With the Washington football team, The Boston Redskins, announcement that they’re changing their name, I felt compelled to share some thoughts that I’ve had over the years about trying to balance being a progressive person who is also a diehard fan of a sports franchise with a problematic mascot.
I am a lifelong fan of Atlanta baseball. My memories of watching games with my family are among the fondest of my childhood. I can still hear my Papa grumbling that the team was “playing like a bunch of dad blasted dummies.”
I can close my eyes and see my Grandmother wearing a giant foam finger while singing, “Javy got a homer!” like it was yesterday. Just last June, the last day that I spent with my mom before she died, I was watching a Sunday afternoon game by her bedside and cheering on the team as they absolutely decimated the Phillies by a score of 15–1. (It was always a little sweeter when they defeated the Phillies!)
Atlanta baseball has always been the bridge over any gaps in political or ideological differences between my family and friends growing up. That will never change.
It is, however, time for a change in Atlanta.
I believe it is time for the team to begin the process of changing their team name, mascot, and branding in the name of equality and taking a clear, anti-racist stance against the years of institutionalized and accepted racism in our country.
I know just by writing that, I’m going to lose some of you, but I ask that you please stick with me on this one.
History is a tricky thing. I am not calling for history to be re-written, and it cannot be erased. Changing the logo and team name will not change the feelings you had when Sid slid in ‘92. It won’t change Vin Scully’s call of Hank Aaron hitting #715 off of Al Downing in ’74. I’m sorry, but it also won’t change the horrible Octobers we all shared in ‘91. Or ‘92. Or ‘96. Or ‘99.
It certainly won’t change ‘95. We’ll always have that magical Game 6 with Glavine’s masterful eight shutout inning, Justice’s solo shot, and Grissom charging in for that last out to clinch the World Series Championship.
No name change will ever take away my memory of Steve Cochran, Carmen Bailey, and skipping school to go downtown to watch the parade with thousands of other excited fans. No logo change will ever take away the friendships we’ve all made over the years because of that instant connection that you can make with a stranger when you see them wearing that curvy “A” on their cap.
And yes, those memories will always have the tomahawk chop embedded in them. You probably wouldn’t have to dig too deep to find a picture of me wearing a jersey or shirt with the Braves logo. My game room has a framed jersey signed by Dale Murphy (it’s still a crime that he isn’t in the Hall of Fame and I’ll die on that hill) with that logo. I have a half dozen jerseys with the tomahawk logo, and some caps and I’m vowing to put all of that away in the name of positive change.
Here’s the thing though—while I know there are some Native American people who don’t have an issue with the name or logo, there are also many that grew up in the south who love baseball that have said they feel uncomfortable cheering for the team because of the chop and the derivative and exploitative nature of what it means and how it represents their heritage.
If the franchise takes a stand to change their branding, imagine how many people it might allow to feel good about making memories of their own, similar to the ones that are such important parts of our individual stories.
Like in all talks of equality and social reform, the underlying edict is that all people deserve to stand at the same starting line when entering the race of life in order to have the same opportunities as anyone else. In regards to Atlanta baseball that is simply the ability to cheer for a team, make memories with friends and family, and enjoy going out to the ballpark in the summer without seeing their heritage being presented as a mockery or stereotype.
Nothing will be lost. Our memories won’t be taken from us or changed in any way. In fact, changing the team name gives us a unique opportunity to make a new memory that would add to the pride of being an Atlanta fan.
Let’s look back into the not-too-distant future and think fondly of the time the organization took that last, difficult step toward ensuring that fans of all demographics can go to the ballpark and look out across the vivid green field while listening to the crack of the bats as Ozzie, Acuna Jr., and Freddie take batting practice without being marginalized or mocked by the branding and logos of their team.
Let’s, as a fandom, all join together and welcome this change, without selfishness or disdain, to make this transition as easy as possible for everyone involved.
Making that memory would be the bravest thing we could do.
Most recently the Atlanta baseball team issued the following statement to their season ticket holders: “Through our conversations, changing the name of the Braves is not under consideration or deemed necessary. We have great respect and reverence for our name and the Native American communities that have held meaningful relationships with us do as well. We will always be the Atlanta Braves.” Regarding the “tomahawk chop” the letter said, “ …it is one of the many issues that we are working through with the advisory group.”
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