The 'Redskinettes' perform in 1962. Photo from Washington Redskins Cheerleaders Alumni Association
Since "ordinary" Native Americans are not offended by the Washington NFL team's racist mascot, columnist Courtland Milloy welcomes a return to the good old days, when cheerleaders dressed up in fake "Indian" costumes and the team's song was in broken English:
If 90 percent of Native Americans aren’t offended by the name of Washington’s professional football team, as a Washington Post poll recently found, then let’s undo all of the changes to the team uniform and fight song. Bring back the “Dancing Indians,” as the “Redskinette” cheerleaders were sometimes called in the 1960s. Let them don those “squaw” outfits and put the fake Cherokee hair extensions back on their heads. Give the marching band feathered war bonnets for their “Pow Wow” music, and restore the original lyrics to the team fight song: Scalp ’em, swamp ’em We will take ’em big score Read ’em, weep ’em, touchdown! We want heap more! So what if it would make D.C. fans look foolish. A team with a name like “Redskins” has no shame to begin with. Revive the tradition of having white men with head feathers run onto the field at halftime to perform their “wild Indian dance.” Find a replacement for Chief Zee, the African American man who served as the team’s unofficial mascot for more than two decades.Get the Story:
Courtland Milloy: Not offended by Redskins? Then let’s bring back more of the team’s offensive acts. (The Washington Post 6/1)
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