The Ellis County Historical Society in Hays will host “Sports Mascot Controversy” presentation and discussion by Salina sports historian Travis Larsen at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Stone Church at 100 W. Seventh.
Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact the Ellis County Historical Society at (785) 628-2624 for more information. The program is made possible by the Kansas Humanities Council.
The use of Native American imagery for sports mascots has a long and controversial history. Some proponents say that the mascots honor tribal cultures; others argue that they reinforce ethnic stereotypes and cultural misunderstanding. The presentation will explore the history of these images and the controversies surrounding them.
Travis Larsen received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Fort Hays State University and earned his doctorate in history from Oklahoma State University. His research focuses on media stereotypes of American Indians in football, as well as baseball history.
“Chad Smith, the former principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, addressed the issue this way,” said Larsen. “He stated, ‘A mascot by definition begets not only prejudice, but begets patronage and paternalism. For us as Indian folks, we don’t want to be second class citizens.’”
“Sports Mascot Controversy” is part of Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America, a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition presented by the Kansas Humanities Council in partnership with the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street program.
Ellis County Historical Society is one of 19 Hometown Teams partner sites in Kansas, and their local exhibition Polo on the Plains tells the story of how the 1870s existence of a British colony of cattle breeders at Victoria in eastern Ellis County led to a taste for this traditional equestrian sport. Polo continued to have a loyal local following well into the 20th century when it was revived by the Hays Polo Club in the 1920s and the Fort Hays Polo Club in the 1940s.
Kansas Humanities Council Hometown Teams Speakers Bureau features presentations and discussions that connect communities with history, traditions, and ideas to strengthen civic life. This event is partially supported by gifts from the Johnson County Community College Foundation and the Rotary Club of Shawnee Mission in honor of Fred Krebs, a lifelong advocate of humanities in Kansas.
The Kansas Humanities Council conducts and supports community-based programs, serves as a financial resource through an active grant-making program, and encourages Kansans to engage in the civic and cultural life of their communities. For more information about KHC programs contact the Kansas Humanities Council at (785) 357-0359 or visit online at www.kansashumanities.org.
For more information about “Sports Mascot Controversy” in Hays, contact the Ellis County Historical Society at (785) 628-2624 or visit www.elliscountyhistoricalmuseum.org.