East mascot change

Out With the Old How the Black Liberation Movement is paving way for antiracist hallways East High’s offical removal of the Native American mascot

It’s 2019, and you’re walking into East High “Through my work with my racial equity on the way to your first block. It is your fresh- proposal for DMPS, I knew I had to include man year. Upon entering the school, you walk the immediate removal of East High’s inpast the attendance office where they also sell digenous mascot as to honor my own Mesome East High gear. You see the Native Amer- soamerican indigenous ancestors and (conican mascot on a couple of shirts hanging on sidering the dark history of colonization, the wall. Hmm, weird. Wonder why that is the genocide, and enslavement) fight for racial mascot? You continue walking and you see a se- justice,” senior Andy Montalvo-Martinez said. nior football player wearing his letterman jacket. People have formed groups to get You see the Native American mascot again on rid of these mascots across the nation. the back of his jacket. Why is your high school According to Nation Congress of Ameriusing a community’s culture for their mascot? can Indians, “In 1968 NCAI launched a cam-

“I asked my grandfather who is an East paign to address stereotypes of Native people in High alumni, about the mascot and if there popular culture and media, as well as in sports. were any traditions behind it while he was there. Since this effort began, there has been a great He told me that at games and events the mas- deal of progress made and support to end the cot was many times made a mockery of hav- era of harmful “Indian” mascots in sports.” ing someone dress around in a costume and Many professional sports teams are in the dance around while getting process of or already have rethings thrown at him. It was “We’re unapologetically moved their indigenous masliterally just a big joke to peo- fighting for social justice. cots. The changes or removals ple,” junior Lyric Sellers said. Remember brown is beautiful, of these racist mascots dates

Students at East High black lives matter, and love to the 1970s. As of July 2020, are working to change this unconditionally,” The Washington R**skins are mascot now. However, this - Andy Monatalvo- Martinez now The Washington football leaves some people wonder- team. They have also retired ing why change it now after all this time? their logo. East High is setting a good exam-

“Many students have wanted the change for ple to other public schools across the nation. years but after the murder of George Floyd this “We were approached by a couple students summer, a group of students, teachers, and lead- and alumni about changing the imagery asers from the district formed to work on racial sociated with the word Scarlets during the equity and social justice within the district with summer. There have been multiple attempts the goal of really becoming the model for ur- throughout the 2000s to change the masban education. Out of this group came a spe- cot but those attempts never succeeded. The cific East group and one of their goals was to change of the mascot or the meaning behind finally eradicate this racist and inappropriate the word Scarlets is necessary as we see many mascot,” English teacher Megan Geha said. professional and collegiate teams change or

The Black Liberation Movement that remove mascots and/or imagery that is offensparked at the beginning of this summer has sive or demeaning to an individual or group of kickstarted many antiracist changes, the East people,” athletics director Lyle Fedders said. High mascot change is just one of them.

Story/ J. Hildebrand

East High mascots through the years In the 1930-40s, East simply used the word “East” on almost all of their uniforms. Our colors were black and red and we used a red bird to represent the word “Scarlet”.

In the 1950s, a football coach selected a cheerleader to dress as a Native American. This began about 25 years of Native American imagery at East High School. The use of the Native American has continued its use at East. On Varsity letter jackets to murals around the school. Some teachers remember a ban on this, but there is no record of a formal ban.

East has also used a lowercase “e”. In 2010, East brought the big “E”. This is what is used for the majority of East High gear and posters.