Those tasked with identifying potential mascots for Barnstable Public Schools say the stain on the name “Red Raider,” which has been associated with logos of Native American people and imagery for decades, can’t be washed away by pairing it with a new mascot.
Members of the 24-person Barnstable Public Schools Community Engagement Subcommittee met Tuesday to discuss the possibility of an upcoming Barnstable School Committee vote to keep the name “Red Raider” on the table while the subcommittee identifies potential replacement mascots for the district.
Almost universally, subcommittee members said keeping the name “Red Raider” would be a half-measure that doesn’t address the harm and offense the mascot has caused for decades.