S. Samuel
Comedian Katt Williams recently avoided talk about his woes with the law and narrowed in on the controversy behind the NFL's Washington Redskins team name.
In Katt’s perspective, calling a team “Redskins” is wrongful and disrespectful to Native Americans.
The Redskins is a racist team name … so says Katt Williams who tells TMZ he’s SHOCKED that Americans have tolerated such an offensive moniker for so many years. Katt — who wasn’t arrested or accused of any wrongdoing last night — was in Malibu when we asked about the renewed effort to get the team to change its name. “Do you know how racist that is?” Katt said … explaining, “That would be like saying the Chinese Yellowskins or the Compton Blackskins.” He added, “Can you please not keep disrespecting the people we already admit we did wrong to?” (TMZ)
Recently, a Washington Post writer cited the team’s name for contributing to its bad seasons.
Washington’s professional football team has raked up one disappointing season after another since 1992 – the year D.C. resident Suzan Harjo became the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit seeking to change the team’s disparaging name. Although Harjo lost that legal battle on a technicality, a group of younger Native Americans have filed a similar lawsuit – Blackhor se et al v. Pro-Football, Inc. Justice may yet be served. “The term ‘redskins’ is the most vile and offensive term used to describe Native Americans,” Harjo told the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 2011. “It is most disturbing to the overwhelming majority of Native Americans throughout the country that the professional football team in the nation’s capital uses a team name that demeans us.” (The Washington Post)
Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray is insistent on a name-change if the Redskins plan to play in the nation’s capital instead of miles away in Maryland.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray responded to chatter about the Redskins returning to the District Wednesday, saying a name change, or at least discussion of one, would be a prerequisite. “I think that if they get serious with the team coming back to Washington, there’s no doubt there’s going to have to be a discussion about that,” Gray said after a news conference ,according to the Washington Post, “and of course the team is going to have to work with us around that issue.” “I think it has become a lightning rod, and I would be love to be able to sit down with the team … and see if a change should be made,” he said. “There’s a precedent for this, and I think there needs to be a dispassionate discussion about this, and do the right thing.” (Live Wire)
Controversial radio personality Rush Limbaugh also recently gave his take on the team name dispute.
“The Redskins are gonna have to change the name of the team. That’s what’s gonna happen,” Limbaugh said on Wednesday’s program. “We’re gonna have to acknowledge that that’s the direction everything’s headed, and the pressure is now being brought to bear. … The Redskins are ultimately going to cave and change the name of the team. That’s my prediction.” (WND)
Check out Katt Williams’ interview:
