Report: Cleveland Indians dropping nickname amid mounting social pressure - Yahoo Sports

sanirbanir.blogspot.com

The Cleveland Indians are dropping their long-criticized moniker amid mounting pressure that it’s racist and insensitive, the New York Times reports.

The MLB franchise has not confirmed the report. According to the report, the team could announce the news as soon as this week.

The team is considering moving forward temporarily without a nickname, similar to the path that the NFL’s Washington Football Team took this season after changing its much-criticized former moniker. The franchise would then consult with the public before coming up with a new nickname, according to the report.

‘Indians’ to remain in 2021?

The franchise initially plans to continue using “Indians” and related branding for the 2021 season before phasing it out in 2022, according to the report.

The franchise has gone by “Indians” since 1915, but has long faced pressure from Native American groups and others to drop the moniker. In 2018, the franchise announced that it was dropping its mascot and logo known as Chief Wahoo after MLB called it “no longer appropriate.”

Chief Wahoo was drawn as a grinning red caricature of a Native American. Its use on official team gear was phased out before the 2019 season.

The use of "Indians" and former mascot Chief Wahoo have long been criticized as racist. (AP/Tony Dejak)

Will pressure mount on Braves, Blackhawks?

Like the Washington Football Team before it, Cleveland’s MLB team has long resisted calls to change the nickname. The Washington Football team relinquished to social and sponsor pressure prior to the start of the 2020 NFL season amid the racial reckoning in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police.

It appears that heightened awareness and shifting cultural norms have swayed Cleveland management, as well.

After the Washington Football Team announced its decision, Cleveland announced in July that it would consider making the name change.

“We are committed to making a positive impact in our community and embrace our responsibility to advance social justice and equality,” a team statement read.

The decision will ramp up pressure for franchises like the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Blackhawks to make similar name changes.

More from Yahoo Sports:

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"social" - Google News
December 14, 2020 at 08:29AM
https://ift.tt/2K11nzA

Report: Cleveland Indians dropping nickname amid mounting social pressure - Yahoo Sports
"social" - Google News
https://ift.tt/38fmaXp
https://ift.tt/2WhuDnP

Bagikan Berita Ini