January 27, 2006
Robert Pedersen, Principal
Spaulding High School
130 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH 03867
Mr. Pedersen,
Thank you for your prompt reply to my letter regarding the "Red Raiders" name and logo. I also appreciate your urging me to contact Dave Colson, Spaulding's Athletic Director, to gain his perspective.
In your letter, dated January 20, 2006, you stated that the school administration addressed this issue several years ago and that, based on the feedback that was received, the "Red Raiders" symbol was "considered a source of pride," and that the slogan has evolved into "Raider Pride" instead of a war cry, which "could be considered degrading."
I feel quite strongly that an image of a sad Indian with "war paint" and a bright red face is very degrading. I can understand feeling a sense of pride in the student body, or the school's teams and academic and athletic achievements, as was the case for me when I attended the school in the 1970's. I don't understand how one might feel pride in this particular representation of an entire race of people.
Let's compare the "Red Raider" logo to the logos of two very well known professional sports franchises: the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Redskins, both of which have come under fire from civil rights groups and Native American support organizations for their racist names and images.
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One might claim that Spaulding's "Red Raider" logo is not a cartoon like Cleveland's "Chief Wahoo." I might agree with that assessment if it weren't for the plain and simple fact that the color used in the face on the "Red Raider" logo is an even brighter shade of red—hardly a natural skin tone for any human being. If one claims that the use of an Indian mascot is "honoring" Native Americans, why is the image so unrealistic? Why isn't the image one of a contemporary Native American in 21st century attire? Despite the racist name for the Washington team, the depiction of a Native American in their logo does not use a cartoonish shade of red. These two professional teams also use the skin color they've used in their logo as a color in their players' uniforms. This is true of Spaulding's red & white as well.
The name "Red Raider" is made up of two words that, put together in the context of Native American people, are quite clearly racist—even if the school's original intention never was. Categorizing Indian people as "raiders" is a rather blatant stereotype. It certainly isn't honoring anyone.
I take great pride in the fact that I was born and raised in Rochester and spent all 12 school years in the Rochester school system. It is that education and many years of life experience that have brought me to call attention to this mascot issue where it hits home for me the most—my old high school. One of the most important things I learned at Spaulding is to do the right thing. Doing away with "Red Raiders" is the right thing to do.
There is a wealth of information available on this topic and I have enclosed a few of the best examples here. Among them are statements from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the New Hampshire State Board of Education calling for an end to the use of Native American images and team names.
I truly appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Pete Sanfaçon
Spaulding Class of 1977
[This letter has gone unanswered.]
