Political correctness has reached a point of foolishness in recent years– even in the eyes of some well-known liberals. While I believe it was originally well-intended, it has become so outrageous that it has lost its purpose of teaching Americans to be more sensitive and tolerant to our country’s heritage and diversity.
Such is not is the case with the Cleveland Indians’ logo, Chief Wahoo – the most politically incorrect and offensive logo in sport.
How Major League Baseball and society in general has allowed this offensive, racist, stereotype logo to exist is mind-boggling. Some even think the team name – Indians – is offensive. I’ll leave that fight to the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, since there is current debate about the political correctness of using American Indian, Native American, or the aforementioned Indigenous People of the Americas.
The name Indians was supposedly derived in 1915 to honor an American Indian, Louis Sockalexis, who briefly played for Cleveland when they were known as the Spiders. Their offensive logo, Chief Wahoo, became their trademark mascot in 1947. The cartoon character was re-drawn with the stereotype red face in 1951.
Am I alone among non-American Indians or Native Americans finding this unacceptable and egregious? Where is the outcry from other minority communities? Would we allow a team to use the name of another minority group? Can you image the protests if a team used a black or brown cartoon character face as a logo?
Isn’t it bad enough that American history distorts the life and times of the American Indian? European colonization of the Americas nearly obliterated the population and cultures of Native Americans. Must we continue to be so insensitive?
Thank God the Red Sox won so I don’t have to look at that obnoxious Chief Wahoo logo any longer this year. It’s time MLB steps up and does what’s right.
Right on! Now let’s take the march to Atlanta and get rid of the Braves’ logo too and make a stop in Washington on the way and remove every Redskin image in sight. Wait. What about the Giants, on both coasts? What an insult to short people. We must not tolerate these obviously degrading references. Never. And those Celtics? My Irish background deserves authentic respect, not some silly pixie with a green hat. And those Yankees? Such world suffering at the hands of Yankee imperialism. George, time for a new name with the stadium. And those Broncos? Wild horses are God’s finest creatures. How dare we celebrate their slavery on a helmet. And those Jets? Even Al Gore, winner of the Nobel Putz Prize, knows jets pollute the atmosphere. Must we glorify the death of the planet in the NFL?
Comment by Bostonian — October 23, 2007 @ 6:58 am
Hey Bostonian … typical right-wing conservative comeback. Take the focus away from the message at hand - an offensive, stereotype, red-faced, cartoon character that demeans an entire culture - and childishly relate it to Giants and short people, and Al Gore and your political agenda. Get a life….
Comment by GZG — October 23, 2007 @ 7:51 am
Bostonian is one of the people who simply don’t have a clue. It’s not about political correctness, it’s about racism and honoring horrendous acts perpetuated against American Indians and which continues to this day, unabated. Chief Wahoo would not be tolerated with a black face.
The Redskins - if you knew history - the truth and not the lies your teachers told you - the word redskin referred to the flesh that was stripped from the bodies of Indian men, women and children and which was used as pouches, reins for horses, etc. A bounty was given for the murders of innocent native people and this is what red skin represents and means to native people. Why would anyone want to celebrate and honor something as horrible as that? How would you feel if you had the Washington Jews or Blacks as a ball team name and the mascots reflecting sterotypes about people of color and of a different religion? When it comes to sports, some folks are so downright dumb, it’s unbelievable. Listen to Rev Goat Carson’s ballad about what redskin means to us - http://mytwobeadsworth.com/Redskin.html
This argument is so old, it’s unreal. Get with it - there will never be justice, equality or peace with all people until we learn to respect one another. American Indians, the original inhabitants of this land, have not, to this day, been permitted to live the same equal lives as others. We could not legally pray until 1978 - up until that time, we could be arrested for participating in ceremonies, etc. That’s not that long ago. These reservations or “camps” that the us government set up, are as bad as Third World Countries and don’t start with the argument, they are lazy, drunks and don’t want to work either. It’s a form of slavery that was started by the government to keep us in our place and with the plan of a final genocide of all native peoples - the Europeans wanted the land and they continue to take and take and take.
Chief Wahoo has got to go - and so shouldn’t the Redskins. They are nothing more than racist symbols whether one wants to see the truth or not, that fact remains and only shows others how racist American can be.
Comment by Jeanne — October 23, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
The charicature of a Native American is demeaning and offensive… the name Indian is a real name… it is not the name of any Native American person.
When anyone puts the two together - The logo and the name - this is really an ignorant aspect of some of society. NOTE - SOME.
