http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/22/us/california-today-indian-school-mascots.html 2016-09-22 14:40:42 California Today: The Debate Over Indian Mascots and Imagery Thursday: Native American team nicknames in schools, the future of Los Angeles, and a look at the death penalty propositions. === Good morning. Welcome to California Today, a Tell us about the Want to receive California Today by email? Insults are just part of life in California, according to many Native Americans in the state. Last year, for example, there was the Senate candidate caught on video making a Then there are the mascots. Pressure to eliminate Native American-themed nicknames and mascots from California’s schools has been around since at least the 1960s. Scores of schools have gotten rid of them, and last year the state Yet, according to They have names like the Native American leaders say such mascots perpetuate ethnic stereotyping that goes back centuries. “My big issue is, if you dehumanize us, then you’re never going to make policies for us,” said Dr. Proudfit said she hoped the survey, School leaders who have refused to budge on the mascot issue talk about deeply felt pride, sporting legacies that date back decades, and support from individual Native Americans who see them as a tribute. Racism, they say, plays no part in it. At Chowchilla High School, outside Merced, one of four schools across the state affected by the Redskins ban, officials said their intentions in using the mascot were misunderstood. “Here, the Chowchilla Redskins emboldens the spirit of strength, honor and respect,” said Marty Piepenbrok, a community relations spokesman. “There is nothing disparaging about it whatsoever.” At the high school’s graduation ceremony in June, the biggest cheer rose up at the mention of “Redskins,” The school has until January to drop the mascot. Even without a broader ban, however, many schools have responded voluntarily to the concerns of Indian tribes by swapping out their Native American mascots. Others have tried to sidestep the issue by dropping just the imagery associated with the names. For Winters High School, home of the Warriors, that has meant a low-key phasing out of the school symbol depicting an Indian man in headdress. The name will stay, said Todd Cutler, the superintendent of the district outside Sacramento. But when it comes time to replace the gym floor and the sign in front of the school, the Indian imagery that adorns them will become, simply, “W.” “It’s really a delicate, careful road we are moving down,” Dr. Cutler said. • A battle has broken out in • • An illegal shelter in Lunada Bay built by the • A stretch of winding highway in Orange County has • • An • The release of police footage in the fatal shooting of a homeless man set off • California farmer: “We have to • Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan pledged $3 billion to fighting disease. The effort will involve a • Google will be opening a • Apple is said to have discussed a • Check out this aerial view of the recent Capital punishment has long been one of the most contentious issues in California. In November, A group devoted to creating play areas has awarded $1 million to spur 50 new projects that create opportunities for urban children to play at places like bus stops, barber shops and Laundromats. The winning projects were announced this week by Four of the winners hail from California. McFarland, north of Bakersfield, And Family Friendly Oakland said it would make the city’s drab, cement trash cans “By adding art and whimsy we’ll provide surprising moments of wonder where children and adults least expect,” wrote Tiffany Eng, the group’s founder. You can see — Gail Cornwall and Mike McPhate California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley.