Pennsylvania could soon ban school districts from using Native American imagery as mascots, as Democratic state Rep. Chris Rabb from Philadelphia’s 200th District has introduced two bills to address this issue.The proposed legislation would prohibit such imagery and provide grants to assist schools with rebranding costs.”This is something that is easily done. We have seen if major NFL teams can do that, certainly our schools, across our commonwealth, can,” Rabb said.Rabb emphasized that longstanding advocacy studies and research indicate that using Native Americans as mascots harms Native youth, who have a higher suicide rate than other groups.He has attempted to pass similar legislation in the past but believes that education, empathy, and youth advocacy should drive change over time.The Susquehanna Valley is familiar with these types of mascots, with schools like Susquehanna Township, Donegal, and Juniata using the Indians as their mascot.Rabb acknowledged the historical significance these names hold for some communities but stressed the need for change.”There are people who feel very connected to their mascots and their team names and their logos, which is very understandable for communities, particularly small, close-knit communities where that has a significance bigger than the image itself, but they have the benefit of not connecting it to things that are dehumanizing,” Rabb said.The enforcement of the proposed ban would prevent noncompliant schools from participating in interscholastic competitions in circuits like the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Rabb has co-sponsors for the measure and urges House leadership to advance the bills, framing the effort as part of a broader standard against dehumanizing stereotypes of any ethnic group.”This is not unique to native peoples. There was a time when people who descended from Irish immigrants were stereotyped as drunken, marauding folks, Italian Americans, Polish Americans, African Americans, Jewish Americans. And so, we shouldn’t have we shouldn’t carve out spaces to do things that are not in, the best spirit of our ethnic diversity,” Rabb said. “This is a positive way of looking at it. This is not seeking to harp on folks who have embraced a logo in previous generations, where there was not the same conversation or sensitivity to these issues. So, I think I will keep introducing them until we move forward.”In recent years, many organizations have moved away from Native American branding and imagery, including the Washington Commanders, formerly known as the Redskins, and the Cleveland Guardians, previously named the Indians.
Pennsylvania could soon ban school districts from using Native American imagery as mascots, as Democratic state Rep. Chris Rabb from Philadelphia’s 200th District has introduced two bills to address this issue.
The proposed legislation would prohibit such imagery and provide grants to assist schools with rebranding costs.
“This is something that is easily done. We have seen if major NFL teams can do that, certainly our schools, across our commonwealth, can,” Rabb said.
Rabb emphasized that longstanding advocacy studies and research indicate that using Native Americans as mascots harms Native youth, who have a higher suicide rate than other groups.
He has attempted to pass similar legislation in the past but believes that education, empathy, and youth advocacy should drive change over time.
The Susquehanna Valley is familiar with these types of mascots, with schools like Susquehanna Township, Donegal, and Juniata using the Indians as their mascot.
Rabb acknowledged the historical significance these names hold for some communities but stressed the need for change.
“There are people who feel very connected to their mascots and their team names and their logos, which is very understandable for communities, particularly small, close-knit communities where that has a significance bigger than the image itself, but they have the benefit of not connecting it to things that are dehumanizing,” Rabb said.
The enforcement of the proposed ban would prevent noncompliant schools from participating in interscholastic competitions in circuits like the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Rabb has co-sponsors for the measure and urges House leadership to advance the bills, framing the effort as part of a broader standard against dehumanizing stereotypes of any ethnic group.
“This is not unique to native peoples. There was a time when people who descended from Irish immigrants were stereotyped as drunken, marauding folks, Italian Americans, Polish Americans, African Americans, Jewish Americans. And so, we shouldn’t have we shouldn’t carve out spaces to do things that are not in, the best spirit of our ethnic diversity,” Rabb said. “This is a positive way of looking at it. This is not seeking to harp on folks who have embraced a logo in previous generations, where there was not the same conversation or sensitivity to these issues. So, I think I will keep introducing them until we move forward.”
In recent years, many organizations have moved away from Native American branding and imagery, including the Washington Commanders, formerly known as the Redskins, and the Cleveland Guardians, previously named the Indians.