Change in Washington?
Oneida Nation leader: ‘Stand on the right side of history’
Ray Halbritter realized about seven years ago he needed to fight the disgusting name of the NFL’s Washington team. He was inspired by Cooperstown high school students in New York, who successfully lobbied to change their same offensive mascot to Hawkeyes.
Halbritter, the Oneida Nation representative, donated $10,000 to the school for new uniforms. Then his New Yorkbased tribe launched a ‘Change the Mascot’ campaign targeting the NFL team.
“I was so proud of those kids. I was inspired. I knew there was hope,” Halbritter told the Daily News. “There was a chance we could make a difference.”
After years of fighting against billionaire baby/owner Dan Snyder, Halbritter remained somewhat skeptical following a team statement Friday from the franchise that they’re conducting a “thorough review” of the name. Reports suggested that this is a formality, and Snyder will have to change the mascot because the NFL is forcing action.
But Halbritter was struggling with the statement’s message of “thorough review.”
“What’s there to review? The name’s racist, it’s defined that way, it’s been that way for years, every Native American organization in the country, social scientists, educators, religious — all are calling for the name to change,” Halbritter said. “Make a decision. You’re wealthy, you’re a billionaire. Make a decision. Stand on the right side of history. … Our hope is that this is not a stall tactic.”
Assuming they banish the most racist nickname in American pro sports, the NFL and Snyder aren’t doing it for the right reasons (surprise, surprise). They’re not the students at Cooperstown Central School. We’re in a moment of time when issues concerning equality and social justice are gaining unprecedented traction in America, and corporations are being forced to listen to their consumers.
FedEx, the sponsor of Washington’s stadium, issued a statement Thursday urging the team to change its name. Then Nike removed all team gear from its online store.
We’re supposed to believe Snyder was suddenly injected with humanity. The truth is money talks.
But Halbritter can explain why it’s important to eliminate the racist name beyond the effect on the NFL’s bottom line.
“I used to live in Washington when I worked as an ironworker. I actually was a fan of the team. I just hate the name,” he said. “As I grew older and matured and became a father and a leader of my people, I had to think about the future of my people and my children and I realized this is a derogatory dehumanizing name. I want to have a better future for my children and for our community as a whole. And social science has proven that this has damaging effects on the self-esteem of Native youth. We’re all about future generations. This is about our children. I can handle a slur but our children is what I’m concerned about.
“This team is the national team — it’s in Washington, the nation’s capital. And what does it represent just not to America but the rest of the world? A racist slur.”
Halbritter hasn’t thought of a new name, and doesn’t care to make a suggestion. It was only about stomping out the current atrocity. Anything will be better.
“I think they’re capable of finding a name in the English language that would not be racist and derogatory and dehumanizing,” he said. “I don’t think that’s too hard a task.”