1972: Chief Wahoo is not an "American Indian," said the lawyer for the team, "but a Cleveland Indian." -- ??
Indian Nicknames Are Out
1973 March 29, Democrat and Chronicle
During the early 1950's, when anti-Soviet feelings were strong in this country, the Cincinnati Reds changed their name to Redlegs. But the fans didn't buy it.
Today, Indian sensitivity about old stereotypes has caused several teams to go in for name changes. Many Indians claim that certain names, mascots and emblems are racial slurs.
A year ago six professional teams and more than 30 college teams had Indian nicknames. Now some are changing those names, but it seems to be seen how fans, alumni and other teams will react.
The problem surfaced dramatically in January 1972, when Russell Means, then director of the American Indian Center in Cleveland, filed a $9 million lawsuit against the Cleveland Indians baseball club. Means claimed the team's emblem, a grinning Indian named "Chief Wahoo," was a degrading caricature of the American Indian.
The case is pending and the team's laywer says the emblem is not meant to be offensive and the name "Chief Wahoo" had been dreamed up by Cleveland newspapers and was never used by the team.
The lawyer emphasized that "the emblem is not an American Indian, but a Cleveland Indian.".....
[ Other targets:
Atlanta "Chief Nok-A-Homa" - unchanged.
Stanford and Chief Lightfoot - Changed to Cardinals. Mascot retired.
Dartmouth Indians - changed to Big Green. Mascot benched.
University of Massachusetts Redmen - changed to Minutemen
University of Nebraska at Omaha Indians - changed to mavericks
Miami University (Ohio) Redskins - kept name, retired Hiawabop
1973 March 29, Democrat and Chronicle
During the early 1950's, when anti-Soviet feelings were strong in this country, the Cincinnati Reds changed their name to Redlegs. But the fans didn't buy it.
Today, Indian sensitivity about old stereotypes has caused several teams to go in for name changes. Many Indians claim that certain names, mascots and emblems are racial slurs.
A year ago six professional teams and more than 30 college teams had Indian nicknames. Now some are changing those names, but it seems to be seen how fans, alumni and other teams will react.
The problem surfaced dramatically in January 1972, when Russell Means, then director of the American Indian Center in Cleveland, filed a $9 million lawsuit against the Cleveland Indians baseball club. Means claimed the team's emblem, a grinning Indian named "Chief Wahoo," was a degrading caricature of the American Indian.
The case is pending and the team's laywer says the emblem is not meant to be offensive and the name "Chief Wahoo" had been dreamed up by Cleveland newspapers and was never used by the team.
The lawyer emphasized that "the emblem is not an American Indian, but a Cleveland Indian.".....
[ Other targets:
Atlanta "Chief Nok-A-Homa" - unchanged.
Stanford and Chief Lightfoot - Changed to Cardinals. Mascot retired.
Dartmouth Indians - changed to Big Green. Mascot benched.
University of Massachusetts Redmen - changed to Minutemen
University of Nebraska at Omaha Indians - changed to mavericks
Miami University (Ohio) Redskins - kept name, retired Hiawabop
 |
| 1973 March 29, Democrat and Chronicle |
