The audience was tense . Tempers were heated . Tears were seen and blows were nearly thrown . We needed a referee . This was not the pre-fight press conference weigh-in for a Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao boxing match . It was a panel discussion between African-American and Native American journalists from across the country to consider whether the Washington Redskins name was racist . But the conversation at the Unity Journalists of Color convention , which included more than 6,000 media professionals , got nowhere . Obama on the Redskins . Black journalists accused their Native American counterparts of showing racist videos during the panel of ranting black fans cheering for their beloved football team , including extensive video of the team 's then-beloved , now maligned Chief Zee , the African-American man ( Zema Williams ) who 's been the team 's unofficial mascot for 35 years . `` Black people are not the only Washington fans in the stadium , '' I argued then . `` Where are the other fan faces ? And why is this a racial issue ? '' Our Native American peers yelled back , a few of them in tears , that we were being insensitive and ignorant for not understanding that the Redskin name was hurtful and damaging to their community . Nothing changed . Everyone left the workshop insulted and insistent they were on the right side of the debate , including myself . And we never found common ground . That was nearly 20 years ago . So it was refreshing earlier this week to hear President Obama , the nation 's commander in chief and a sports fan , weigh in saying he 'd think about changing the name if he were the owner of the team . Tribe seeks to force NFL Redskins name change . `` I do n't know whether our attachment to a particular name should override the real legitimate concerns that people have about these things . ... I do n't want to detract from the wonderful Redskins fans that are here . They love their team and rightly so , '' the president said to The Associated Press . I thought back to that Unity meeting and knew his words rang true . And I remembered several of my colleagues who , over the years , have tried to get me or others in the newsroom to feel their pain . And honestly , I just never gave it enough thought . But no longer can I justify my years of indifference to the sports moniker . The name must change . Let 's toss it in the trash heap along with other now offensive -- but once widely used -- monikers such as Sambo , darky , dago and kike . And if you or team owner Daniel Snyder , who insists he 'll never change the team name , are a bit insulted , that 's the whole point . It is exactly what my Native American colleagues struggled to tell us for as long as I can remember . Predictably , many Redskins fans are livid that the president would jump into this fight . They are hypocrites . They 're not the only people who can have an opinion about this matter . U.S. politicians are sports fans , too . Some of them have been quite engaged with popular sports conversations . President Ronald Reagan brought `` The Gipper '' to the White House . Obama participates in the annual March Madness bracket frenzy . For any fan , sports are among the most uplifting things about life . It 's the one place we can escape the worries in the grownup world and enjoy our childlike enthusiasm for the games . None of that feeling goes away with a name change in Washington . Supporters of keeping the team name can see only tradition and honor of the franchise . Some are defensive -- rightfully , I believe -- about anyone saying they are somehow intentionally being malicious . Lanny J. Davis , an attorney for the Redskins and an Obama supporter , said in an e-mail to the media that fans do n't intend to `` disparage or disrespect '' anyone . `` The name 'Washington Redskins ' is 80 years old . It 's our history and legacy and tradition . '' What else could he say ? He is paid by the team . But he must know that his argument just makes no sense . The football team 's glorious history may indeed stretch back 80 wonderful years , but what intelligent person , or even a diehard football fan like me , could seriously argue that 80 years of entertaining football history could ever compare to the thousands of years that the original Americans have inhabited this land ? It 's time to get on the right side of American history .
Obama suggested Washington Redskins consider changing the team name . Roxanne Jones : As a sports fan , the president can weigh in -- and he 's right . She says Redskins name is hurtful and damaging to Native Americans . Jones : It 's time to get on the right side of history and change the 80-year-old name .