga a “Brave” is a pretty small picture, and pretty ironic because I bet he is part Inca. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-redskins-racist-derogatory-and-horrible/22148/25 "2000-06-14T15:28:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*\*me: > > Let’s also bear in mind that there’s $$$ at stake, in the form of millions of dollars worth of souvenirs, hats, t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc. etc. etc. I seriously doubt whether the Redskins’ management is even entertaining the notion of a change, for more than a minute or two. > > > > Unless they could persuade the Great American Idiotic Collectible-buying Population that a soon-to-be-phased out Redskins sweatshirt was “collectible”… > > \*\* > > MGibson: > > ``` > No kidding. It isn't like the producers of said merchandise could just produce new products with the new name and mascot. > > ``` > > Marc > \*\* Ooh, hey, yeah, then they could announce that the old “Redskins” stuff was “BEING RETIRED”!! And it would be EVEN MORE collectible. Hadn’t thought about that… 😃 O Lord, preserve us from ghosties and ghoulies and collectibles that go “bump” in the night. ---
**Author:** ![TampaFlyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71e660/32.png) [@TampaFlyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TampaFlyer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2000, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-redskins-racist-derogatory-and-horrible/22148/26 "2000-06-16T20:04:55Z")
\> it’s embarrasing that this team plays in our nation’s capital. They don’t play there anymore. ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2000, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-redskins-racist-derogatory-and-horrible/22148/27 "2000-06-18T00:18:11Z")
Well not strongly. I think that “nigger” and “redskin” are both pretty foul. I have been off-line for a while so I am getting here late. Since I seem to be earning something of a reputation as a poster with a Native perspective it probably won’t surprise many that I think the 'Skins should change their name. I don’t think that I can add much to this part of the debate. I am also Swedish, on my mother’s side of the family . I don’t find the Vikings name or inaccurate logo ( horned helmets- yeah right! ), to be offensive. But then not many people think of all Northmen today as godless murderous barbaric plunderers. Although few realize that this was never true, it doesn’t adversely affect my Swedish relatives. On the football side of the thread I would like to point out that the Boston NFL francise was originaly called the Boston Braves. They joined the league in 1932 and were owned by George Preston Marshal, Vincent Bendix, Jay O’Brien, and M. Dorland Doyle. Perhaps 1 of the baseball fans here would know if these people were affilited with the Boston Braves of MLB, I couldn’t say. The following year the team changed the name to the 'Skins and they moved to Washington in 1937. That same year they acquired a young fellow named Sammy Baugh. In fairness I should also point out that while I dislike the name of the Washington francise, I do root for them on the weeks that they face Dallas. Of course, I root for anyone that plays against the Cowboys. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-redskins-racist-derogatory-and-horrible/22148.md?page=1)