Amanda Blackhorse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amanda Blackhorse
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|---|---|
| Born |
Amanda Leeh Blackhorse
February 1, 1982 |
| Nationality | Navajo Nation, American |
| Alma mater | Haskell Indian Nations University (A.A.) University of Kansas (B.S.W.) Washington University in St. Louis (M.S.W.) |
| Occupation | Social Worker Journalist Activist |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Organization | Arizona to Rally Against Native American Mascots |
| Known for | Opposing the name of the Washington Redskins football team |
Amanda Blackhorse is a social worker and a member of the Navajo people. She is well-known for her work as an activist. She helped lead a big effort to change the name of the Washington Redskins football team. She was the main person in a legal case called Blackhorse v. Pro-Football, Inc.
Contents
About Amanda Blackhorse
Amanda Blackhorse works as a social worker in Phoenix, Arizona. Social workers help people with different challenges in their lives. They support individuals and families to improve their well-being.
The Fight for a New Name
The Washington Redskins football team had a name that many Native Americans found offensive. It was seen as disrespectful to their heritage and culture.
The Lawsuit Begins
Amanda Blackhorse was a main person in a lawsuit called Blackhorse v. Pro-Football, Inc. This lawsuit aimed to remove the team's legal protection (called a trademark) for the name "Redskins." A trademark is like a special legal right that protects a name or logo. It stops others from using it.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the government office that handles trademarks. They had already rejected other uses of the word "Redskins" for being offensive. For example, they turned down an application for "Redskins Hog Rinds." This was because the name could be seen as insulting to people.
Trademark Cancellation
On June 18, 2014, the USPTO's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) decided to cancel six trademarks held by the team. They ruled that the term "redskins" was insulting to many Native Americans. They noted that the use of "redskins" to refer to Native Americans had almost completely stopped by the 1960s.
The team's lawyers said they would appeal this decision. They believed they would win and continue to use the name. Amanda Blackhorse said in an interview that they would keep fighting. She stated, "We will continue to fight. And, you know, this is not the end for us."
The Supreme Court's Ruling
In June 2017, the Supreme Court made a ruling in a different case. This ruling said that a part of trademark law that banned offensive names was against freedom of speech. This decision affected the case against the Washington Redskins.
After this ruling, the legal fight over the trademark ended. Amanda Blackhorse said the decision was "disheartening" after 11 years of legal work. She pointed out that even if it was legal for the team to use the name, it didn't make it right.
Name Change Happens
Finally, in 2020, the Washington Redskins team decided to drop their name. They were briefly known as the Washington Football Team. In 2022, they officially became the Washington Commanders. This change ended the long debate about the team's name.
See Also
- Washington Redskins name controversy
