So What's a Chief?

Agreed Oz1310 (see comments to the previous post). Your points are well taken, and I concur. And yes, I know that my emphasis on certain principles is pretty strict and harsh. However, I write in that manner because I’m tired of the nature of humanity which often allows people with seriously flawed social perceptions the chance to ignore some of the real problems that society faces. In the year 2005 racism is as prevalent as it has ever been (along with many other prejudices). So people with some serious biases and prejudices now try to hide behind the curtain of “you’re trying to be too PC.” I am the first to tell people that some things have, in my opinion, tipped over the PC scale. However, on the issue of removing Native Americans as mascots, there is nothing PC about it at all. It is simply the right thing to do!

But for good measure, here’s another harsh judgment. If you’re under 35 and you harbor such bigoted foolishness in your heart (as outlined in my previous two blogs), then you’re foolish without a cause. Your parents may have actually witnessed lynchings (yes, believe it or not), and were certainly around to see the struggle of the Civil Rights movement (in the 50’s and 60’s) if they were raised here in the USA. So maybe it’s hard for them to overcome such racist notions (I am a firm believer that the childhood a person witnesses/lives has a profound affect on the person that they become), though I don’t think that’s an excuse (but maybe a reason). However, for those of us that have grown up in integrated schools, only known of open seating on public transportation, and have only seen “Coloreds/Whites Only” restroom signs in history books, we should be able to decipher between the racisms of our parents’ day and the realities that we’ve witnessed all of our lives. It’s just that simple, and there are no excuses.

I began writing a post way back in early April concerning the use of Native Americans as mascots at Universities. It was relevant at the time because on April 4th of this year, North Carolina played the University of Illinois in Basketball for the NCAA Title. I didn’t get a chance to finish the post, but have been lying in wait like a Lion in the jungle for the right moment to address this topic. Now the time has come.

For consistent “Vortex” readers, we are all well aware that the University of Illinois has a Native American as their mascot and they call themselves the Fighting Illini. Not only do they have a Native American as a mascot, but the mascot has a name: Chief Illiniwek. Now, the name (and his likeness that parades around at sporting events-namely basketball games-and performs an “authentic Indian dance”) may not seem to be that big of a deal, but it has some very critical implications.

To be a Chief in Native American culture is to achieve the highest political/religious office to be obtained in a Native American Tribe. The position of Chief is likened unto an Ayatollah in Islam or The Pope in Catholicism. The Chief is one who has the right to determine/issue tribal laws or decrees, but who is also looked to for spiritual guidance.

Unfortunately, the U of Illinois takes this powerful image and makes a complete and total mockery of everything it represents. For instance, at basketball games, U of Illinois promises that Chief Illiniwek will perform an authentic Indian dance. Sadly, for anyone that’s ever seen it, the dance is totally NOT authentic. A college student (typically a white male) prances around in an amalgamation of canvas, leather and feathers while flailing his arms and legs about, as the audience cheers him on. It looks nothing like an authentic “Indian dance,” and many Native Americans have expressed their disgust in it. (Sidenote: If you’d like to witness authentic Native American dances, you should attend a “Pow Wow” in your area. It is quite the experience).

So here’s the crime: The University of Illinois defends its use of the mascot, and so does the surrounding community and many of its alumni. Petitions and protests have been proposed and staged. Yet, there’s been no change. Why? Of course because of monetary reasons coupled with stubborn tradition. Erase money, and the stubborn traditionalists will subside (Cash Rules Everything Around Stubbornness, to steal and modify a common rap credo).

How do we diminish the power of the almighty dollar at these insensitive Universities?

Well in the case of the University of Illinois, I think all the Big Ten schools, including my alma mater, should take after the lead of the University of Iowa and the University of Wisconsin and not compete against the U of Illinois until they change their degrading mascot. In fact, so should all other colleges/universities toward all other colleges using Native Americans as mascots. That will show solidarity, understanding, and it will do what these schools fear the most: hit them in the pocketbook.

Now as for the other major University that suffers from a critical cultural insensitivity problem, Florida State University, the NCAA has inexplicably left them out of the ban. Now there are reasons for this, and you know I’ve got an opinion. However, I’ll have to hit you with that one later on!

-Maelstrom