C'mon, guys, enough with the attacks. Address this with some civility or don't address it at all. Comments like "Well they should have won the war" are completely and unjustifiably wrong to make in ANY context.
That said, I feel there could be some real value in having this conversation. Hell, I'm partially Native myself on my mothers side. Her middle name is Sioux, our family carries a bit of pride in that connection.
That said, outrage from some (I'm assuming here, as it's often the case in the states) group of overly sensitive white people doesn't tell me much is really going on in this story. I get being offended by the moniker Redskins, it's a slur much like any other, and it IS disrespectful, as is Chief Wahoo. By the way, to the poster that earlier mentioned the Pekin team, you're spot on (I live about 40 minutes away.) They were called the Pekin Chinks. They're now the Pekin Dragons, and if I recall correctly, their logo is/was a basic mock up of a paper dragon from the festivals, wonder where that idea came from.
That being said, I don't think the Blackhawks are on the list of teams that are being racially insensitive. The name is based on an actual War Chief, rather than a group of people, that had a significant history in the state. The original owner served in the Blackhawk divison of the military, likely named as such after hearing tales of the War Chief himself. Most were NOT warlike people, though internal struggles for power weren't infrequent. They led their people as something to aspire to. Rarely WANTING war, but when it came to their people they would fight like junkyard dogs to keep them whole. Leadership, bravery, perseverance, sacrifice. THAT is a War Chief. That was Black Hawk. Though none could vouch for the truth of any of these things, these are the stories that were told. Stories, often told in truth, tend to distort over time, becoming larger than the actual truth of the matter, distorting into myths and legends. The fearless leader, the relentless protector, that's something most would want their team to be known as. Hell, for all we know the leader of that battalion said he had personally KILLED the man and taken the moniker for his infantry unit.
Sorry, that got a little bit on the ramble side of things, Native American history is kind of a hobby of mine.
TL;DR: The name, to me, is more a celebration of a people we are sadly left with so few of. The logo, I mean, sure it's a "generic Native face," but the chief complaints from actual Native groups isn't really usually just the logo, that's just where the media tends to take it. It's the attitude behind the owners that just throw up their hands and say "Well we had this name when I bought the team, so get over it" even when it's something that's clearly in poor taste. I'm sorry, but the Indians and the Redskins aren't doing themselves any favors by using terms that are antiquated at best, and downright blatantly insensitive at worst. I don't think it's disrespectful, and I'm willing to have open, honest discourse on that matter.
No idea. I'm not pretending I have the answers. There are plenty of talented people in Chicago, maybe they make something completely different. Either way, this is years and years away from happening. The "Indian head" isn't going anywhere any time soon. And I'm fine with that, until we get enough people asking for us to change it.
