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redskin
[ red-skin ]
noun
- a contemptuous term used to refer to a North American Indian.
redskin
/ ˈrɛdˌskɪn /
noun
- an old-fashioned informal name, now considered taboo, for a Native American
Sensitive Note
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of redskin1
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More About Redskin
Why is redskin trending?
On July 3, 2020, searches for redskin increased 3,047% compared to the previous week after calls mounted for the Washington Redskins football team to change its name.
More information on redskin
Amid growing awareness of systemic racism in the U.S. following the George Floyd protests, teams like the Washington Redskins are facing increasing pressure to change their names due to the racism of the word.
While the history of the term redskin is complex (see our Usage Note on this page), the term redskin has clearly become a racist way to refer to Native Americans. In addition to the use of the term as a team name, Native Americans, among others, find the caricatured imagery of Native Americans used in team logos and mascots offensive.
While threats from corporations and investors about pulling their sponsorships have recently dominated headlines over the Washington Redskins name controversy, Native American activists, notably Suzan Shown Harjo, have long called for the name changes.
The ongoing 2020 protests against systemic racism has also sparked change in other names and symbols with racist associations. Learn more in our Trends And News section for our definition page on Dixie as well as our editorial article on the Confederate flag.
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