As a Native American, I can only wonder - If any of those people who say it is OK to do this… If any of these fine people had their mother or father or sister or brother or grandparent or an ancestor murdered or portrayed as an animalistic - less than human being and only deserving of death and only desreving of punishment and then being confined to the poorest of enclosed land areas (reservations) and being forced to starve and take hand-outs and being forced not allowed to hunt naturally and live free by having all the natural food-animals slaughtered just so they could not look after themselves or their families… having their children taken away and being introduced to mood-altering substances and causing generational family disfunction… ands so on and on.
I wonder how they would feel about thier family and people being portrayed in a “commercial” way such as this… there are others.
In a good way I ask that we try to understand what this is really all about.
In this city where I live in Canada, there are so many disasterous situations involving Native Americans, (and other races) that it would help somewhat if we could change this logo to something more appropriate for a sports team and not continue to degrade any people or persons. Please!
I thank you for writing. Pilamaya - Thank you Mitakuye Oyasin - we are all related.
Comment by Jaye La Vallee - Akicita Wakan Mani — October 23, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
I agree… Chief Wahoo must go. Personally, I have no problem with the “Indians” nickname, but the smiling, red-faced, cartoon character is indeed very offensive.
Comment by Manny — October 24, 2007 @ 3:52 am
Hey, take a look at the Indians logo from the late 40’s or so……BEFORE they gave Chief Wahoo a nose job…that’s some funny stuff…..etb
Comment by ernest t — October 24, 2007 @ 11:17 pm
Hey ernest t… just another insensitive remark. What may be “funny” to you is very degrading to others.
Comment by GZG — October 25, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
GZG calls me a ” right-wing conservative,” and Jeanne calls me “clueless.” You nasty insensitive folks. I can’t wait until you pass hate-speech laws so you can be prosecuted on your own pitard.
Comment by Bostonian — October 30, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Dudes, stpo complaing about this! I’m and Indians fan and I like the logo. Even though people may think it’s offensive, thiers logos all around that are offensive, Like Flordia State Seminoles, you don’t see a indian like that, but nobody’s complaing about them. No it has to be all on the Indinas. Personally, I don’t think the Indians would change their logo or them name. Cleveland is proud of the Indians for going to Boston in the ALCS and taking it to 7 games. GO Indians!!!!!
Comment by 4logo — November 30, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
Some people see a satanic symbol in the Proctor and Gamble logo. Some see an image of Jesus Christ in a toasted cheese sandwich. Some see Chief Wahoo and think only of baseball. Are they wrong?
It is simply a matter of perceptions. Is Chief Wahoo offensive, or do you simply not like him? I don’t like rap music. It offends me. Would I be justified in my demands to eradicate it? Or should I come to terms with the fact that some people’s lives are enriched by it in intangible ways that I apparently miss?
Comment by kurto — January 4, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
Hey Kurto…. it may a matter of perception to you, but it’s offensive to those who are Native Americans. A cartoon character sports logo of any nationality is degrading.
Comment by Manny — January 6, 2008 @ 8:58 am
There are so many sports teams with Native American logos or names–the Washington Redskins, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Florida State Seminoles–that may be seen as offensive. For some reason the only one that is ever criticized is the Cleveland Indians. For what? Because their name is spelled out as the name Indians, instead of something like Redskins or Blackhawks, that no one thinks of being as offensive.
Comment by Moyer — January 28, 2008 @ 9:42 pm
Anyone who thinks that the Chief Wahoo logo and Indians team name is offensive needs to grow up. I honestly believe that those people need psychological help. We’re talking about an iconic logo for a baseball team for God’s sake, get over it. I give the Indians officials credit and not pandering to these ridiculous complainers. The NCAA has shamefully tried to eliminate Indian-type nicknames, even having the College of William & Mary remove a couple of feathers from their logo! Kudos to the Cleveland Indians and long live Chief Wahoo!!
Comment by TrueFan — February 13, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
Reading many of the comments, shows that people are not aware of Native American history. Please take it upon yourself to learn it. I recently did, and now with the new knowledge I am realizing how offensive things are and how ignorant a lot of people in the American Society sound. The Indian Wahoo logo was put outside of places, like a Visa or Mastercard symbol. This is where one could turn in Indian body parts for money, the government’s way of getting bounty hunters to kill Indians. What had happened to the Native Americans was genocide, a holocaust. I read statistics that reflected deaths of Natives and one in the holocaust. It is horrible to compare, but at the same time, hundreds of MILLIONS of natives were KILLED. The Indian wahoo logo is like a team having a swatztika as your team logo. OPEN YOUR EYES! It is not about Indian nicknames, it is about the historic trauma of logo.
Comment by Lori — March 22, 2008 @ 11:41 am
Get over it. Lots of Irish complaining about Notre Dame? What about the Utes? Or the Seminoles? Or the Braves? Why don’t we just stop naming teams all together? I’m sure PETA has problems with all the animal names and mascots. At least no one is keeping a live Native American mascot, like the caged tigers and the like.
