Indians Will Abandon Chief Wahoo Logo Next Year
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
- Should we expect sports teams to change logos, traditions, or names that have been deemed racist? Why or why not?
- Although the team will stop using the logo in 2019, "Consumers will still be able to purchase items with the [Chief Wahoo] logo on them at the team’s souvenir shops in the stadium and at retail outlets in the northern Ohio market, but those items will not be available for sale on M.L.B.’s website." Is this acceptable, or should the Chief Wahoo logo be discontinued altogether?
- Will this change help or hurt the Cleveland Indians' reputation? Or the MLB's image, for that matter.
I think eventually teams are going to be forced to changed their racist logos, but it will definitely take some time. As we talked about today people have a very personal connection with their sports teams, and probably the majority of fans will be opposed to changing the team names and logos like the Redskins. But we are moving into more socially sensitive times, and as the years go by the logos and team names are getting more and more offensive. Eventually they're going to have to change their logos and names. This change for the Indians is actually a pretty big positive for baseball and for the organization. It's a sign of progression in a sport that is notorious for sticking to its archaic traditions. As I said this will upset some fans of the team who have built a connection to the chief logo, but I think the league and team recognize that to progress the MLB socially they will ruffle some feathers.
ReplyDeleteI feel like that the teams that have logos deemed racist will definitely try to move towards a more uncontroversial logo. This will definitely be hard though because of the symbolic value of these logos with fans having grown so attached to them. However, I definitely think that teams will try to enact some sort of change because, like Ollie said, we are in a socially sensitive time period. In the end, I feel like no matter what these teams decide to do, there will be one group of people, whether the fans or the protestors, will be unhappy. I think that the consumers should still be able to buy items with Chief Wahoo on it as long as it is not publicly advertised. Although there are people who see this logo as wrong, there are fans who still appreciate it and sincerely enjoy it. I feel like there should be things done for both sides of the argument. I think this change may help the Indians' reputation only because more people will accept it and there will be less controversy about it if the things are changed.
ReplyDeleteIn this day and age if a teams logo, traditions, or name is deemed as being racist, then we should expect them to change it. The reason that we should expect them to change it is because they have to reflection the times we live in, and currently racism is a very hot topic in America, so the organizations must change to reflect the times. I think that is is unacceptable for the Cleveland Indians to continue the sale of the logo as well as using it all the way to 2019 because it is continuing to profit off of something when it has been deemed as racist; it also defeats the purpose of removing the logo and mascot if it is still available to be bought, even though I understand it takes time to find and test out a new logo. I think that the change will help the image of both the MLB and the Cleveland Indians because it shows they are forward thinking, progressive, and willing to make changes.
ReplyDeleteI feel that throughout the next few years teams will be more encouraged to change there logos and names if they seem racist to the public. We have already seen a ban in the NFL of the shooting arrow celebration. Changes like this have been pushed for by the general public and sometimes even within the organizations. As this country continuously grows and becomes more progressive the majority of people will not want any type of racially incorrect terms being used especially on a national stage. Teams like the Washington Redskins are historical franchises who's history goes far back, but at some point the fans and owners have to accept that if a change is necessary than it needs to be implemented.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the logo may change but it will take some time. I see how people can feel that there is some racism behind the team logo but it is tradition. Tradition can change but I feel that when it comes to eliminating tradition a conflict can easily be produced. Coming off of that thought, I feel that when the logo is eliminated in 2019, fans should definitely be able/ allowed to purchase fan gear with the Chief Wahoo because fans who grew up/ got used to the logo while being fans will want to keep that tradition with them as long as they are fans. I do not think that this will hurt the reputation of the Indians because the club is eliminating the logo to an extent therefore doing their job by trying to please different communities.
ReplyDeleteLogos that are racist will inevitably be forced to change. This will take time because fans have a strong connection with their team. However, there is so much social change in this day and age that racist/discriminative names or logos will not/should not last. Sooner or later, teams will be forced to change these identities regardless of the fans disapproval. Additionally, fans of the Cleveland Indians will still be able to purchase the "Chief Wahoo” logo in souvenir shops. The Cleveland Indians should outlaw all affiliation to the racist logo. Controversy will continue if the reference is not banned completely. I believe if the organization made the change it would positively impact the reputation of the Indians. For Cleveland to be a catalyst in the logo change movement will certainly bring positive publicity to the organization. The Indians will undoubtably gain more fans and viewers which would result in filling up those stands (a recent problem the MLB faces). The MLB will also be seen as a more socially inclusive league and will have a positive mark on their history.
ReplyDeleteI think any sports team would have trouble changing their logo, traditions, or names that have been deemed to be racist because their fans wouldn’t support getting rid of it. Nobody wants to change any part of their team especially when it’s a historical part of the team. But I think in this case with the Cleveland Indians, they are trying to get rid of their logo as slowly as possible. In 2014, the president of the team at the time started reducing the Chief Wahoo logo and introduced a block C as their primary logo. Also, the Cleveland Indians are going to keep wearing the logo till 2019 and will still sell items with the racist logo. I believe they shouldn’t be able to sell items with the racist logo on it. If they are getting rid of it because its racist they shouldn't keep selling it. I think this change will help the Cleveland Indians reputation because they will not have a racist logo anymore, and they showed they able to make a big change.
ReplyDeleteI think overall that teams that have racist logos or team names should be changed. Just because there are more people that don't find it offensive then people who do find it offensive does not mean it's ok to have because it's still offending people. I know it's very hard to please everyone but I'm pretty sure it will offend more people having the logo than offend people by changing the logo. So yes I do think that we should expect teams to change logos/names and etc if its deemed offensive/racist. I however do think it's ok if the Indians themselves still sell merchandise with the logo. The reason I think that is because the MLB shop itself will not be selling it and if the Indians want to sell it than i think that should be ok. I think changing the logo is a good thing for the MLB and the Indians because it could be a first step with many teams changing their logos. I don't see how this could be a bad thing for the team. The only reason that I could imagine is an old lifetime fan getting upset because they don't see it as offensive. Overall, I think this is a great thing to do and who knows maybe the Redskins will see this and change their minds about their logo.
ReplyDeleteI think that the name and logo should be changed without delay. Sports are something that everyone can enjoy, but if a sports team offends people there should be no hesitation to change. The teams also shouldn't be able to make money after the change. They should completely distance themselves so that people can focus more on the game itself. If Cleveland and other teams in question continue to hesitate changing their logos, names, and traditions it will damage their reputations. I believe that if one team completely changes, others will follow. Hopefully Cleveland can start the trend.
ReplyDeleteI believe that eventually many teams with offensive logos will be pressured to change them. Tradition is an important value of many but throughout life everything changes, grows and develops either for the better or worse. For many fans, when a team changes their logo it brings frustration. However, discussion of racism is a hot topic in America in this age and time; Hence the people who deem the logo unacceptable and offensive will be heard. As said in the article, protests against team names, mascots and logos have been apparent over the past few decades. Therefore, when the logo is terminated and replaced, Cleveland Indian fans should still be able to purchase logo wear with the original logo on it via the souvenir shops, etc. Overall, because the ones who have continued the tradition still genuinely appreciate and enjoy rooting for mascot Chief Wahoo. This way, the Cleveland Indian's will continue to maintain their reputation among their tight-woven fans as well as bring in more positive attention.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this was a good move for the Cleveland Indians. The logo was outdated and it was time to progress their logo on to the 21st century. While the logo was no longer appropriate for on field use, I do believe it is ok that the logo will still be around in team stores. There are people who have devoted their life to this team and that logo, so that value of tradition should not be thrown away altogether. While the logo may be a inaccurate interpretation of a Native American, it is not an attacking symbol. In fact, it's been a symbol of unity for countless years. That being said, it is only right that the logo die out with the fans who worshipped it for years. I believe other teams should follow suit, like the Washington Redskins. That term, which is a bit more derogatory, has no place in the NFL in this day and age. Again, while I don't feel the name is attacking, I believe it is time to let people of all races and backgrounds to follow and appreciate the team. Overall, I think this will help the Indian's reputation, as they are pioneers in what has been a long debated topic. Hopefully their decision sparks a national movement throughout sports, allowing all to feel accepted no matter what team they root for.
ReplyDeleteI believe that you should expect these teams to switch there names, but it is very difficult because these names hold with it a long history and fanbase. I think that eventually the logos that are deemed racist will be eliminated, But it will take time. The MLB's decision to ban the chief wahoo logo is a major step in the right direction for the league to be accepting of all races, and demographics. I think that the MLB is making a good decision by not promoting the logo on their site, but continuing to allow for distribution in souvenir shops. I don't think that logo should be fully discontinued until 2019. The president of the team has already taken baby steps towards elimination of Chief Wahoo, so I think that continuing to sell the logo will please fans until they cannot buy their favorite teams logo again. This decision will have an affect on the amount of viewers the Indians will receive, in a positive way. This is because the Native Americans found it incredibly racist that the teams were promoting this logo, where it has caused the people pain, and now since they banned it they have now made lifelong fans out of the respect for the decision. I believe that the Washington Redskins who are also promoting this same image should remove it because it offends many people. In the world we live in today, we need to be very conscious of how we promote products or teams in this nature because an offensive logo can hurt the teams success, but it also can turn people away from watching your team. It is a matter of respect for the teams, and if they are willing to understand the position that they are putting these people in and be caring and accepting then I believe they are making the right decision. It makes no sense economically and politically to belittle these people by promoting an image that spews hate. I believe that this decision will help the Cleveland Indians gain more time on air, and it will open and expand their share of the market to reach a much broader audience.
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ReplyDeleteOverall, I believe that sports teams with offensive names, logos, etc should absolutely be changed. Realistically, this would require a decent amount of time and would provoke backlash from dedicated fans. I see the opposition. This logo has been representing Cleveland, Ohio since 1947 and fans with personal connections to the team would strongly resist a change. However, the depiction of the mascot with the character’s bright red skin and demeaning big toothed smile is disrespectful and in present society, culturally insensitive. Although Chief Wahoo may not make a direct appearance on the diamond in 2019 and moving forward, the mascot will still be available for purchase in the stadiums souvenir shops. I don’t think this should be the case. If retail outlets such as the northern Ohio market want to continue selling the logo, that is fine because there is no association with the Cleveland Baseball organization. Nevertheless, if a franchise is willing to go as far as change the logo for racist claims on their uniforms, there should be no exception for the administration profiting off merchandise with this logo sewed onto it. Along paired with numerous collegiate and professional teams with racist affiliations such as the Washington Redskins, the Florida State Seminoles, etc. I think the progression towards a more socially acceptable sports community will spark these teams to reconsider their franchise name and logos. Ultimately, each individual sports association (MLB, NFL, etc.) is accountable for their own actions and the consequences that come with those actions. In this case, I believe the MLB and the Indian organization are gaining positive reputations for this change but there is so much more that can be done to decrease the racial stereotyping within this institution. This is a solid start, but should not be the end for the Indians in changing traditions made 71 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI think that team’s should be expected to change their logos, names, and traditions to match the spirit of the times. Sports represent the American culture and culture’s change with new information and the knowledge that come with time. Sports represent the culture and the troubles within it like the football players who kneel or raise fists during the playing of the national anthem, sporting events involve real people with real feelings. Kids are watching and so is the president. Sports are a part of America and must represent the changes. Confederate statues come down and so should racist logos. There is great power there and so I think that racist logos like Chief Wahoo need to go. And I don’t think the Ohio people should be able to buy the Wahoo gear. I think the MLB organization should allow it to be sold at all. What’s the point of having a league if individual teams can make up their own rules. If it makes the league look bad – and it definitely does – then the shirts should not be sold. What if a team wanted to wear KKK hoods during home games? It sounds absurd, but the league has a dress code so teams should follow. I don’t even get why they get this summer off to wear the logos. Take it off now. Time’s up for this stupid logo too. I think that allowing the Indian’s to sell the Chief Wahoo – and doesn’t that name say it all? I mean a wahoo is a looney person – really makes the team look racist and proud of it. If the league finds it distasteful then aren’t the fans showing off their lack of taste and class by wearing it? It’s not about team pride or tradition, it’s about still trying to wave the confederate flag. Everyone gets why people are upset by the logo, they just want to be stubborn, ignorant, or both. Time’s change and Americans really seem to hate change. It’s weird how much people hate change.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Cleveland Indians and The Washington Redskins should be required to change their team names and logos due to the fact that they are racially incensitive. The Native Americans are the only race that are being negetively portrayed in sports and they are being under represented. If this was any other race I believe this type of treatment would have been put to a stop a long time ago. Sports has the power to bring happiness to peoples lives and if these names are doing the opposite to some then something needs to change. Keeping this in mind, for an organization to undergo a change like this is a marketing nightmare. Fans are accustomed to the name and logo of the team they have watched and changing this could effect the way they look at the organization . I also find it odd that although the Indians will not wear the same jersey in games with the racist logo but will continue to sell the memborbilia with the racially insensitve details. If people are continuing to wear these logos nothing is really changing. Also, Prolonging the implications of the modified jerseys to 2019 I believe creates another issue. If the organization realizes it is wrong to represent themselves in this way why wait a year? In the accepting world we live in it's a shame to see people not realizing that these offensive names and logos do have an effect on people.
ReplyDeleteA sports team logo or name can be "a cherished insignia" that holds sentimental value for cities, players, and their fans. However, it is inexcusable to not change a team logo or name if it deemed racist by a minority group (especially one that has been horribly mistreated in our countries history). Sports correlate heavily with American culture and represent our society in such a profound way that it cannot be acceptable to incorporate a racist portrayal of a Native American or any other ethnic group. If we are hesitant to change these racist names or logos it will just prolong the humiliation and other negative affects these symbols have on the targeted ethnicity, and that is not acceptable in our country. If we allow sports teams to keep these symbols and names it just reflects poorly on American culture and makes our country look insensitive and racist. Even though the Cleveland Indians have agreed to discontinue the showing of Chief Wahoo in the stadium or on jersey's they are still be sold on merchandise and they are still keeping their name. This symbol and name as described in the New York Times article is still offensive to many Native Americans and should be completely abolished. As long as the Cleveland Indians keep their name and have affiliation with Chief Wahoo it will continue to hurt the reputation of the team and organization. The fact that it took this long to make a change is already disheartening to me and more should be done to discontinue this racist symbol that doesn't belong anywhere in American culture let alone something we all cherish so much like sports.
ReplyDeleteI definitely respect the history and some attachment that fans might feel having watched their team play with that logo for so long. With that being said though, you never want to be legitimately upsetting millions of people as a professional sports team that rely's on people's acceptance. Especially on something as simple as your logo. The Braves did it an extremely long time ago and have definitely benefitted from that. One of the interesting things about this case is that somehow I feel the only reason they are in fact changing it now is because they're slated to have the MLB All Star Game which really represents the whole league rather than just themselves. With that though, it really shouldn't have been a difficult decision for the Indians. They made the right choice. We'll see if more teams follow suit.
ReplyDeleteI believe that teams should be the only ones with authority to make decisions about their names or mascots. We as a society can expect and coerce the teams to change their logo, however the decision should be completely theirs. Many teams which have been deemed racist, such as the Cleveland Indians, are choosing to change their logo to save themselves from the heat of the media. The decision to change the logo is more an economic decision than a political one, as many people will stop being fans If they realize they are rooting for a racist team. I also believe that the team should be able to still market using the logo, even if the team doesn’t play under it, because it is a large source of revenue which they need to remain a profiting organization. I believe that the logo change will overall help the Indians’ reputation, as it will retain and possibly even add more fans to the fanbase.
