By Pk Bartley
A Native American’s view on the Florida State Seminole Mascot
Florida State football is known for many things, such as their head coach Bobby Bowden. They are also known for great players, such as Deion Sanders and Peter Warrick. When you think of Florida State, one of the first things that usually comes to mind is their tomahawk chop and their Seminole mascot on his horse at home games.
Being a Native American, for I am half Cherokee and half Lumbee, I find the tomahawk chop and the Seminole mascot very offensive. The symbol itself was acquired in a vote by students in 1947, when a poll crowned ‘Seminole’ the winner over names like Fighting Warriors and Crackers. The tradition of the Native American rider, Osceola, brandishing a flaming spear and planting it mid-field before home games began in 1978. Six years later, a rowdy group of fraternity members began the war chant in a game against Auburn, coupled with the now infamous ‘tomahawk chop’ to symbolize the brandishing of a tomahawk.
The reason why I find these two things offensive is quite simple. The tomahawk itself is seen by most people as being an instrument of war used by different Native American tribes. Yes it is a weapon that was used in some tribes, but some tribes also used the tomahawk for religious ceremonies. So every time Florida State fans do the tomahawk chop, they are basically making fun of some Native Americans’ religion.
How would Christians, for example, like it if some school had Jesus as their mascot, and their fans would stand up and spread their arms out and hung their heads as if they were crucified? Or if the fans made the sign of the cross after every big play? If any school or professional sports team were to have such a mascot or gestures, they would get so much pressure that they would have to change their mascot after the first game, if it even made it that far. What I’m trying to say is, if it’s wrong to poke fun at one religion, isn’t it also wrong to poke fun at any religion?
Another reason is that at Florida State home games, the Seminole mascot comes out with his face painted like he’s going to war, and he’s wearing stereotypical Native American dress. He rides out on a horse and throws a flaming spear onto the field before each home game. This is so stereotypical of how Native Americans are seen, like in an old John Wayne movie.
Yes, Native Americans did go to battle, and yes some tribes did wear war paint, but if anyone thinks that a football game is comparable to war, then they need a reality check. War is a very serious thing, and should not be taken so lightly, and it should never be compared to a sporting event. When the Seminole tribe went to war, they weren’t trying to score more points than the Florida Gators. It was for their own survival.
Another reason I find it offensive is because it is only the Native American cultures that are used for team mascots. The only exception to this is Notre Dame’s team name, the Fighting Irish. However, some of the Irish culture has influenced and become a part of American culture. For instance, St. Patrick’s Day is a well-known holiday in America. It is possible that some Irish people might find Notre Dame’s team name offensive.
This, however, is not nearly as offensive as using a people’s religion and way of life. If any other ethnic group were used for a team name, the people in that group would make such a fuss that the team name would eventually be changed. Some schools and universities have realized how offensive their Native American mascots could be to ethnic people and have gotten rid of them altogether. So there is hope for schools like Florida State to change their minds and their mascots, which in my opinion, would be a step in the right direction.
PK Bartley is a senior communications major and also the field hockey writer for the Louisville Cardinal.
