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Major League Baseball Continues to Waffle on Chief Wahoo

World Series fever is gripping Cleveland, but an American Indian organization based in Cleveland is calling for protest. Of course such protests have taken place for years, with the Cleveland American Indian Movement and others referring to Chief Wahoo as a “symbol of genocide” while simultaneously noting its similarity to blackface “Sambo” characters and other racist imagery that has long since been banished from polite society. I’m assuming that the protesters are, as they usually are, being ignored by Indians fans as they make their way to the gates of Progressive Field. Fans like this one.

Meanwhile, Wahoo remains, institutionalized by the Cleveland Indians and Major League Baseball in ways those other racist symbols have not been endorsed by any respectable organizations for decades.

Last week I contacted Major League Baseball about the matter, asking directly whether MLB believes Chief Wahoo to be a racist symbol and, if so, how MLB can continue to allow the Indians to use it. It was a productive conversation, actually. I was told — quite accurately — that MLB is not free to act unilaterally on all of this, and that matters affecting only one club and its identity in its own market are not the sorts of things the league readily or easily addresses. That makes perfect sense, and I accept that, but I nonetheless asked for MLB to take a position on it one way or the other. Ultimately, I noted that it was reasonable to wait for Commissioner Manfred to speak on the matter during the World Series, as he would surely be asked about it.

Via Deadspin I see that, yesterday, Manfred was asked about it on ESPN’s Mike & Mike show. Here is what he said:

Well, I understand that particular logo is offensive to some people, and I understand why. On the other side of the coin, you have a lot of fans that have history and are invested in the symbols of the Indians. I think that after the World Series, at an appropriate point in time, Mr. [Larry] Dolan and I have agreed we’ll have a conversation about what should happen with that particular logo going forward.

It’s nice that Commissioner Manfred can see both sides of a controversial issue, and its quite nice that the league, apparently, plans to meet with Indians ownership about the logo.

However, in order to maintain baseball’s neutral stance — which it clearly seems to wish to — Commissioner Manfred owes it to us to explain why he believes both sides have merit. If he understands that one side of the debate sees Chief Wahoo as a racist symbol, and he understands those justifications, what are the possible justifications of the pro-racist symbol side? It can’t just be history and tradition, as he states here, as that sort of justification did not preserve Sambo, blackface and other racist symbols that have been cast into the dustbin of history. Nor would I ever expect Manfred to say that it’s OK for offensive symbols to persist by virtue of that history and the “investment” of their proponents. People were invested in the color line too.

I’ll once again grant that Major League Baseball does not have the power to unilaterally ban the Indians from using Chief Wahoo as their symbol, but I do not believe that it should be given a pass for sitting on the fence on the matter.

If the league truly wishes to change Mr. Dolan’s stance with respect to Chief Wahoo, and if it does not have the institutional power to order a change, must it not marshall public opinion? Must it not persuade Mr. Dolan to change in ways that 40+ years of protests have not? Must it not make the case against Cheif Wahoo publicly in order to persuade the people who are still invested in it that their investment will not continue pay dividends?

I believe it must. And I believe that, to do so, Major League Baseball should clearly and unequivocaly state its position on the matter. I believe that it must answer these questions rather than continue to claim that both sides in an argument over racist imagery have merit:

1. Does Major League Baseball believe Chief Wahoo to be a racist caricature?
2. If not, why not?
3. If so, does MLB approve of a club using a racist caricature and if so why?
4. If MLB does not approve, what does MLB plan to do about getting the Indians to cease using Wahoo?
I emailed those questions directly to Rob Manfred this morning. I will post an update if and when those questions are answered.

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http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2016/10/26/majo...&yptr=yahoo

Good luck, Vers.

These discussion usually boil down to "you're calling me racist because I like Wahoo!". Or "what about (insert non-oppressed caricature here) this? How is it okay?!"

I do have a problem w/Chief Wahoo and the name Redskins, though. I think both are narrow-minded and insulting to a group of people.

