Description
The school mascot, "Arabs", was named in the 1930s to honor the once large Arab colony involved in the date palm growing industry. The school took the position that the name was a "gift" to the Arab peoples for their contribution to the economy of the Coachella Valley, not as a foreign racial symbol.
In 2002, Coachella Valley High School officials had a meeting to determine whether to rename the mascot out of concern it might produce negative stereotypes against Arabs and Middle Eastern people, after the September 11 terrorist attacks. They decided to keep the mascot name.
In November 2013, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee described the mascot as an offensive stereotype, and began an online petition to get the school to change it.
In April 2014 the committee was working to keep the Arab Mascot, but to develop an image that represented the fierce warrior history of the mascot, in a way that is not considered an offensive stereotypical caricature. In addition, the students and staff were working to add in an Arab History component.
In August 2014, it was reported that the school had decided to drop the "Arabs" mascot.
On September 9, 2014, the school board voted unanimously to adopt new logo and mascot, the "Mighty Arab". The decision was made with the approval of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
"In a letter addressed to the school in November, the committee said the use of "the Arab" as a mascot is bad for Arabs and Arab Americans:"
"Continued use of the 'Arab' mascot perpetuates demeaning stereotypes of Arabs and Arab Americans. Coachella Valley High School's gross stereotyping cannot be tolerated."
According to the letter, a "female dressed as (a) belly dancer entertains the mascot by dancing for him" during halftime at the school's games.