November is Native American Heritage Month, and this year it kicked off on the heels of a public protest. As the World Series of National League Baseball opened October 25, hundreds of Native Americans protested outside the first game between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs. They want the team to stop using what they say is the most-offensive insignia in U.S. sports, the Cleveland team’s “Chief Wahoo.” It depicts the head of a big-toothed, smiling, bright red man with a feather sticking up from his headband.
“What we hope to accomplish is to bring new awareness to this issue and have it resolved by eliminating the name and the logo,” Philip Yenyo told Al Jazeera. “From my point of view, there’s a lot of money to be made off of what I believe is the blood of a culture. They [the Cleveland Indians] also claim that they have a history, that they want to preserve. For me, I believe that their history is full of genocide.”
Other professional athletic teams use names and logos using Native American imagery, including the Washington Redskins, Chicago Blackhawks and Atlanta Braves, and similar protests have been carried out over the years. Some colleges and high schools also bear such names.
The National Congress of American Indians has a long-standing campaign to end this practice. NCAI says, “These caricatures and stereotypes are harmful, perpetuate negative stereotypes of America’s first peoples, and contribute to a disregard for the personhood of Native peoples.”
Native American Heritage Month, or as it is also known, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, has been observed since 1990, when President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November for this observation.
It is a time to learn more about the history and culture of Native Americans that has for so long been neglected in academics. To facilitate discussions, DiverseBooks.net offers a variety of books that can serve as resources. Following are some selections from our publishers that were reviewed previously on DiverseBooks.net. They are available at discount prices on our Website: www.diversebooks.net
