These mascots also help spread and continue stereotypes because “most Americans have no direct or personal experience with contemporary American Indians” (463). The mascots and inaccurate depictions of American Indians are not only harming the psychological well-being of the minority by making it difficult for them to form an individual identity as well as a group identity, but are also keeping the majority from forming well-educated opinions and attitudes towards them. All parties involved are harmed because it further separates them and keeps them from being able to coexist and work together on issues that affect them all. If the minority was not misrepresented and their real issues were not ignored, then the properly educated majority could help raise a voice for their rights (as the voice of the majority is listened to more than the voice of the minority, which is wrong). By allowing these mascots to continue “representing” and “honoring” American Indians, then the stereotypes are also being allowed to continue, and the majority is continuously
These mascots also help spread and continue stereotypes because “most Americans have no direct or personal experience with contemporary American Indians” (463). The mascots and inaccurate depictions of American Indians are not only harming the psychological well-being of the minority by making it difficult for them to form an individual identity as well as a group identity, but are also keeping the majority from forming well-educated opinions and attitudes towards them. All parties involved are harmed because it further separates them and keeps them from being able to coexist and work together on issues that affect them all. If the minority was not misrepresented and their real issues were not ignored, then the properly educated majority could help raise a voice for their rights (as the voice of the majority is listened to more than the voice of the minority, which is wrong). By allowing these mascots to continue “representing” and “honoring” American Indians, then the stereotypes are also being allowed to continue, and the majority is continuously