Native Americans air ad encouraging name change for Washington Redskins

A California tribe is voicing it's support to see the Washington Redskins change the team name as the word continues to be a slur on Native Americans.

From ABC News:

“In my opinion, the ‘r’ word is just as derogatory a slur as the ‘n’ word,” Marshall McKay, chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, said in a video about the “Change the Mascot” campaign.

The minute-long commercial, called “Proud to Be,” is a shortened version of a similar ad that was posted online earlier this year. In it, a narrator lists adjectives that could describe Native Americans -- “Indian,” “Navajo, “Sioux,” "Spiritualist,” “strong” -- before the camera zooms in on a Redskins helmet, “the one thing they don’t” call themselves.

The ad is set to air in seven major markets during the NBA finals.

I think the spot makes it's point quite succinctly.  And when you think about it, why NOT change the name?  The owners of the team would make BANK by all the fans going out and buying new merchandise to support a newly adopted mascot/name.

(h/t JMG)