Not In Our Honor’s Statement
on Media Coverage of a Child Fan of Kansas City Football Wearing a Feather Headdress,
and Black and Red Face during the November 26th Game in Las Vegas
CBS showed footage of a child in facepaint and wearing a feather headdress during the NFL game between Kansas City and Las Vegas on Sunday, November 26, 2023. In an article published Monday morning, the writer argued that the NFL needed to “speak out” against the fan for finding “a way to hate Black people and the Native Americans at the same time.”
Since then, many other articles have been written stating the child was “attacked” and “smeared” by the article’s author. A Kansas City Chiefs Fan Facebook page and the child’s mother have made multiple posts on Facebook about the article and in support of the child wearing of the headdress and facepaint with many comments about the child being a “good Chiefs fan.” The child’s mother accused Deadspin of publishing the photo with the profile view showing the black facepaint to “create division.” She also pointed out that her son is Native American. No statement or comment has been released by the tribe referenced in the articles. The child may be Native American, but he was not representing any authentic heritage while dressed in a costume feather headdress and face paint in a manner consistent with the stereotypes and mascoting of Native Americans. It is one thing to wear the traditional regalia of your people and another to play dress up. His parents should have known better. However, this controversy falls squarely on the shoulders of the Kansas City football team owners and NFL leadership. Not In Our Honor have repeatedly stated what the Deadspin article pointed out:
If the NFL had outlawed the chop at Chiefs games and been more aggressive in changing the team’s name, then we wouldn’t be here. There’s no place for a franchise to be called the “Chiefs” in a league that’s already eradicated Redskins.”
The television media have not shown the headdresses and redface worn by fans to games for several years, presumably so those behaviors are not showcased. It did not stop this behavior from occurring and despite the team “banning” headdresses, they are still worn to games in Kansas City. A fan wearing a headdress walked right past Not In Our Honor members protesting at a game in September 2023, and we have received photos of fans in headdresses in the stadium from allies attending games. The team still plays the stereotypical song over the stadium’s loudspeakers to get the crowd to do the tomahawk chop and these behaviors will continue until the team changes their name and ceases use of Native American imagery in their branding.
Not In Our Honor is a coalition of local Native American leaders and American Indian organizations in the Kansas City metropolitan area who have been speaking out against the use of Native American stereotypes and misappropriation of Native American culture. http://www.NotInOurHonor.com
Rhonda LeValdo, Amanda Blackhorse, Thomas Ed Smith, Jimmy Beason, Shereena Becenti, Carole Cadue-Blackwood, Gaylene Crouser, American Indian Council-Region VII; and the staff and board of Kansas City Indian Center
Not In Our Honor 