Sports

Is the Washington 'Redskins' Name Racist? (Yes, Says Google)

If Google says it, it must be true?

By Todd Richissin

For a long time now, debate has raged about whether the Washington "Redskins" is a racist team name.

Now comes the answer — or an answer — from Google: Yes. Yes it is.

A Google search of "Washington Redskins" pulls up this prominent Wikipedia description, just to the side of how to buy tickets and on top of everything else about the team: "The Washington Redskins are a racist American football team based in the United States that represents Washington, D.C. They are a member of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League."

Owner Dan Snyder has made clear, as he told the USA Today, "We'll never change the name. It's that simple. NEVER -- you can use caps." 

Over the summer, Slate.com joined a number of publications that no longer refer to the Washington team by their nickname. Among them, The Washington City Paper, The Buffalo News and The Philadelphia Daily News.

Never mind that the team is now 0-2. What do you think of the name? Is it racist? Should it be changed? Tell us in comments below.


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