Activism Spotlight: Change The Mascot

Source: huffingtonpost.com/2013-09-11-WashingtonRedskinsLogo.jpg

Many claim that the fierce debate over the name and mascot of the Washington Redskins is much ado about nothing, even going so far as to claim that instead of being an insult to Native Americans, the term 'redskin' is meant to honor the legacy of the Native American heritage and communities.  This assertion came from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell - and is a belief paralleled by many Americans - despite the fact that the racial epithet is clearly defined by many sources as dated and/or offensive.

If the dictionary alone weren't convincing enough, the activism of groups like Change The Mascot, which heads a national campaign to "end the use of the racial slur 'redskins' as the mascot and name of the NFL team."  They have sent numerous letters, press releases, and taken advantage of social media like Twitter in order to raise public awareness for their cause.

Recently, their efforts have culminated in an epic, 2-minute-long commercial that truly celebrates the  diversity, history, and struggles of the Native American communities while also offering a scathing criticism of the Washington Redskins in the silence of the last few seconds in the commercial.

The activism of 'Change The Mascot' and other groups like them have endeared many to their cause.  Most now agree that the use of any other racial epithet would be completely unthinkable, and that it is equally inexcusable that one so infamous as 'Redskin' be allowed to remain in popular sports culture.

It seems that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office appeals board agrees.  Once again they have revoked the trademark registration for the Washington Redskins after reviewing a case from 2006 in a decision reminiscent of the one in 1999 which was overruled after the NFL team appealed.  The Washington Redskins will most likely appeal the decision again, a reminder that those activists working toward eliminating such a triggering racial epithet from the team's name still have their work cut out for them.

Still, this victory is a telling one, and a reminder that such activism to change society for the better one PR battle, one protest, one letter written at a time, is of extreme importance.

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 "I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." 

          - Edward Everett Hale