Comment by Rob Malone — October 9, 2008 @ 11:15 pm
Being of Scandinavian descent, I am appalled by the Minnesota Vikings, Augustana Vikings & Cleveland State Vikings
Being of English descent, I am appalled by the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Army Black Knights & Central Florida Knights
Being of Irish descent, I am appalled by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Boston Celtics
Being of Greek descent, I am appalled by the Michigan State Spartans, &
Being of Turkish descent, I am appalled by the Souther California Trojans
Being of Scottish descent, I am appalled by the Cal Riverside Highlanders
Being of Dutch descent, I am appalled by the Hofstra Flying Dutchmen
Being of Cajun descent, I am appalled by the Louisiana-Lafayette Rajun Cajuns
Being of Quaker descent, I am appalled by the Pennsylvania Quakers
Being of magical descent, I am appalled by the Washington Wizards
Comment by Dan — October 10, 2008 @ 9:54 am
Hey Dan, let me guess … you’re a white, right-wing, upper middle-class conservative that really hasn’t experience life beyond your lily-white neighborhood! Your comparisons are childish and insensitive.
Comment by SDsportsnut — October 10, 2008 @ 10:03 am
Without having an opionion one way or another, I must say that you gave absolutely zero arguments to back your case.
Comment by Solomon — October 12, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
Solomon …. “without having an opinion one way or another”… now there’s a man with conviction. Your an embarrassment to your namesake. King Solomon had great wisdom - and you have no opinion! Open your eyes - then maybe your brain and mouth can add something constructive.
Comment by Manny — October 12, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
Get over it already.
Comment by Rob Malone — October 16, 2008 @ 6:02 pm
Look — I grew up in Northeast Ohio and am a supporter of the Cleveland Indians. I own Cleveland Indians apparel, just like I own Cleveland Browns and Cavaliers apparel as well. That being said, I acknowledge that the cartoon Chief Wahoo is offensive to many people. For me, though, the logo represents baseball and my team…I don’t “dress up” like an indian, put on “war paint”, or wear a headdress to games. I wear a hat or a t-shirt with my team’s logo on it.
If the team decides to change its name back to the Spiders, or something new…than fine, i’ll get that hat.
I guess my only problem with this issue is how the protests and protesters in front of the stadium have virtually disappeared. During the mid-90s when Jacob’s Field was packed, you would see lots of protesters on your way in and out of the gate. Now, with the team struggling and not drawing as many fans…the protests have stopped.
And finally, calling people lilly white conservatives (or some other combination of adjectives) makes them more right wing than before. all you’re doing is fueling the fire.
Comment by cleveland fan — December 12, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
As a Cleveland Indians fan I have had conflicting views on chief wahoo, becuase I am a fan there is probably much bias on my part for not thinking it is offensive. But one thing that makes me mad is the grassroots protesters that stand outside the stadium, complain and then go back smoke their pot and complain about how the world is unfair. My “evil” christian mostly white church went out to a reservation for a week and helped native americans build some buildings but more importantly showed them that someone cares and listened and took the time to listen to them speak of there heritage. I know a week of work is not that much but I actually did something, I didnt just sit around and bitch.
Comment by dan — March 20, 2009 @ 8:29 am
will be there friday to protest the racist logo.. check out chief wahoo protest on utube
Comment by sam phillips — April 8, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
I think I’ll get a t-shirt from the Native American school in Colorado that calls themselves the Fightn Whities.
Comment by tim — April 28, 2009 @ 10:34 pm
Chief Wahoo honors the Indian heritage and is a logo to be proud of.
Comment by Chief — May 16, 2009 @ 12:09 pm
Bostonian is hilarious.
Comment by Seattle — May 31, 2009 @ 12:57 pm
Man, everyone brought out the big guns on this blog. Bostonian, you da man. I agree. Should the Latinos be offended by the Cleveland Browns. Should christians or catholics be offended by the Anaheim Angels. Go blog about issues that are important like the killings in Darfur or world hunger. Some people will just complain about anything.
Comment by vintage baseball cards — September 27, 2009 @ 2:05 am
hey GZG clearly your just a liberal without a life. its a sports team! it brings all people together not appart! i dont know about you but i have gone to dozens of indians games and not once have i seen a problem from the logo. nobody even thinks about the logo its about the team and the game! the only people who care about it are the liberal cocksuckers that only care about doing “whats right” how many native americans have you discussed this with? or did you discuss it with your pampered soccer mom friends at a fancy lunch? go fuck yourself along with the rest of your liberal pity party!
Comment by themoderate — April 15, 2010 @ 8:13 am