Native Americans considered sports teams’ former names to be degrading

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President Donald Trump has threatened to obstruct a new stadium deal for Washington’s NFL team unless it reverts to its former name, the Redskins — a designation that was widely criticized as offensive to Native Americans.

Trump also called for Cleveland’s baseball team to return to its previous name, the Indians, claiming there is significant public support for the change.

Both teams adopted their current names — the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians — during the 2022 season following years of pressure from advocacy groups, sponsors and fans. Representatives from both organizations have stated they have no intention of reverting to their former names.

The names “Redskins” and “Indians” are widely seen as offensive to Native Americans because they perpetuate racial stereotypes, use language historically employed as slurs, and trivialize or commodify Native identities [1][24].

‘Redskins’ as a racial slur

“Redskins” is considered a racial slur with origins in colonial violence, historically used in dehumanizing contexts, including bounties for Native scalps [1]. The term references a physical characteristic in a derogatory way and is widely recognized today as an epithet comparable to other racial slurs [1][23]. Its continued use is broadly rejected by Native American groups and has been officially recognized as offensive by major organizations[24]. The logo and related iconography further stereotyped and caricatured Native Americans, exacerbating the insult [3][5].

Problems with ‘Indians’

“Indians” is less overtly aggressive but is problematic because it treats diverse Native nations as a monolith, perpetuates stereotypes and erases real tribal identities [2][3]. The term generically lumps all Native peoples into one group, ignoring the diversity of cultures, histories and identities among hundreds of tribes. Many Native Americans view this as erasure and disrespect [2][3]. Mascots and logos, such as Cleveland’s former Chief Wahoo, have often depicted natives in exaggerated, cartoonish or red-faced caricatures, which is demeaning and fosters discrimination [3][5].

Psychological impact on Native youths

These monikers have documented negative psychological effects on Native youths [2][4]. Repeated exposure to caricatured or derogatory representations in sports harms self-esteem, contributes to mental health disparities and fosters a hostile environment in schools and broader culture [2]. Studies indicate that these mascots reinforce stereotypes among non-Natives and limit both Native and non-Native youths’ abilities to imagine Indigenous peoples in diverse and modern roles [2].

Why Florida State Seminoles are treated differently

Florida State University’s use of “Seminoles” is with the explicit support and partnership of the Seminole Tribe of Florida [5][6][10]. Unlike teams with names imposed without Native consent, FSU has a longstanding relationship with the tribe [8][11]. The Seminole Tribe collaborates with the university on representations, approves regalia and mascots (such as Chief Osceola and Renegade) and sees the name as a symbol of respect for their “unconquered” history [10][11].

The NCAA, while reviewing Native-themed mascots and names, made an exception for FSU due to this tribal approval and the collaborative processes ensuring accurate, dignified portrayals [5][8]. The key difference is consent and involvement: The Seminole Tribe actively participates and sees positives in the program, whereas “Redskins” and “Indians” reflect caricaturing and appropriation without Native blessing, often over the objections of Native communities [3][5].

Other team name changes

Several teams have shifted names to address problematic historical associations, violence or insensitivity, demonstrating that name changes in sports are not unprecedented [14][15][16][17]:

• The Washington Bullets became the Washington Wizards in 1997, following concerns that “Bullets” evoked gun violence during a time of rising crime in Washington, D.C. Team owner Abe Pollin was also personally affected by the assassination of his friend, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and decided the name was no longer appropriate for a sports team [14][15].
• The Tampa Bay Devil Rays dropped “Devil” in 2008 to become the Tampa Bay Rays, partly to remove negative connotations. The change was motivated by persistent public discomfort, especially among Christian groups, with the word “Devil” in the team name. New ownership also saw the rebranding as an opportunity to establish a clean identity [14][15].
• Name changes like those for the Washington Commanders (formerly Redskins) and Cleveland Guardians (formerly Indians) were prompted by sustained activism and changing cultural attitudes toward Native representations in sports [7][9][13][20].

In general, teams often change names to avoid problematic or controversial associations (violence, racism, religious offense), modernize or refresh their brand identity and reflect new ownership, local values or shifts in public opinion [16][17].

Broader societal reflections

The history of team name controversies in American sports serves as a reflection of broader societal attitudes toward Native Americans, specifically highlighting issues of respect, stereotyping and the legacy of cultural intolerance [21][22][26][27].

Key societal issues

• Disrespect and stereotyping: The ongoing use of Native American names, symbols and mascots by sports teams demonstrates a lack of respect for Native communities. These practices often perpetuate harmful stereotypes — depicting Native Americans as primitive, aggressive or merely as mascots — rather than recognizing them as modern, diverse peoples [21][22][23].
• Persistence of intolerance: The resistance to changing offensive team names illustrates lingering intolerance rooted in American history. Many Native communities view the persistence of such names as a continuation of the disregard and dehumanization they’ve faced since colonial times [21][23][26].
• Cultural appropriation: The use of Native American imagery by non-Native teams frequently involves cultural appropriation. For example, fans wearing headdresses and painting their faces trivialize sacred symbols and ceremonies, further misrepresenting Native cultures [3][22].
• Impact on Native communities: Social science research highlights that these mascots and names have negative effects: they lower Native American students’ self-esteem and promote misperceptions and prejudice among non-Natives [21][23][25]. Over 1,500 Native-led organizations have called for banning these practices, showing broad unity within Indigenous communities on the issue [24][30].

