As statues and monuments are removed, and much of America is being asked to look itself in the mirror, a growing cry is being heard for the Washington Redskins to change their name.
It’s a controversial topic that has passionate members on both sides of the aisle. Some think that the term ‘Redskins’ is historically racist, and many people are offended by it, especially being in the Nation’s Capital. On the other side, there are cries that Native American’s find pride in the name and some claim that they have no problem with it. Regardless of which side you fall on, it’s a topic that absolutely needs to be discussed, no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel.
That’s just what Redskins’ running back Adrian Peterson is doing. When talking to TMZ Sports, he was asked if his teammates ever talk about the potential name change, and what his thoughts on the situation were.
“We hear the chatter about it, but it’s not something that we address as a team. For me, my take on it is that I like to look at things at all angles. So I understand how people view it and say ‘You know what, it’s racist.’ And then on the flip side, I also look at it and say it’s truth in plain sight. You’ve got the capital of the United States, and the NFL team there is the Washington Redskins. It’s way deeper than I think a lot of people view it. I look at it in the light that people are offended by it, and I look at it in the light and say ‘You know what, this is your team, this is your state, this is your country.’ You can find pride in that as well.”
It’s going to be a long process if the name is changed, and no matter what happens, a lot of people will be upset. What is important is that we are not afraid to discuss this touchy subject, and work to listen and learn from our past in order to help build a better and more inclusive future.
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