SportsPulse: Although it looks like the Washington NFL team is finally developing its racist nickname. There are other great sports teams whose nickname origins are linked to America’s culturally insensitive past.
UNITED STATES TODAY
The Washington Red Tails are in vogue, which suggests that Tuskegee aviators from Alabama are too.
Last week, stadium sponsor FedEx asked the Washington NFL team to drop Redskins, the team’s name since 1937.
The term “Redskins” is considered offensive to Native Americans.
And the demand comes at a time of nascent and roaring social movements across the country, whose voices are ringing at the highest levels of business and government as a whole.
On social networks, this is a public forum to fill.
Some have suggested the Warriors. Or what about the Red Hogs? The monuments? The Redhawks? The red wolves? The options are unlimited. But in the nation’s capital, where many names and brands of professional teams reflect patriotism, the historic importance of the Red Tails may ultimately carry some weight.
The name, close and dear to the Alabama community, refers to the Tuskegee aviators, who were the US Army Air Corps, the first black military aviators. The group completed all of its training at Tuskegee Air Force Field in Alabama, with more than 15,000 individual deployments and missions in Europe and North Africa during the Second World War.
To identify themselves, the airmen painted the tail of their planes in red. It was the 332nd group of fighters – awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for escorting bombers on mission in Berlin, Germany, on March 24, 1945 – who was the first to paint their tails and earn the nickname.
However, even in the face of war, these decorated pilots were subjected to military segregation.
Following owner FedEx’s request, Washington owner Daniel Synder said the team will “thoroughly investigate” the nickname as a group of investors and shareholders pressured Nike, FedEx and PepsiCo to end their relationship unless a change is made.
Redskins coach Ron Rivera said he was optimistic about the name change. “If we do it in time for the season, it would be great,” he told the Washington Post.
Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins wrote: “I like redtails” on Twitter.
The name has since grown in popularity and some have started to design team logos, uniforms and caricatures that reflect legendary pilots.
Synder once vowed never to change the name of the Washington franchise, a nickname that dates back to 1933. However, that may be the time for him.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Andre Toran at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @AndreToran.
