A Fetish of Racism:

Recently the NYSED has released a statement that requires school districts to remove all Native American imagery and mascots by the end of the 2022/2023 school year. This is a directive that has been 20 years in the making, with discussions happening in the early 2000s and many school districts and universities already making the switch. East Islip has a long history contentious controversy and opinions over the mascot of the sports teams. On the one hand many people claim that it’s not a big deal and we should spend our time on more important and pressing issues. But those same individuals are completely unable to imagine a world where their (probably white) child is not represented by the “Redmen” mascot. The same mascot they celebrated in their youth, as an unusual number of East Islip alumni have remained in the same town. Although it is possible spending one year as the East Islip Trolls has traumatically scarred those individuals from making any rash changes, change must and will happen.

The school district has responded to the NYS mandate with a letter signed by each current board member and the superintendent, almost certainly drafted by last year’s new trustee and right wing extremist Timothy Sassone. The letter immediately takes a political turn, pointing to the “one size fits all” COVID policies of the state. A public health crisis and the “oppression” of reckless and ignorant individuals can not and should not be equated to the desecration, obliteration and appropriation of an entire culture. Not only are they two separate issues entirely but as previously stated, the mascot issue is 20 years in the making. This is not a surprise to anyone paying attention. 

The letter also stated that this is outside the realm of the New York State Education Department to make these decisions, and with this point, I partially agree. Instead, this should be an initiative developed by the New York State Department of Justice that schools bearing Native American mascots be charged with a hate crime or bias-motivated discrimination and negligence.

This incendiary letter to the community not only screams of privilege and ignorance, it is entirely counter-productive to the mission of our school board and school district. To ensure proper and unbiased education to our students, and by extension, the community. Playing into the story of 50 year old “tradition” neglects the conversation and consideration of the thousands year old traditions of the First Nations, and the ownership over their own image. There is a plethora of information provided by Native American scholars on websites such as the National Congress of American Indians (https://www.ncai.org/proudtobe). To the East Islip Community still grasping to this unfortunate talisman- Educate yourself and be humble enough to admit you don’t know everything about someone else’s culture.

Finally, to address three myths that are pervasive on the Facebook posts on this topic, keep reading. 

Myth #1: It doesn’t matter.

A mascot is any human, animal, or object that is meant to bring luck or represent a common public identity, such as a school or sports team. The Redmen mascot no longer represents the common public identity of East Islip. If there is one thing that a mascot is meant to be - and without even getting into the depths of what the Redmen mascot symbolizes - it is clear that it does not, and will not ever unify our community. The mascot does matter. It serves as a representation of each person in our schools. And a large contingent of this community, whether they are vocal or not, agree that our mascot is an outdated relic of the mid-20th century and no longer represents a visual or ideologic figure that we would want to portray in public. The students dressing up with a headdress (which is not even historically accurate to the Native Americans in the Northeast) will someday be google searched by a future employer who will quickly pass to the next candidate after seeing that cringy display of nescience.

Myth #2: The Native Americans want us to honor their heritage.

First of all, which Native Americans are we talking about? The Secatogue Tribe of the Algonquins had village centers in the land now called West Islip, Bay Shore and Oakdale. The actual land of East Islip was actually not a location of Native American village. The “costumes” worn during the pep rallies and that used to don our high school facade is actually a depiction of American Plains Indian Nations from the mid-west. This is cultural appropriation, not appreciation. It emerges from harmful stereotypes about the “fierce Indian” and does more to isolate, harm and offend Native Americans than it does to honor them. You do not honor the people by idolizing a racial slur created by their oppressors. Racism honors no one. 

Hundreds of tribal leaders, native American scholars, and advocates have called for the removal of Native American imagery in sports. The caricatures of a fierce chief or fearless warrior is the same kindling used to justify the extirpation of nearly an entire civilization under the assumption that what is not European is uncivilized and unworthy of existence. I don’t think we should further highlight the desecration of these people by putting an explicitly racial term on our T-shirts.

Myth #3: The Redmen is East Islip pride.

No, WE are East Islip Pride. Our mascot should represent the increasing diversity, the students that do not participate in sports as well as the sports teams and unify OUR shared experience.

Tradition, without reevaluation of who may be hurt by, and who benefits from, that tradition is irresponsible. Tradition that divides the community they are supposed to be uniting is useless and counterproductive.

Change is not only possible but now it is mandated. Embarrassingly, we’ve rejected the evolution of social change and avoided facing the whole truth about our school mascot. The choice until now has been to continue to dig in our heels and ignore the harm caused to so many by the stereotype of the “redman” while further dividing our community and risking millions in state funding and the current board positions.

We can choose a new, forward-thinking, and brighter future for East Islip. It’s in the hands of the EI BOE. How will we move our community forward? Will it be in line with ignorant traditions at great risk to our community and pride? Or will you champion a bold, well-informed and fearless metamorphosis? Your move, BOE. Godspeed.