U.S. trademark law says that there is no commercial protection
for a disparaging term or symbol. In 1992, the Trademark Trial
and Appeal Board agreed that “Redskins” may disparage people,
living or dead, or bring them into contempt or disrepute. Since
then, schools across the country such as St. John’s and Tallequa
changed names away from Native American epithets like the
“Redmen.” The NFL team, however, had this decision reversed
after the court ruled that these plaintiffs waited too long
after they turned 18, the age of majority. The issue is back,
and this time the plaintiffs are teenagers. The nonchalant
treatment of this story makes me think of how quickly people are
to dismiss or overlook racism. From the comfort of one’s home,
they utter things like the injustices caused Native Americans
are long passed, and there is nothing I can do about it now.
While they root for RG III and the resurgent Washington Redskins
on Sunday afternoon. While the poverty level, and resources, on
Reservations is abysmal. Whi