The Washington NFL team is scheduled to play in London this fall, and two members of the British Parliament aren’t happy about it…. “We were shocked to learn the derivation of the term ‘R*dskin,’ pertaining as it does to the historic abuse of Native Americans,” Ruth Smeeth and Ian Austin wrote in a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN. “The exportation of this racial slur to the UK this autumn, when the Washington team is due to play, directly contravenes the values that many in Britain have worked so hard to instill.”…. The two members of the British Labor Party want the league to change the team’s name or, “at the minimum, send a different team to our country to represent the sport, one that does not promote a racial slur.”
As silly as it may seem, here we are in the 21st century, still fighting against the willfully and openly racist who traffic in racially demeaning and disparaging imagery- some of them even occupying positions of considerable power and influence…in the NFL.
If you’re one of those still arguing that the logo and nickname of Washington’s NFL team aren’t racist, I’d ask only that you listen to the voices of those Native Americans who believe the nickname and logo to be racist and disparaging of their heritage. Regardless of how you might feel, there are people who legitimately feel insulted that Washington’s NFL team is allowed to maintain its clearly racist nickname and logo.
Next fall, the NFL will be exporting that racism across the pond to England…and some politicians there are none too happy about it.
While it seems unlikely that the British Parliament can make Goodell and Snyder do something that President Obama (let alone mere empathy) couldn’t, Smeeth and Austin might actually have the law on their side in England.
“No nation has stricter anti-racism laws in sports, due in part to disturbing incidents encountered by black soccer players over the years, including having banana peels and monkey chants hurled at them during matches,” Mike Weiss of ESPN reported. “Clubs at every level can be heavily fined or banished from their respective leagues for any violation.”
It’s also significant that Wembley Stadium, the site of the game in October, has its own anti-racism charter that bans “racial, homophobic or discriminatory abuse, chanting or harassment.” ESPN reports that people at Wembley are currently discussing the issue internally.
Also potentially problematic? The BBC — the NFL’s broadcasting partner in the United Kingdom — is publicly owned.
“Given it’s taxpayer-funded, if we believe it’s a racial slur, then that means problems for the BBC in terms of coverage of the event,” Smeeth said.
The ultimate outcome of this controversy remains to be seen, but my cynical side is betting that the undeniable power of money will eventually win the day. Funny how principles seem to fade into the gloaming whenever large amounts of cash are bandied about, isn’t it? The NFL has the advantage of being the 800-lb. gorilla in the room. They can do pretty much what they want- first, because football is our national obsession, and second, because large sums of money have a way of making all manner of problems disappear.
Racism is a big issue in Europe, in ways far more malevolent and incendiary that here in the U.S. Europe has worked hard to defeat racism, and the results are most notable in soccer matches, particularly in continent-wide competitions. Sporting organizations of all sorts have worked hard to make it clear that racism will not be tolerated, in part because things can turn (and in the past have turned) deadly quickly.
This issue may not look like much from this side of the pond, but in England, this kind of institutional racism is rightfully considered anathema by many. It’s not that racism or racist attitudes done’t exist- far from it- but a lot of hard work has gone into creating an atmosphere of tolerance and cooperation. From that standpoint, it’s understandable why some British MPs are less than sanguine about an American football team whose nickname and logo scream racism.
The sad thing is that team owner Dan Snyder and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell refuse to recognize and acknowledge the not so subtle racism symbolized by Washington’s nickname and logo. It’s not about “honor,” or “heritage,” or “history.” It’s about not so subtle institutional racism perpetuated by one of America’s largest and most successful businesses. This sort of overt racist imagery would never be tolerated in virtually any other commercial enterprise…yet the National Football League has given itself a free pass.
Goodell and Snyder should be ashamed…but that would presume either are capable of feeling shame.
Native Americans deserve better…and with any luck, perhaps England taking a stand will help them get it.
