CEO Richard Besser:
"In honoring Washington and Kansas City's football teams, we became
part of the problem. Our organization won't honor racism anymore."
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Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation CEO Richard Besser: "In honoring Washington
and Kansas City's football teams, we became part of the problem.
Our organization won't honor racism anymore." (photo courtesy
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation a non-profit organization
that gives an annual RWJF Sports Award to Sports organizations that
contribute to health by strengthening and serving communities through
sport says they will no longer honor teams with Native mascots.
The Native Truth Project has issued a public statement in appreciation
of the stance taken by the Foundation.
In addition to the announcement made by the foundation, Chief
Executive Officer Richard Besser took to USA Today in the first
week of May with an op-ed titled: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:
We honored sports teams with racist mascots. Not anymore.
Besser noted there was a good chance people had not heard of
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, nor the award that had been
given in past years. But Besser acknowledged the harm Native mascots
caused in terms of generating negative stereotypes and stresses
placed on Native health and well-being.
"
You're no doubt familiar with the controversies and divisions
surrounding sports teams that use Native American symbols
whether as mascots, in chants or in memorabilia for their
own purposes. The pro football teams in Washington and Kansas City
instantly come to mind," wrote Besser.
"Our foundation, tucked away in the outskirts of Princeton,
N.J., has over the past year unwittingly become part of the problem
by using the RWJF Sports Award to honor teams that denigrate American
Indian people. We didn't consider the fact that the team names,
mascots and misappropriation and mocking of sacred symbols like
headdresses do real damage to the health of people across the country."
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Crystal
Echo Hawk of Echo Hawk Consulting, Pawnee, has applauded the
actions of Besser and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
(courtesy photo)
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Since Besser's article has ran, The Native Truth Project, headed-up
by Crystal Echo Hawk, President & CEO of Echo Hawk Consulting,
Michael E. Roberts President & CEO of the First Nations Development
Institute and Cheryl Crazy Bull, President & CEO of the American
Indian College Fund & RNT National Advisory Committee Member
have openly applauded the statements by Besser and the RWJF.
"The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation led with courage in making
this decision. As organizations that work with Native youth and
in Native communities, we honor that leadership and courage.
The Native Truth Project outlined several studies that supported
the harm to Native communities and youth, they wrote that Native
communities are cognizant of this harm and asserted "Our research
with Native American groups and individual Native Americans throughout
the country shows this community is highly offended by Native American
mascots."
"We urge the American public to learn more about the impact
of racist mascots and team names on Native children. And we encourage
the American public to learn more about Native people and the values
we bring to society. We love our children and our families just
as others in United States do we want what is best for them
healthy, supportive environments where they can thrive."
In supplementation of Besser's article in USA Today, the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation's Vice President of Communications Fred Mann
released an official statement detailing how they would no longer
honor teams with appropriating mascots. The foundation admitted that
they had fallen short in previous years and had since listened to
the responses to the public.
"We want to share an important update from RWJF. In the months
since we met with you at the NCAI conference in Milwaukee, the Foundation
has taken a hard look in the mirror at the consequences of our decision
to include the Washington and Kansas City football teams as finalists
for the RWJF Sports Award last year. We heard directly from many
of you at that timeexpressing your disappointment and outrage.
Since then, we've listened more and learned much from you and from
so many honest and courageous young people at the NCAI gathering
who told us of the pain and trauma they experience amidst the onslaught
of stereotypes of American Indian and Alaskan Native people, including
the misappropriation of sacred and revered traditions," wrote Mann.
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The
RWJF Sports Award application page on the Foundation's website
expresses 'a humbling moment.' (screen capture)
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"As a Foundation, we realized we had failed you and all Native
Americans, and we needed to do better if we were to abide by our
guiding principles which emphasize that everyone in America should
have a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being.
On Monday, May 7th, we will announce our Call for Applications
for the 2018 RWJF Sports Award with new eligibility criteria; it
reads (in part): 'RWJF will not consider an application if it is
submitted by an entity whose name, brand, or practices in
the Foundation's judgment denigrates, harms, or discriminates
against any racial or ethnic group. For example, a team with a name
or mascot that, in RWJF's view, denigrates Native Americans will
not be eligible for the award.'"
Mann ended the statement with the following:
"The Foundation views this action as one step among many that
we plan to take in the months ahead as we walk the walk on our health
equity journey. We look forward to continuing that journey with
you.
Thank you for the gift of your time, wisdom, and fortitude in
helping us do better."
For more information about the RWJF Sports Award, visit https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/features/sportsaward.html.
The
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Sports Award
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Sports Award recognizes
sports teams, athletes, and community-based organizations that use
sports to catalyze and sustain changes to make communities healthier
places to live, learn, work, and play.
https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/features/sportsaward.html
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