My affection for the city of Cleveland is strong. Being my hometown, I have
come to love the tightknit community, the unsung culture, and the harsh
winters. But I especially love the sports and the traditions they bring. Come
summer, nothing feels more right than watching an Indians baseball game while
soaking in the few months of sunshine. In those dark blue seats of the stadium,
I’m sitting in front of a team rich in history, over 100 years’ worth, with
legendary players and unforgettable glory seasons (Cleveland Indians). However, not all times have been great. Over
the years, the Indians’ signature logo, the Chief Wahoo, has invoked more than
just feelings of nostalgia and allegiance but also cultural
appropriation.
Cultural appropriation is a phrase that has been heard a lot lately, often
in divisive circumstances. Many see the cultures of certain minority groups
being used as costumes or a new trend but without respect or inclusion of that
particular group. On the other hand, defenders say this type of sharing has
become an inevitable part of an ever globalizing world (Sehgal). Either way, the
term has drawn a very fine and controversial line, a line that is currently
being drawn in Cleveland.
Though the Indians’ name has been around since 1914, the team didn’t
start sporting the Chief Wahoo logo until 1947 after the owner decided they needed
more of an identity. “The original version had yellow skin, a large, prominent
nose, and a smile that stretched from ear to ear” (Heise). In 1951, the logo
was redesigned. A new face with bright red skin and more cartoonlike features
was established. It looked like a caricature of its predecessor and has
remained largely unchanged since (Heise).
In an article on Indian Country, a website specifically for Native
American news, Amanda Blackhorse states, “The logo has long been described by
many as the most racist logo of Native American people currently.” It’s not
hard to see the truth behind that statement; its exaggerated stereotypical
features only emphasize the racist aspect. It depicts an entire population in an
unforgiving and unfair light.
Fans cheer for the Indians by wearing the team’s colors. For some of
the more extreme fans, though, they want to show their support and passion with
a little more flare by dressing up as Chief Wahoo himself. While the intentions
are good and only meant for fun, fans are dressing akin to blackface. They don’t
see the insensitivity of painting their face and wearing a spiritually sacred
headdress because the logo disguises the racism and allows it to be overlooked.
Other teams have been embroiled in similar controversy as of late. The
Washington Redskins and Atlanta Braves have both come under fire, with a
lawsuit actually being filed against the Redskins’ name and winning (Wise). While
a case hasn’t been made for Cleveland yet, protestors and other local leaders
have begun to speak out against the logo. Native American groups have protested
opening day over the past years, the president and CEO of the organization have
been adamant about doing the right thing, and the mayor of Cleveland has
supported the removal of it (Wulf). Even the local newspaper The Plain Dealer, the beginning of it
all as they were the first to print the new logo, recently saw the error of its ways (Levenson). Very recently, the
organization has tried to appease some of the outrage by slowly phasing it out.
For example, Chief Wahoo is a less noticeable aspect; instead, it has been replaced by a large C as the primary logo. (Levenson). There
is still a long way to go for fan support, though. According to a survey
conducted, 70% of Indians supporters still want to keep the prominent symbol.
For many fans, it gives a sense of identity and is rooted in Cleveland’s
history (Wulf).
Cleveland sports are a unique homage to the city’s history, mirroring
the hardworking mentality and unwavering dedication. Our teams have become a
part of the city’s identity and are indispensable to everyday life. However,
this doesn’t give us an excuse to be insensitive and selfish. Cultural
appropriation is a very real problem in today’s society. We need to find a way
to be respectful of other cultures without being restrictive. Clevelanders are
proud people, it’s one of my favorite things about them, but maybe it’s time to
let go a little of this pride and welcome change with open arms, even if that
means letting go of something that has meant so much over the years. For me
personally, I love the Indians, but I’ll love them no matter what name or logo they
play under.
Works Cited
Blackhorse,
Amanda. "Blackhorse: 100 Years of Chief Wahoo and the 'Grinning Face of
Racism'" Indian Country Today Media Network.com. Indian
Country Today Media Network, 10 Apr. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
Heise,
Brian. "Chief Wahoo: The History of a Controversial Icon." Chief
Wahoo The History of a Controversial Icon Comments. Wahoos on First, 07
Apr. 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
"History
Timeline." Cleveland Indians. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
Levenson,
Eric. "The Newspaper That Invented the Cleveland Indians' Name Comes Out
Against the Logo." The Wire. The Wire, 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 16
Nov. 2015.
Sehgal,
Parul. "Is Cultural Appropriation Always Wrong?" The New York
Times. The New York Times, 03 Oct. 2015. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
Wise,
Mike. "Daniel Snyder Can't See That the Future Is Here." ESPN.
ESPN Internet Ventures, 24 Sept. 2015. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
Wulf,
Steve. "Change Is Happening in Cleveland." ESPN. ESPN
Internet Ventures, 24 Sept. 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
Hey Brittany,
ReplyDeleteThanks for allowing me to read your piece and I am sorry that I had to miss class.
Your response was a solid attempt at the "explainer-style" approach. I think your topic is important, relevant, and very red. Your visuals were effective and well placed. Never forget that your reader may not be familiar with your topic and showing instead of telling may be, in some cases, a necessity. Well done!
Some suggestions — You write, "cultural appropriation is a phrase that has been heard a lot lately" I would have liked to see another example of where the phrase has appeared in pop culture. For example, Katy Perry's live performance of "unconditionally" at the 2013 AMAs. Also, you describe cultural appropriation as the exploitation of "certain minority groups" cultures. Does someone know if cultural appropriation is just the exploitation of "certain minority groups" or of any culture that is not your own, period? Im not a pro, but possibly something to look further into. In addition, addressing why stereotyping and mocking cultures has the potential to be harmful would make your argument more effective. Finally, I feel that your argument weakened in your last paragraph. Instead of saying "...maybe it’s time to let go a little of this pride and welcome change..." you say something along the lines of, "it is time for change because..." (for example, respecting the culture of others is far more important that appeasing the egos of a few men who want to run around with painted faces).
Your strong points rest in your credibility — who better to talk about Cle sports than a Cleveland fan themselves. Also, your choice to include both sides of the argument, the defenders and the accusers point of view, contributed to your writing integrity. Good use of sources! And I felt your piece was balanced — not too objective or subjective, but a good mixture. Michael often talks about the proportions of our responses being off, but I found your response to very stable.
Solid piece, with a few revisions "Chief Wahoo" is ready for "The Plain Dealer".
Thanks again,
Mariah