Shifting public opinion

Public opinion on Native American representation in sports has shifted significantly in recent years, moving toward greater support for eliminating Native mascots, names and imagery — particularly among younger generations, sports fans, and educational and professional organizations [4][25][30][31].

Growing awareness

Research over the past two decades consistently shows that Native mascots and names have negative psychological and social effects, especially on Native youths, and reinforce racial stereotypes among non-Native people. This body of evidence has been influential in swaying both expert and public opinion, with over 115 professional organizations now opposing such imagery as a form of ethnic stereotyping [4][22][30].

Current trends

While there was once a widespread perception that these names honored Native Americans, recent polls and surveys indicate that a majority of the general public and younger sports fans now support eliminating offensive mascots and team names [4][25][30]. A Nielsen poll in 2021 found this support had become the majority view [30].

Native advocacy groups, such as the National Congress of American Indians and a consensus of over 1,500 Native organizations, have publicly called for a ban on all Native imagery and names in sports, reflecting a strong preference within Native communities for change [4][24][30].

Institutional change

The controversy has led to real-world changes: Many professional and collegiate teams have changed names or mascots[30]. Individual schools and districts are increasingly responsive to Native protests or broader public calls for respect and multiculturalism [22].

Despite the shift, there remains mixed support in some segments of the public, with some people arguing that mascots honor Native Americans or dismissing concerns as “political correctness.” These attitudes are more prevalent among individuals with traditionalist views or dominant group identities [30][33][34].

Sources

[1] https://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2013/12/why-is-the-word-redskin-so-offensive/

[2] https://news.berkeley.edu/2020/02/04/native-mascots-survey/

[3] https://thegatorseye.com/14496/opinion/native-american-mascots-theyre-just-wrong/

[5] https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/opinion/the-difference-between-the-seminoles-and-redskins/zXJdpwatdzYZi5kbYGRboM/

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Seminoles

[7] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/trump-wants-the-washington-commanders-and-cleveland-guardians-to-restore-their-old-names

[8] https://guides.lib.fsu.edu/fsuandseminoles

[9] https://nypost.com/2025/07/21/sports/trump-threatens-commanders-stadium-deal-over-redskins-name/

[10] https://www.tampabay.com/sports/seminoles/2020/07/10/why-florida-state-seminole-tribe-stand-behind-the-seminoles-nickname/

[11] https://seminoles.com/seminoles-heroic-symbol-at-florida-state

[13] https://apnews.com/article/trump-indians-redskins-guardians-commanders-8863d8d95f56414f0f74cab0e897a93f

[14] https://www.grunge.com/734837/the-real-reason-these-sports-teams-changed-their-names/

[15] https://theweek.com/articles/469631/8-pro-sports-teams-that-changed-nicknames

[16] https://www.cracked.com/article_35205_15-weirdo-stories-behind-sports-team-name-changes.html

[17] https://wtop.com/sports/2022/01/pro-sports-teams-that-changed-their-name-without-changing-cities/

[18] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2773161824000028

[19] https://www.ranker.com/list/pro-sports-team-name-changes/pedro-cerrano

[20] https://www.fox13news.com/news/washington-is-changing-the-name-of-its-nfl-team-here-are-other-pro-teams-that-changed-their-titles

[21] https://study.com/academy/lesson/native-american-mascot-controversies-sociological-perspectives.html

[22] https://onlinesportmanagement.ku.edu/community/native-american-team-names-mascots

[23] https://library.fiveable.me/key-terms/native-american-history/washington-redskins

[24] https://www.usccr.gov/files/2021/03-15-NE-Native-Mascot-Briefing.pdf

[25] https://record.umich.edu/articles/study-opposition-high-to-native-american-mascots-names/

[26] https://library.fiveable.me/key-terms/native-american-history/washington-redskins-mascot-controversy

[27] https://ethicalspace.pubpub.org/pub/66gqtxip

[28] https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/soc4.70032

[29] https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=fasch_rpt

[30] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23780231211028681

[31] https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/18/sport/indigenous-culture-in-global-sport-cmd-spt-intl

[32] https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/02/21/a-new-study-contradicts-a-washington-post-poll-about-how-native-americans-view-the-redskins-name/

[33] https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/new-poll-finds-9-in-10-native-americans-arent-offended-by-redskins-name/2016/05/18/3ea11cfa-161a-11e6-924d-838753295f9a_story.html

[34] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/learning/is-it-offensive-for-sports-teams-and-their-fans-to-use-native-american-names-imagery-and-gestures.html