Speaking up for a group that has been mistreated is now a sin?

Speaking up for a group that has been mistreated is now a sin?

And jesus said "only defend those with 401k plans!!"

Just exactly what do you know about the investment strategy of a native American?

all i know is Casinos, bro lol

I know.

I really do not have a problem w/the name "Indians." However, Chief Wahoo looks like Sambo except it's red. Sambo is not acceptable, so why is Chief Wahoo?

I feel that there aren't enough Native Americans and their voice is minimal, thus their rights and treatment are ignored. Which leads me to........those people who claim they are not bigoted, racist, prejudiced against blacks while having no problem w/demeaning Native Americans and Mexicans...........are probably lying out of their teeth about being racially liberated.

I do have a problem w/Chief Wahoo and the name Redskins, though. I think both are narrow-minded and insulting to a group of people.

Some people should replace the jelly in their spine with calcium phosphate, and collagen. Get their diapers changed, and keep using their pacifiers.

Running around crying about it and throwing temper tantrums does. We have lots of problems in this world, and this country, Chief Wahoo is around 960,000,000,000 on the list.

What are you alls thoughts on what makes it offensive? Is it the red color alone? the big smile? shape of the nose?

For me, Sambo is in a different category in terms of being derogatory. Every Sambo is the blackest skin tone ever, with huggeee bright red lips, nappy hair, and either dancing or eating watermelon.

all i know is Casinos, bro lol

Speaking of stereotypes.....

Hmmmmm..........a black man offended by Sambo but not by Chief Wahoo? Not all that surprising.

Why is it offensive? I'll let others answer:

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.co...e-racism-159960

I have more articles that address why the Chief Wahoo image is offensive. I'll post them if you want me to.

The logo has long been described by many as the most racist logo of Native American people currently. In an interview with Charlene Teters from the National Coalition Against Racism in the Sports and Media, and someone who has been involved in earlier protests with the American Indian Movement [AIM] and will be present at the opening day protest, she said, “Chief Wahoo is Little Black Sambo, it is the one of the most blatantly racist logos in professional sports.”

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.co...e-racism-159960

MLB Commissioner Says He Plans on Talking to Indians Ownership About Chief Wahoo Logo
Posted By Vince Grzegorek vgrzegorek@clevescene.com> on Wed, Oct 26,

Let us start by saying the best thing about the 2016 Tribe's roll through the postseason is obviously just that — a phenomenal roll through the postseason. After last night's victory, the Indians hold a 1-0 lead in the World Series.

A secondary benefit of the playoff run has been the further discussion and exposure of the Indians' use and defense of Chief Wahoo, a racist logo whose time should have long ago expired.

It began with the Toronto series and a trio of huge stories, as far as logo stories go. The first being the Blue Jays' announcer's refusal to use the word Indians while talking about the team. In fact, Jerry Howarth said he hadn't used the name since 1992 when he got a letter from a fan.

“He said, ‘Jerry, I appreciate your work, but in the World Series, it was so offensive to have the tomahawk chop and to have people talk about the ‘powwows on the mound’ and then the Cleveland Indians logo and the Washington Redskins,’” Howarth told The Jeff Blair Show. ”He just wrote it in such a loving, kind way. He said, ‘I would really appreciate it if you would think about what you say with those teams.’”


The second: Former Tribe team president and GM Mark Shapiro said that he was "personally bothered" by the logo.

"The logo — Chief Wahoo — is one that was troubling to me personally," Shapiro said. "So when I was an official spokesman for the Cleveland Indians, I distanced myself from the fact that it personally bothered me. But we as an organization with strong support from ownership came up with the 'Block C' that you're wearing on your credentials right now. We built equity in the 'Block C.'

"We gave that alternative for people and I think that we established that as an important logo and now the primary logo for the Cleveland Indians. And so I'm proud of that.

