Smithsonian American Indian museum tackles racist stereotypes, mascots in American sports

WASHINGTON – The ongoing debate over the Washington Redskins’ team name moves to the Smithsonian American Indian museum this week as sports writers, scholars, Native Americans and others gather for a conference.

The discussions Thursday at the National Museum of the American Indian will address the use of Native American mascots and nicknames in sports. The symposium is entitled “Racist Stereotypes and Cultural Appropriation in American Sports.”

The Redskins’ name and logo was the subject of a 17-year court battle between the team and a group of American Indians who say the name is offensive and want it changed. In 2009, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from the Native Americans.

Since the 1970s, hundreds of high school and college teams have done away with Native American nicknames.