TULSA, Okla — The Tulsa Public School Board voted in a six-to-one vote September 8, condemning discriminatory mascot imagery across its schools.
According to TPS, the vote only impacts imagery of school mascots, which means items like uniforms and equipment featuring the school's nickname will not have to be replaced.
2 News took a closer look at the proposal when it was announced.
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DISCRIMINATORY BRANDS: Tulsa Public Schools board talks new mascot policy
WATCH: Tulsa Public School Board votes to eliminate 'discriminatory school mascots'
The school board sent the statement below, and wants the community's help to make sure the new mascots are welcoming to every student:
David Bible is a Muscogee Creek Nation tribal member and the Chairman of the Tulsa Indian Club. He was a part of the group that changed Union Public School's mascots in 2021.
“It took 20 years to get that mascot changed from the Redskins to the Red Hawks," he said.
He was at the Tulsa school board meeting. He saw current Native American TPS students speak out about this issue, “They are proud of their heritage, and they do not look like the imagery that are depicted in the hallways and the logos."
Bible said he's glad steps are being taken to make sure students feel safe and included at school, especially since he had a very different experience.
“My history was, there was a lot of name-calling, a lot of banners put up, signs put up to 'scalp the Indians,' and say other things," he said. "That made me feel kind of scared, because I was just a young child, and these were hollered at me by adults.”
Bible is happy with the school board’s decision and is proud of the youth for speaking out.
“Our history is always going to be there," he said. "As a Native, we've gone through so many things in our history, and we're still here.”
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