Is Chief Wahoo a Racist Caricature?

[jonathan180iq]

The Cleveland Indians are officially removing their Cheif Wahoo logo from all on-field activities beginning in 2019. The reasoning behind this removal hinges on the position that the caricature is offensive and racist in nature to Native American peoples.

I'd like to discuss arguments for, and against, its removal.

• Do you agree with the logo's removal?
• Why or why not?
• Is it racist?
  
• Is it acceptable?

I'd urge everyone to just pick a side and make a case for it. Even if you don't particularly feel strongly one way or the other, let's come up with some pros and cons...

 

[columbus]

I'd urge everyone to just pick a side and make a case for it. Even if you don't particularly feel strongly one way or the other, let's come up with some pros and cons...

First, I need some information.
Are the Cleveland Indians the brown pointy ones, the big orange ones, or the medium small white ones?
I am pretty sure that they aren't golf, or nobody would care.
Tom

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

If people are offended by the logo, then it is by definition offensive, but the decision won't be based on that alone.

The ball team is free to decide what their priorities are, which most likely is making money by pleasing their fans. They'll decide how to do that. If they believe that dropping the logo causes them more financial harm than good, they'll keep it.

Isn't that how it should be?

 

[Revoltingest]

Has Chief Wahoo ever said or done anything racist?

 

[sun rise]

Has Chief Wahoo ever said or done anything racist?

Classic non sequitur.

 

[Nakosis]

The Cleveland Indians are officially removing their Cheif Wahoo logo from all on-field activities beginning in 2019. The reasoning behind this removal hinges on the position that the caricature is offensive and racist in nature to Native American peoples.

I'd like to discuss arguments for, and against, its removal.

• Do you agree with the logo's removal?
• Why or why not?
• Is it racist?
  
• Is it acceptable?

I'd urge everyone to just pick a side and make a case for it. Even if you don't particularly feel strongly one way or the other, let's come up with some pros and cons...

Racist, no. I don't think the motivation is racism. I think it is meant more as a tribute.

But certainly culturally insensitive, yes. Even the name the "Indians" is inappropriate.

I think we can accept the logo and the name are not appropriate without the need to call the lack of cultural sensitivity racism.

I'd prefer we'd reserve the terms racism and racist to actual racism. We can accept that some of our thinking, ideology can be biased and inappropriate without including the stigma of calling it racist.

 

[Stanyon]

The idea to drop the logo may not be linked to any want or need to be politically correct but more for financial reasons as this study seems to claim:
.Native American Mascots in Sports – Sports Analytics Research from Mike Lewis

 

[Twilight Hue]

The Cleveland Indians are officially removing their Cheif Wahoo logo from all on-field activities beginning in 2019. The reasoning behind this removal hinges on the position that the caricature is offensive and racist in nature to Native American peoples.

I'd like to discuss arguments for, and against, its removal.

• Do you agree with the logo's removal?
• Why or why not?
• Is it racist?
  
• Is it acceptable?

I'd urge everyone to just pick a side and make a case for it. Even if you don't particularly feel strongly one way or the other, let's come up with some pros and cons...

It would be appropriate to ask the Shawnee and Iroquois nations and respect their view as to wether the Cleveland Indian logo should remain or go.

 

[Jonathan Ainsley Bain]

Is it acceptable?

Soon we won't be allowed to squeek without offending a mouse somewhere.

 

[Sha'irullah]

I do not enjoy sports and simply do not care. Nobody looks at that logo and thinks to themselves,"I ****ing hate Injuns!"
It is simply irrelevant at the end of the day the same way I heavily enjoy black face as a black man. It is hilarious and I wish to see more of it but people are cowards not counting that black society in America is littered with racism but oh well.

 

[jonathan180iq]

I've found this caricature, using the same artwork, for a comparison of sensitivities.

Should this imagery be deemed any more or less appropriate than Chief Wahoo?

 

[jonathan180iq]

First, I need some information.
Are the Cleveland Indians the brown pointy ones, the big orange ones, or the medium small white ones?
I am pretty sure that they aren't golf, or nobody would care.
Tom

They are the small white ones.

Haha

 

[columbus]

Should this imagery be deemed any more or less appropriate than Chief Wahoo?

Appropriate for what purpose?

I downloaded it, because I plan to photoshop a cap on his head that reads "Make America Great Again". I can annoy someone I know with that image.
Tom

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I've found this caricature, using the same artwork, for a comparison of sensitivities.

Should this imagery be deemed any more or less appropriate than Chief Wahoo?

It's more appropriate. It's satire and it's "punching up."

 

[Revoltingest]

The inevitable has happened....
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/espn-ho...ish-mascot-many-irish-americans-are-offended/
Are his days numbered?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Is it racist that the Yankees knocked the Tribe out of the playoffs in the ALDS last season?

Salix,
Continues to proudly wear his Tribe ball cap

 

[Skwim]

The inevitable has happened....
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/espn-ho...ish-mascot-many-irish-americans-are-offended/
Are his days numbered?

And who's going to speak on behalf of those who perished long ago?

​

As a 100% Scandahoovian I take umbrage at the misappropriation of my ancestor's fearsome name and their horrific rape-and-pillaging nature.

If Minnesota wants their beloved Vikings then they have to insure they can rape and pillage whomever they wish and whenever they want. My suggestion is that they start with the White House.

.



.

 

[Revoltingest]

And who's going to speak on behalf of those who perished long ago?

​

As a 100% Scandahoovian I take umbrage at the misappropriation of my ancestor's fearsome name and their horrific rape-and-pillaging nature.

If Minnesota wants their beloved Vikings then they have to insure they can rape and pillage whomever they wish and whenever they want. My suggestion is that they start with the White House.

.



.

I suspect that real Vikings won't object.
Neither will wannabeez.

I could be wrong.

 

[columbus]

I do not enjoy sports and simply do not care. Nobody looks at that logo and thinks to themselves,"I ****ing hate Injuns!"

I pretty much agree.
I'd advocate getting rid of sports franchises exemptions from monopoly legislation.
Tom

 

[Sha'irullah]

I pretty much agree.
I'd advocate getting rid of sports franchises exemptions from monopoly legislation.
Tom

I'd recommend getting rid of sports franchises altogether . But when I brought this up to my state representative I was told the world doesn't revolve around me . . . I guess I need to convinced astronomists now