L.A. School Board Bans Mascots With Indian References

Brushing aside the pleas of some teachers, parents and alumni to keep cherished traditions, the Los Angeles Board of Education voted Monday to eliminate all references to American Indians in the names and images of school mascots.

The 6-0 vote, followed by a Native American victory drum ceremony, gives three high schools and one middle school a year to replace their current Indian mascots. It also provides district funds to pay for paint to cover up Indian images and to buy new school uniforms, if necessary.

“Any group that feels hurt, we have to say, ‘I will help you,’ ” said board member George Kiriyama, trying to mollify critics of the ban. “You have to be sensitive not just to the Native American but all people of life.”

The policy will require replacement mascots for the Braves of Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, the Mohicans of Gardena High and the Warriors of University High in West Los Angeles and Wilmington Middle School.

Several Native American groups had asked the board Sept. 2 to ban Indian mascots after it appeared that alumni groups from Birmingham and University were derailing an order to that effect issued by former Supt. Sidney Thompson. A majority of the board members indicated then that they would vote for the ban.

Stunned by the quick rebuff, Birmingham High supporters came out in force Monday to argue that the change would destroy school spirit, waste money and open the way to attacks on other mascot names, such as one at four schools that is the same name as a brand of condom.

“Approximately 30 mascots fall into the category of politically incorrect, unless the animal rights activists come out; then it will be 100%,” said Lee Marks, a Birmingham alumnus who has one daughter attending the school and another who graduated from it.

Frank Arrigo, a member of Birmingham High’s 1964 city championship football team, said the Braves mascot had only positive connotations for him.

“It was presented to us that the brave was a high ideal, to bring together a team,” Arrigo said.

Birmingham Athletic Director Louis Ramirez said the 44-year tradition of the brave “was done to honor the American Indian.”

“We will tell you when you are honoring us,” shot back Fern Mathias, one of several Native American who spoke to reassert their position that Indian caricatures are offensive no matter how they are intended.

*

Indian groups first requested the elimination of the mascots 17 years ago. The issue resurfaced two years ago when Indian parents complained about students in Indian garb simulating brutal tomahawk attacks at sporting events.

“Today you can start treating our community with real honor and real dignity by eliminating our mascots,” said Amber Machamer of the Coastal Band of the Chumash Indians.

After the raucous hearing, during which board president Julie Korenstein admonished the audience several times not to heckle speakers, the board firmly reasserted its promise.

“This is a clear-cut case of objectifying and diminishing a group of people,” said member Jeff Horton.

Member Valerie Fields, saying hers was a Birmingham family, recalled one of her four daughters coming home from the school in tears after a teacher said she would lose her spot on the drill team if she didn’t practice on Yom Kippur.

“I think Birmingham has come a long way,” she said.

Korenstein, whose district includes Birmingham High, abstained.

After the vote, as the Indian chant reverberated in the background, Marks’ daughter Jennifer stood in tears, saying she no longer wanted to be a Brave or study Native American history.

“I don’t want to know anything about these awful people now,” she said, a change of heart she attributed to an insult hurled at Athletic Director Ramirez as the crowd left the room.

While trying to comfort Jennifer, Ramirez sounded a conciliatory note.

“No matter how sad we feel, we have to remember we are a country of laws,” he said, promising to begin Tuesday reconciling the students to the inevitable.

“We have bigger things on our minds now, like beating Canoga Park,” he said.