Poll Finds 90 Percent of Native Americans Aren't Offended by Washington Redskins Name
By Kyle Koster
A new poll conducted by the Washington Post finds nine out of 10 Native Americans are not offended by the Redskins name. A nationwide survey of 504 people revealed little change since a 2004 poll, despite more than a decade of increased scrutiny over the moniker.
Twenty-one percent of respondents found the term “Redskin” disrespectful compared to 73 percent who did not. Nine percent said they were offended by the use of the team name compared to 90 percent who said they were not bothered.
These numbers aren’t consistent with recent polls of the entire population. Twenty-three percent of people called for the name to be changed in a 2014 ESPN poll and a 28 percent pushed for a similar move in a 2013 Washington Post survey.
This is, of course, a divisive and controversial issue. At first blush it seems like the relatively low outrage among Native Americans could submarine the pro-name-change movement.
A little perspective is needed.
First, there are 5.4 million Native Americans in this country. This poll relies on a minuscule sample size. Secondly, the main headline being used to sell the story is that 9 out of 10 don’t find the name offensive. The more significant number is 23 percent who find the term either offensive or disrespectful.
Nearly a Quarter of Native Americans Find the Redskins Name Offensive is a way different way to present the story, and is also accurate.
Personally, I am in favor of changing the name. These new findings have given me a new data point to consider.
What is the threshold for outrage? How many people must be “offended” in order force Daniel Synder’s reluctant hand? The answer to that question will vary from person to person.
The Washington Redskins name is not the most pressing among the many issues Native Americans are facing. Poverty, decreased opportunities, high suicide rates and the rise of fracking are likely of more concern than a sporting team’s logo halfway across the country.
This poll is certainly not the end of the conversation. It’s a useful bullet point to weigh among other factors — and perhaps a surprising one. Just don’t expect the court of public opinion to suddenly come to a consensus.