I'm getting requests for comments as a #NativeAmerican man regarding the Washington @Redskins.

Here is a #thread with my comments:

Yes - I want the team to #ChangeTheName.

Yes - I think the term is a racial slur.

These images I took at a @NFL game tailgate: do not honor me.
Notice in the above photo, I blurred the faces of the people wearing items that they feel represent the @Redskins.

I blurred their faces because I do not want them to be targeted, ridiculed, called names or simply disrespected.

In other words: I don't want them treated like me.
Native regalia is an honor.

It is not a cartoon.

Every aspect has cultural meaning, the items have a special traditional and family connection.

Every bit of regalia is sacred.

Wearing it is an honor.

What these people are doing is dishonorable and disrespectful.
People have told me often:

"The name @Redskins is a memorial to Natives.
Without the team, history would be forgotten of the Native warriors you are. The name honors you."

I say:

"I don't want what you consider to be an honor and I don't need the NFL to remember my history."
Look I get it ... some people aren't offended. Trust me I hear about it.

But there are a lot of people - especially children, who are really harmed by it.

Where is your humanity world?

Why are you fighting so hard against people in pain?

What are you trying to win?
So yes I say #ChangeTheName.

I have had some great days, and then, 'bam' I see cars like this.

Stereotypical images of my culture plastered all over people's cars, who know nothing about who Native people really are.
The Washington @Redskins also did a lot of PR and compiled a mini-doc of Native people stating they liked the name.

And here is a microaggression screen cap:

"We are concerned with other issues" as if Native people are not capable of caring for more than one thing at a time.
So think of this analogy:

If I threw a grenade that exploded and injured a few people near it, then asked other people, not near it "were you injured?"

If they say, "No we weren't bothered by the grenade."

Is it ok to throw grenades because that one group wasn't injured?
The name of the Washington team really hurts me.

I feel real, solid, deep pain. As does my beautiful and gentle wife @DelSchilling.

My stomach hurts writing these tweets.

Native youth have told me it hurts them.

If that isn't enough for you, then I don't know what could be.
You can follow @VinceSchilling.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: