Use of Native American Imagery in Sports

[Stay Golden]

There was a team in the Negro Baseball League that was called the
Atlanta Black Crackers. Kind of a strange name when you think about it.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Black_Crackers

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

There was a team in the Negro Baseball League that was called the
Atlanta Black Crackers. Kind of a strange name when you think about it.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Black_Crackers

The Black Crackers joined the Negro Southern League in March 1920. Their uniforms, bats, baseballs, and other supplies were donated by their white Southern Association counterpart, the Atlanta Crackers.

According to Tim Darnell, who wrote The Crackers: Early Days of Atlanta Baseball,[1] the Cubs changed their name to the Black Crackers because fans had already begun to call them by that name.

It looks like to me, like a rebellion/mocking against the white team.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

wont be the popular opinion on CP, but i like these names. Id rather see a tame called the indians or the redskins than the mighty ducks or the golden seals or other mickey mouse garbage.

its not like any of the native americans today lived through the atrocities that occurred in the past. and though it may be a part of their heritage and history, it is so distant that it is as much a story to them as it is to us. (sorry for using so much "them" and "us", just trying to make a point).

i dont see the big deal, i think people need to calm down with the whole political correctness. People getting all upset and defending their heritage (any race or background) are usually defending a culture and heritage they never knew.

Yeah, it's not like Native Americans are an extremely marginalized group that faces a number of issues, the majority of which can be directly tied to their treatment in the past or anything

[superfarmer]

Originally Posted by valo403

Yeah, it's not like Native Americans are an extremely marginalized group that faces a number of issues, the majority of which can be directly tied to their treatment in the past or anything

Give me a break take a drive out to you nearest local reserve sometime and see what they have been handed. I'm so sick of this city attitude towards the native problems.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

That logo was probably drawn by someone who was Irish. Or the team owners were. Or most of the fans.

The native logos certainly were not.

Do you see a difference?

Who cares? Just because some random Irish organization created it doesn't mean that all Irish people would not be offended by it. The point is there is always someone who is sitting around being offended by something.

I'll guess that most everyday native indians couldn't care less about their image on sports brands, but again this is 2013 where me must cater to every vocal minority who complains about something....and the media gives them a stage to do so.

I'm not saying that political correctness is completely invalid, but to me the pendulum has swung too far the other way to the point where people want to ban a beautiful original 6 jersey in the name of pc. Myself and others in this thread have seen many natives around wearing Blackhawks/Redskins jerseys.

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by superfarmer

Give me a break take a drive out to you nearest local reserve sometime and see what they have been handed. I'm so sick of this city attitude towards the native problems.

All the money in the world can't fix what's been broken over all the centuries of discrimination and punishment. There's an instant stigmatization about being a native in this country.

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Who cares? Just because some random Irish organization created it doesn't mean that all Irish people would not be offended by it. The point is there is always someone who is sitting around being offended by something.

I'll guess that most everyday native indians couldn't care less about their image on sports brands, but again this is 2013 where me must cater to every vocal minority who complains about something....and the media gives them a stage to do so.

I'm not saying that political correctness is completely invalid, but to me the pendulum has swung too far the other way to the point where people want to ban a beautiful original 6 jersey in the name of pc. Myself and others in this thread have seen many natives around wearing Blackhawks/Redskins jerseys.

The end of that paragraph sounds suspiciously similar to justifying an action because "I have a lot of black friends".

In what way, to you, is that Irish caricature offensive in the way that the Redskins name is offensive to Natives (as it is a visibly racist term)?

[missdpuck]

I'm glad the Seminole Tribe of Florida ended up being able to own so many of the casinos down here. I don't remember all the legal isues involved in that but I say good for them.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by superfarmer

Give me a break take a drive out to you nearest local reserve sometime and see what they have been handed. I'm so sick of this city attitude towards the native problems.

Our taxes that hand them endless amounts of free money has not helped them one bit. In fact I think the current reserve system has helped to domesticate them and destroy them further.

but I digress...

[Red Slinger]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Myself and others in this thread have seen many natives around wearing Blackhawks/Redskins jerseys.

So? Africans in North America call each other n!ggers. Doesn't mean you can. Also, it doesn't mean that it's not offensive to a large group of them.

Seriously, when you encounter someone in real life (not the internet) and you discover that they may find a certain term offensive, do you use it in front of them anyways or do you respect their feelings?

[superfarmer]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Our taxes that hand them endless amounts of free money has not helped them one bit. In fact I think the current reserve system has helped to domesticate them and destroy them further.

but I digress...

I couldn't agree more. Time to be self sufficient

[Chad_Flames]

I say this as a white dude: If there's one thing that white people hate, it's political correctness.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by Cole436

The end of that paragraph sounds suspiciously similar to justifying an action because "I have a lot of black friends".

In what way, to you, is that Irish caricature offensive in the way that the Redskins name is offensive to Natives (as it is a visibly racist term)?

I'm saying that the complainers don't necessarily represent the interest of the majority of their group.....and that we should stop empowering grandstanding complainers.

I am aware that my observations are anecdotal, but it is pointing out the obvious; that a certain portion (maybe a majority portion) of natives are not in fact offended by these sports logos, and actually like them.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

Seriously, when you encounter someone in real life (not the internet) and you discover that they may find a certain term offensive, do you use it in front of them anyways or do you respect their feelings?

I've done both.

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I'm saying that the complainers don't necessarily represent the interest of the majority of their group.....and that we should stop empowering grandstanding complainers.

I am aware that my observations are anecdotal, but it is pointing out the obvious; that a certain portion (maybe a majority portion) of natives are not in fact offended by these sports logos, and actually like them.

What evidence do you have to support that claim? The 10 year old study posted earlier with the unclear questions? Your own personal experience? I know if there was a team called the "Calgary Wops" which existed for the past 100 years, there's no way I'd support that name out of "tradition" or "recognition"

[edn88]

It is unfair to comment, as I am not of native descent, but I grew up with an admiration for Chiefs, Braves, Redskins, Indians etc, because some sporting team deemed that the name was representative of iconic ideals of bravery, strength, ferocity etc.

I grew up in a community where a mixed race softball teams called themselves the Indians (complete with Indians logo) and I believe that it was looked on as a positive thing.

I kind of wish it would all go away, mostly because I am sick of the argument, not because I feel like an ethnic group is being repressed. I get the feeling that there are some vocal parts of the ethnic group that feel that they need to rail against the oppressive majority.

If there was a team called the Sumos with a logo of a fat Japanese dude, would Japanese people feel slighted? I suppose the Kamikaze's with a Japanese guy in an airplane would be uncouth... How about the Zeros?

[calgaryred]

I don't find the native community all up and arms over this, if anything it pushes there culture into the mainstream.

Here in the BCHL we have our hockey team Chilliwack Chiefs with a mascot named Chief Wannawin, right by the native reserve. There's no protest to the name if anything they go to the games and cheer on the team.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by Cole436

What evidence do you have to support that claim? The 10 year old study posted earlier with the unclear questions? Your own personal experience? I know if there was a team called the "Calgary Wops" which existed for the past 100 years, there's no way I'd support that name out of "tradition" or "recognition"

Calgary Wops? That's fine. Petty, ..but fine.

What evidence do you have to support the claim that these sports logos are offensive to most or all native people? The only remotely offensive one is the Redskins but here we have people wanting to ban practically every native image in the public eye.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by calgaryred

I don't find the native community all up and arms over this, if anything it pushes there culture into the mainstream.

Here in the BCHL we have our hockey team Chilliwack Chiefs with a mascot named Chief Wannawin, right by the native reserve. There's no protest to the name if anything they go to the games and cheer on the team.

Exactly.

There are always people who will interpret or spin something as a negative.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by superfarmer

Give me a break take a drive out to you nearest local reserve sometime and see what they have been handed. I'm so sick of this city attitude towards the native problems.

Your country has done a little better than mine. Try spending a weekend at Pine Ridge and see if you're still sick of that attitude.