Redskins No More: Fight Against Racist Sports Names Returns To Minneapolis�|�The UpTake

8.11.13

Redskins No More: Fight Against Racist Sports Names Returns To Minneapolis�|�The UpTake: It was at the Metrodome in 1992 — the 500th anniversary year of Columbus’ “discovery” of “Indians” in North America — that the American Indian Movement sponsored a national Conference on Racism in Sports and Media to coincide with SuperBowl XXVI. It was no coincidence that the conference on racism in media, organized by Clyde Bellecourt and his late brother, Vernon, was staged to coincide with the appearance at the SuperBowl of the Washington Redskins, who beat the Buffalo Bills in the football game that day but who began to lose the long war over the team’s offensive, derogatory and nakedly racist name.

Twenty-one years later, the fight against the nickname has grown into a national movement today, led by the Oneida Nation of New York. Ironically, national media have behaved as if this is a new issue and characterized the protest actions surrounding tonight’s football game as bringing the nickname fight to a new venue.