Students and staff during the 2017 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration at Green Acres School in North Bethesda, Maryland. Photo: Green Acres School

Education | Sports

Private school outlaws Washington NFL team's racist gear for staff and students

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

The private Green Acres School in Maryland has banned staff and students from wearing gear with the Washington NFL team's racist mascot.

The ban was first reported in Bethesda Magazine on Monday. Headmaster Neal M. Brown provided an explanation on the school's website.

"The local football team has been around a long time and has experienced great successes; loyalty to this beloved team and passion for the game of football are understandably strong among many of our students, families, and staff members," Brown wrote. "Clearly, there is nothing wrong with rooting for one’s team."

"At the same time, the term 'Redskin' is a racial slur. Its use, whether intentional or not, can be deeply insulting and offensive. It is a term that demeans a group of people. Similarly, the team’s logo also can reasonably be viewed as racially demeaning," Brown continued. "At best, the image is an ethnic stereotype that promotes cultural misunderstanding; at worst, it is intensely derogatory."

Green Acres joins the private Sidwell Friends School in banning the NFL team's racist name and logo from from campus. Sidwell took action after hearing from Blackfeet activist and Indian Country Media Network editor Gyasi Ross.

Read More on the Story:
Private School in North Bethesda Bars Students, Staff From Wearing Redskins Gear (Bethesda Magazine August 28, 2017)
Redskins name and logo barred by Green Acres School in North Bethesda, Md. (The Washington Post August 29, 2017)