Analysis of Crimes Against Humanity by Ward Churchill

The art of rhetoric is challenging.  A good author must use a variety of writing devices to convince the audience of their perspective. With that said, “Crimes Against Humanity” published by Ward Churchill in 1993 successfully captivates the audience with its use of ethos, pathos, and logos. Given the title, you may be surprised to learn this paper is about team names and sports mascots. Yet, the savage mascots that are caricatures of Native Americans are comparable to Nazi caricatures of Jews. Churchill makes this connection to Julius Streicher during the Nuremberg Trials who “penned a long series of virulently anti-Semitic editorials and ‘news’ stories, usually accompanied by cartoons and other images[…]” (Churchill 384). Despite never killing or hurting anyone directly, Streicher was accused of “Crimes Against Humanity” because his dehumanization of Jews helped the Nazi genocide. In addition to thought-provoking connections, Churchill uses emotional appeal throughout his essay.

Appealing to ethos is hands down the most important aspect when trying to convince others that something is insulting. With that in mind, Ward Churchill uses pathos exceptionally well to convince the reader how it would feel to be in the shoes of a Native American. He argues that if names such as Cleveland “Indians” and Kansas City “Chiefs” are no big deal then why not include everyone with other teams adopting names with slurs (Churchill 376). Following this, he provides offensive examples for everyone, whether you'reAfrican American, Hispanic, Asian, Irish, Caucasian, Jewish, and if you're physically or mentally impaired. This may seem excessive at first, having an entire page dedicated to offending people. Specifically, making fake derogatory team names such as the “[…]Kansas City ‘Kikes,’ Hanover ‘Honkies,’ [and] San Leandro 'shylocks,’[…]” (Churchill 378). However, this is necessary as Churchill is trying to convince such an enormous audience that this is necessary and ensures that everyone can realize what Native Americans feel.

Going the extra mile, Churchill uses factual evidence to prove Native Americans being treated unfairly isn’t a new thing, it has been going on for hundreds of years. “[…][T]the indigenous American Indian population had already been reduced, in a process which is ongoing to this day, from perhaps 12.5 million in the year 1500 to fewer than 250,000 by the beginning of the 20th century” (Churchill 380). Showing this evidence is important because it shows how Native Americans have always been treated unjustly and the offensive team names are nothing new. Following this, Churchill gives a summary of how the Native Americans were treated under the U.S. government from the 1900s to when this article was written in the 90s. The continued use of evidence back-to-back showing the Native Americans were always treated unfairly hammers in the point to the audience that this has been happening for hundreds of years. Furthermore, Churchill ropes in emotional appeal with facts. "The average life expectancy of a reservation-based Native American man is barely 45 years; women can expect to live less than three years longer" (Churchill 382). This is a startling statistic that was expertly put in by Churchill after he talked about the insufferable conditions for Native Americans. Churchill uses this sentence as the final nail in the coffin for part of the audience that still did not feel empathetic for Native Americans and the use of offensive team names and mascots.

As overarching support to his argument, we can turn to ethos for his credibility and of others mentioned. Throughout his argument, Churchill uses words such as “we” and “our” demonstrating that he is part of the group affected by these problems. Although subtle, this is his way of showing how he is credible based on how he’s had to deal with discrimination firsthand. Additionally, Churchill includes support from Russel Means, the American Indian Movement Leader. Means compared sports teams and mascots to “[…]Germans naming their soccer teams the ‘Jews,’ ‘Hebrews,’ and ‘Yids’ while adorning their uniforms with grotesque caricatures of Jewish faces taken from the Nazis’ anti-Semitic propaganda[…]”(Churchill 377). Showing that others agree with Churchill’s argument against mascots as well as establishing their credibility convinces the audience that this isn’t an isolated issue that only a few people are upset about.

Unfortunately, some of the audience might have glossed over and discredited Churchill’s use of facts that the Native Americans have always been suffering because Native Americans are given government aid and special treatment. Well as Churchill addressed, this “special treatment” is the reason their life expectancy is so low. As Churchill stated “[y]Yet the BIA has utilized the government’s plenary prerogatives to negotiate mineral leases ‘on behalf of’ Indian peoples paying a fraction of standard royalty rates” (382). Churchill shows that the government aid given to Native Americans is canceled out by their “special treatment” exploiting them. Along with logos, Churchill indicates that Native Americans are suffering emotionally as well. “Everywhere, we are used as logos, as mascots, as jokes; ‘Big-Chief’ writing tablets, ‘Red Man’ chewing tobacco[…]” (Churchill 383). Native Americans are still at the brunt of many jokes, showing how the government aid can’t change offensive names and ultimately doesn’t make Native Americans treated equally.

With the case of Crimes Against Humanity, the more scrutiny the paper is given, the greater extent to which rhetorical appeals appear. Ward Churchill has proven that a topic as simple as changing team names and mascots is as in-depth as a short story. Instead of using only emotional appeals to convince the audience, Churchill uses immersive background knowledge with the use of logos that would make many who disagree a hypocrite. Giving a unique and fresh perspective by comparing Julius Streicher to team names and mascots is an unexpected but impressive way to convince the audience. Undoubtedly, Crimes Against Humanity enthralls the audience not just by its use of ethos, pathos, and logos. But by also giving the reader something to think about: “[…]know that this is just as much a crime against humanity as anything the Nazis ever did” (Churchill 384).