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https://theconversation.com/the-cleveland-indians-changed-their-team-name-whats-holding-back-the-atlanta-braves-181662>
"In October 1995, as the Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves prepared to face
off in the World Series, a group of Native Americans rallied outside
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium to protest what they called both teams’ racist
names and mascots. Some protesters carried signs, including one that said,
“Human beings as mascots is not politically incorrect. It is morally wrong.”
They marched outside the ballpark, where some vendors were selling the foam
tomahawks that Braves fans wave during the “tomahawk chop” – a cheer in which
they mimic a Native American war chant while making a hammering motion with
their arms.
It wasn’t until 2018 that the Indians officially removed their logo, a
cartoonish Native American named Chief Wahoo, from their merchandise, banners
and ballpark. In 2020 the owners agreed to change the Indians name itself. For
the 2022 season, they would begin using the new name, the Guardians.
The Atlanta Braves’ owners, however, have dug in their heels, refusing to
replace a name that many Americans – including Native Americans – find
offensive and derogatory.
In July 2020 – in the midst of the nationwide protests around racism, sparked
by the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police – some Atlanta fans again
urged the team to change its name. In response, the Braves’ brass sent a letter
to season ticket holders, insisting, “We will always be the Atlanta Braves.”
The insistence on preserving the team name – along with fan traditions like the
tomahawk chop – is even more glaring given the city’s links to the civil rights
movement."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