ReplyDeleteI think that Cleveland is the first team of many that will be changing their logo in the future. I believe it is the right thing to do, as these logos seem to upset many people. While I agree that it should be the team's decision to change their logo or mascot, I feel that they should all do the right thing and change it. I understand that many people who have either grown up as an Indians fan or who are die hard fans may be upset with the decision to change the logo, but they will get over this change soon. I completely understand why the team is still selling their old merchandise, as they are a company and need to bring in money for these items that they have already made. I think it also creates a better transition for fans who are very upset about the logo change. I think that this change will help the Cleveland Indians' reputation. Sports is all about representing American culture, and right now we are a culture of social progression and change. I think they are doing a great job representing the change that is happening in our country right now, and I think a lot of people will be excited to see them taking a step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteI think that we should expect sports teams to change their logos, traditions, or names that have been deemed racist because sports are such a big part of American society, and by having teams with racist names, these teams are essentially endorsing racism to the youth. I think this because in 2018, racism is such a big topic, and in order to move on from America's gruesome and unfair past, these teams will have to change their names. I think the Chief Wahoo logo shouldn't be discontinued, but should not be endorsed by any sports league or company. I think this because even though the Chief Wahoo logo is racist, it is a part of the MLB's past and the logo, like it or not, is in the history of the MLB. I think it is important for people to know that the MLB did have racism in it, and by people still able to get hold of these items gives background about how the MLB will move on. I think this change will help the Cleveland Indians' reputation and the MLB's image because it shows that the league, and the team, are moving on from racism. This is a very good thing because racism is a thing of the past, and by the Cleveland Indians changing there logo, they are essentially changing the league's dynamic and the way many people view the league.
ReplyDeleteI believe that logos, traditions, or names that have been deemed racist should be expected to change. Although fans may have grown up with a team, that still doesn’t excuse or change the fact that something is racist. When these teams were first created, our society and our world was at a very different point in terms of beliefs and the character of our people — and to keep the racist logos/traditions/names would be against the positive change our society is trying to make in terms of progressively eliminating racism. Making this change, to the public eye, I believe will help the Cleveland Indians’ reputation. Maintaining the logo will easily be taken as an action in support of racism and discrimination. Times have changed, and using the excuse “it’s always been that way” is long outdated in how our current society treats positive social change. The same goes for the MLB - being a big establishment, not being in support of the removal of Chief Wahoo, will gain them lots of negative publicity. Separately, I think that selling items with the Chief Wahoo logo is somewhat okay. I do not believe it should be advertised/the centerpiece of sales for companies, but that selling merchandise with the Wahoo logo sparingly helps keep long-time fans of the team happy, as well as those that are against removing the logo.
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1-31-18
Changing the Game: Eradicating Racism from the World of Sports
Sports are meant to bring people together regardless of race, religion, gender, and so on. At times, however, this does not hold true; especially in regards to the use of team names or logos that are deemed offensive. This is clearly demonstrated with the use of the Cleveland Indians mascot, Chief Wahoo. While some who support the logo "say that it and the team name actually honor American Indians," others find it offensive. Given that the logo has the potential to disturb some, it conflicts the notion of sports bringing people together. In other words, it is inappropriate to have a symbol that can lead to a large contingent of people feeling hurt. Although there has been a positive step towards inclusion since "Chief Wahoo" "will now no longer be seen on the team’s uniforms, or on banners and signs at Progressive Field," this racist symbol is still prevalent. According to David Waldstein of the New York Times, "Consumers will still be able to purchase items with the logo on them at the team’s souvenir shops in the stadium and at retail outlets in the northern Ohio market." Simply put, by not upholding a complete ban of the logo, intolerance is still being justified in the world of sport. Thus, why it is critical that it is completely banned at all levels. Understandably, long time fans of the Indians may be uncomfortable by the franchise moving in another direction. Indians chairman Paul Dolan reiterates this by stating, "we recognize many of our fans have a longstanding attachment to Chief Wahoo." With that said, however, the increased tolerance from the Cleveland Indians will lead to positive recognition of the organization. Thus, the team's reputation will be improved while creating a more inclusive environment in the sports world.
I think that any logo, team name, or any traditions that are posed as racist should be changed. Although some sports cannot just change their logo or name during a season, there should be plans in order on a time line to change the racism or sexism. Just because the name or logo was created "back in the day" or when it was "socially acceptable" does not make it still ok today. I think that some of the excuses being made about racist logo and names are not ok and must be changed. This change for the Indians is actually putting a very positive foot forward for baseball and for the MLB. It shows signs of maturity and respect to others. I think that this will upset a lot of loyal fans of the team who have been wearing and supporting the chief logo all their life. I think that some will respect the logo change however it will most certainly make many people angry or upset.
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