REDSKINS: The Name & Pain

A Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ruled that the Redskins name and logo is “an insult to Native Americans,” rendering a major step in ultimately changing a culturally-insensitive and offensive name of a major national U.S. sports team that is an affront to a historically disenfranchised group.

Though this affects the bottom line for a sports brand that will lose millions in merchandising dollars, this is an opportunity to take higher ground and register that we are truly evolving in embracing everyone's culture with respect and righting injustices from the past. Other terms, common, but politically incorrect from 100 years ago would be unheard of if used today. It's called progress for humankind and an inclusive brave new world.

It is especially incumbent for those of us who are an emerging minority, or were 100 years ago, to be culturally-competent in respecting everyone's voice when a discriminatory label is cited by a particular group feeling slighted by another who has appropriated their name. Because this conjures a painful chapter in their history, this should be seen as an opportunity to raise the bar for a more civil society with a moral conscience that moves forward collectively.