When President Donald Trump starts tweeting, it’s hard for him to stop. He sent out his second sports tweet of the day on Monday, this time focusing on the possible name changes for the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians. Surprise! He is not happy with it.
They name FORCE teams, not weakness, but now the Washington Redskins & Cleveland Indians, two legendary sports franchises, seem to change their names to be politically correct. Indians, like Elizabeth Warren, must be very angry right now!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2020
Washington and Cleveland announced last week that they are considering changing the name of their team in light of the recent movement against systemic racism – one of the many societal ripples that have been felt since the murder of George Floyd in late May.
Why is Washington, Cleveland planning to change its name?
NFL for several years and Cleveland has a long history of both losing and haplessness), but Trump’s not wrong about political correctness. For years, Native American groups have been calling for both teams to change their names, staging protests, writing op-eds, and even creating an ad campaign to highlight the racism and cruelty of using Native American caricatures as mascots." data-reactid="21">To say that the two teams are “legendary” is not entirely true (Washington has been the laughingstock of the NFL for several years and Cleveland has a long history of loss and misfortune), but Trump is not wrong on the politically correct. For years, Native American groups have called on the two teams to change their names, organize protests, write editorials, and even create an advertising campaign to highlight racism and the cruelty of using Native American cartoons as mascots. .
That the two teams are considering a name change only now, after years of outcry, feels dishonest at best. But whatever the reason why each team could change its name, it is always a question of progressing towards the treatment of the Amerindians as the human beings that they are instead of mascots.
Native Americans as sports mascots
Trump is obviously wrong that the “Indians” are upset. While there may be some who agree in both cases, there is a long history of advocating against the use of Native American imagery as mascots. Since 1971, more than 80 Amerindian groups and tribes have called on Washington to abandon the “Red Skins”. Native American groups have been protesting since Cleveland opening day and other games since 1972.
The teams may have chosen these names and mascots to convey their strength, but that doesn’t do the trick. To name a team after an exaggerated caricature or stereotype of an ethnic group was always a mistake, and it will always be a mistake. Trump is just unhappy that Washington and Cleveland are ultimately forced to take this into account.
Donald Trump is not happy that the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians are considering a name change. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