"I think there will be a day, whenever that is, that the people that are making decisions here decide that Chief Wahoo is no longer fitting. But people in this city — over 90 per cent of them — are deeply, deeply passionate about Chief Wahoo and want him to be part of their team. So that's about all I'll say because I'm not really focused or care that much about that anymore. That's my opinion."

The third story was, of course, the legal challenge in a Canadian court to forbid the broadcast of the Indians' logo or name on airwaves. That injunction was eventually denied but the gambit managed to get an MLB lawyer on the record about the league's stance on the name.

Meanwhile, a few ignorant Indians fans have done the expected and gone all out redface to games through the postseason in Cleveland.

View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
Follow
Vince Grzegorek @vincethepolack
We're better than this, Cleveland
3:32 PM - 7 Oct 2016
49 49 Retweets 71 71 likes
screen_shot_2016-10-26_at_11.19.48_am.png

Since just the beginning of the playoffs, the renewed spotlight and focus on the deplorable red Sambo has gotten plenty of attention. Here's just a short and non-exhaustive list of the coverage so far:

- It’s time for Major League Baseball to take a stand on Chief Wahoo (NBC Hardball Talk)

- Indians’ Chief Wahoo logo is racist caricature (New York Daily News)

- Hard To Take MLB Seriously On Inclusion With Indians' Racially Insensitive 'Chief Wahoo' (Forbes)

- Cleveland Indians should say goodbye to Chief Wahoo (ESPN)

- Thumbs up to Cleveland for going to the World Series, but send that f'n Chief Wahoo to oblivion (Daily Kos)

- Indians should quit hedging, retire Chief Wahoo completely (Sporting News)

- The Cleveland Indians are liars (Deadspin)

You get the point.

While the team announced the block C logo as its primary logo before the season, ownership has remained steadfast in its stance that Wahoo won't be going anywhere. They are “very cognizant and sensitive to both sides of the conversation” but had “no plans of making a change,” a team spokesman told the Washington Post during the summer.

Their hand might be forced. Yesterday, on a segment with Mike & Mike on ESPN, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred was asked about Chief Wahoo. Here's what he said.

"Well, I understand that particular logo is offensive to some people, and I understand why. On the other side of the coin, you have a lot of fans that have history and are invested in the symbols of the Indians. I think that after the World Series, at an appropriate point in time, Mr. [Larry] Dolan and I have agreed we’ll have a conversation about what should happen with that particular logo going forward."

If you ask a certain contingent of Indians fans, nothing should happen. But the (rightful) momentum to be done once and for all with the racist caricature is growing despite backward-ass, fearful, Trumpian pleas for continued ignorance from certain people. This jackass, for example.

Follow
Greg Brinda @SirFranksnBacon
Come strong with your Chief Wahoo stuff tonight Tribe fans! The political correctness is out to get us!
1:05 PM - 25 Oct 2016
19 19 Retweets 84 84 likes
Pressure from the commissioner might actually turn the dial on this debate. (If he decided to apply pressure instead of waffling.)

The other thing to consider: If you parse through Mark Shapiro's quotes above, it's abundantly apparent keeping the Chief has been a business decision. For years and years now, the Indians have had the lowest or near lowest attendance in baseball. Their TV deal was nice for region and for the time at which it was signed, but it's a pittance compared to the megadeals brokered in bigger markets. If you're struggling to fill the seats, attract eyeballs and sell merchandise, you probably figure you can't afford to alienate fans. We think that's misguided calculus, that the fans would quickly get over it, but you can understand how ownership and the front office could come to that decision.

So maybe a World Series trip (and, Jobu willing, a World Series championship) assuages some of those business concerns. Maybe with a hefty hike in season tickets for next year, a ticket rake through the playoff games that could damn near well equal or surpass the regular season till in pure dollars, and merchandise flying off the shelves, you're not so concerned about doing the right thing anymore.

But make no mistake, it's always been the right thing to do. The question is when and how the Indians are finally forced to do it.
Tags: Cleveland Indians, Sports, Chief Wahoo, Image


http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-hear...hief-wahoo-logo