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Are Native American mascots offensive in a manner similar to blackface or the depiction of other cultures as brutal "savages" in old movies? Are they just harmless fun? Does the answer vary depending on how the mascot is portrayed? Four school districts in our area are facing those questions.
The districts are among 35 named in a federal complaint filed by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. The department wants them to stop using American Indian mascots, names, slogans and images.
In regards to the Paw Paw Redskins, for example, "redskins" is considered a racial slur by some.
The Dowagiac Union District, which has used the "Chieftains" nickname since 1928, adopted an official logo of a Potawatomi chief with the tribe's approval over 20 years ago.
Michigan's civil rights department says research shows using those mascots lowers Native American students' self-esteem and impacts learning and achievement. And that denies them equal rights.
Other schools in our area named in the federal complaint are the White Pigeon Chiefs and the Hartford Indians.