In Whose Honor?

American Indian mascots in sports
by
Jay Rosenstein
1997
50 mins

The Cleveland Indians. Washington Redskins. Atlanta Braves. What's wrong with American Indian sports mascots?

A graphic and eloquent examination of racism in sports and so called 'higher education'. Catching bigotry at its most virulent, this film requires no interpretation - it speaks directly to the problems without blinking. A masterpiece of camera art and realism.
- Vine Deloria
Jr. Professor of Native American History University of Colorado, Boulder

Synopsis

The Cleveland Indians. Washington Redskins. Atlanta Braves. What's wrong with American Indian sports mascots? This moving, award-winning film is the first of its kind to address that subject. In Whose Honor? takes a critical look at the long-running practice of "honoring" American Indians as mascots and nicknames in sports. It follows the story of Native American mother Charlene Teters, and her transformation into the leader some are calling the "Rosa Parks of American Indians" as she struggles to protect her cultural symbols and identity. In Whose Honor? looks at the issues of racism, stereotypes, minority representation and the powerful effects of mass-media imagery, and the extent to which one university will go to defend and justify its mascot.

Reviews
'In Whose Honor?' improved my thinking, and I thought I was already aware of the problems posed by American Indian sports names and mascots.
James Loewen
best-selling author of "Lies My Teacher Told Me"
(In Whose Honor?) ... is about more than an inappropriate mascot. It's about culture, identity and how we are all capable of making a real difference.
Eric Kaler
President, University of Minnesota
Read more at: jayrosenstein.com
This film is a prerequisite for anyone wishing to understand the plight of Native Americans today.
- -John Lewis Orendorff
Los Angeles American Indian Education Commission
This is one of those films that every 18 year old should see before being able to apply for a driver's license or a voter's card.
Fred Hoxie
Professor of Native American History, Univ. of Illinois

Awards and Screenings
National Broadcast, PBS "P.O.V." series
San Francisco International Film Festival Golden Gate Award
Distinguished Coverage of Race in Journalism - Columbia University School of Journalism
CINE Golden Eagle
Finalist - Best Documentary Short - American Indian Film Festival

Features and Languages

Film Features

  • Closed Captioning
  • DVD Extras

Film/Audio Languages

  • English

Subtitle/Caption Languages

  • English

Promotional Material

Promotional Stills

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