In class video - January 23rd

I found that the video we watched in class informed me as well as evoked emotion within me. The Native American woman who spoke in the video allowed me to see how much the use of Native American sports team names and mascots really affected her. Hearing her point of view and the challenges she has gone through with this issue really made me sympathize with her.
When she went to the Illinois football game and saw all of the people dressed as chiefs and ‘playing Native American’ she felt as though she was being mocked. She had said that while they were there she watched her daughter "try to make herself invisible" and her son "try to laugh it off." This comment really stuck out to me. Because everything she has taught her children to respect about their culture was being made fun of she felt she needed to do something. It really was amazing that her main drive in what she was fighting for was her children and wanting them to not have to feel the need to be embarrassed of who they are and where they are from. To me this was really moving.
Lastly, I was shocked at how horribly she was treated throughout her journey. People called her horrible names, spit on her, threw things at her and basically treated her as less than human. I thought it was admirable how brave she was to stand out with signs on the street protesting against using Native American related sport team names. At times she was all alone and had the majority against her but she did not give up. I think this is true courage in standing up for something you believe in.