Why are states such as "Oklahoma" allowed to be named that?

Question

Oklahoma translates "Red man/red people" in Choctaw. How racist is that! Sounds like Dr. Suess, Aunt Jemima and Mr Potato Head! Racist!

Update:

Oklahoma wasn't named by a Choctaw chief. White people wouldn't allow natives that privilege.

Update 2:

Illinois is a French derived of several Native tribes. If you dig deeper there is racial undertone to it, regarding natives. But it can be best means "The best people".

Answer 1

Favorite Answer

The name Oklahoma comes from the Choctaw language phrase okla humma, literally meaning honored/red people. Choctaw Nation Chief Allen Wright suggested the name in 1866 during treaty negotiations with the federal government on the use of Indian Territory, in which he envisioned an all-Indian state controlled by the United States Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Equivalent to the English word Indian, okla humma was a phrase in the Choctaw language that described Native American people as a whole. Oklahoma later became the de facto name for Oklahoma Territory, and it was officially approved in 1890, two years after the area was opened to white settlers

Answer 2

Boy, you really are desperate for things to complain about!

Answer 3

the state oklahoma was named oklahoma by a chocotaw chief back in 1866

how could there be racist undertones to it when it was a native american himself who named the state based on his tribe and people??

meanwhile, seuss had racist undetones in 6 of his books based on caricactures depicting certain races, aunt jemima is racist caricature of the stereotypical black housemaid during the jim crow era, and the whole potato head gender neutrality has nothing to do with race 

Answer 4

It is only recently that it has been considered racist to call Native Americans "Red."  Even Disney's Pocahontas calls her people "copper skinned" - copper is a red metal. 

Answer 5

It was a Choctaw Chief who named it that in 1866 so take it up with the current leadership of the Choctaw Nation I guess. 

Answer 6

Don't try to make sense of their nonsense. It will only make you angry and more confused than before. You'll be happier if you ignore all of that stuff.

Answer 7

Most likely because Oklahoma was originally set up to be a state for Native Americans.

If you want a better example how about Illinois which is named after a Native American tribe.

Answer 8

Really, in their own language they called themselves “red people” way back before they’d met anyone else to compare to? That sounds plausible. 

Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly, if you’re going to keep pulling nonsense like that out of your ***. 

Answer 9

How many Native Americans Still live in Oklahoma?

They're just Fine with the name until a white liberal tells them that it is a racist term!

Answer 10

Because they are, so get over it you limp wristed ******