The brand new identify unveiled Wednesday comes 18 months after the once-storied franchise dropped its previous moniker following a long time of criticism that it was offensive to Native Individuals and below contemporary stress from sponsors.
Washington has some new Commanders on the town.
The NFL crew introduced its new identify on Wednesday, 18 months after contemporary stress from sponsors helped persuade the once-storied franchise to drop its previous moniker following a long time of criticism that it was offensive to Native Individuals. The group dedicated to avoiding Native American imagery in its rebrand after being referred to as the Washington Soccer Workforce the previous two seasons.
Washington is the most recent American main skilled crew to desert its identify linked to Native Individuals, and it was thought-about one of the crucial egregious.
Suzan Proven Harjo, who's Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee, referred to as the change “an incredible and an enormous step within the maturation of America.” The 76-year-old Harjo has been advocating for sports activities groups to drop Native imagery and mascots because the Nineteen Sixties.
“That’s form of our place on the planet, Native individuals’s place on the planet, to assist the remainder of the nation come to grips with its previous and to grasp tips on how to transfer on,” she mentioned. “And, I hope, tips on how to do it with grace.”
Whereas Main League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians have modified their identify, the NFL’s Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and baseball’s Atlanta Braves have mentioned they don't seem to be planning to make a change.
That doesn’t sit properly with IllumiNative, a Native American woman-led social justice group, although founder and govt director Crystal Echo Hawk praised the transfer by the Commanders.
“Native mascots are inaccurate and stereotypical depictions of Native tradition,” the Pawnee lady mentioned in an announcement. “They don't honor or have fun Native peoples however are reasonably a device of white supremacy created to dehumanize and objectify us. Analysis has proven time after time that Native mascots result in lowered vanity and self-worth, and will increase charges of despair, self-harm, and violence towards Native youth.
“The Washington Commanders are proof that ending the usage of Native American imagery in sports activities is feasible. The Cleveland Guardians are additional proof.”
Washington proprietor Dan Snyder mentioned the change that pays “homage to our native roots and what it means to symbolize the nation’s capital.”
“As we kick off our ninetieth season, it is necessary for our group and followers to pay tribute to our previous traditions, historical past, legacy and the greats that got here earlier than us,” Snyder mentioned. “We proceed to honor and symbolize the Burgundy and Gold whereas forging a pathway to a brand new period in Washington.”
President Joe Biden welcomed the identify change by posting an image on Twitter of Commander, his not too long ago acquired German shepherd pet, in entrance of the White Home.
“I suppose there’s room for 2 Commanders on this city,” Biden wrote.
From 1932 till two seasons in the past, Washington had used the identify Redskins — which offended Native Individuals and others.
“Redskins” is the worst identify that Native Individuals could be referred to as within the English language, in line with Harjo. She mentioned the phrase hearkens to a time when bounties have been paid for the scalps of Native Individuals.
Whereas hundreds of excessive colleges, schools and professional sports activities organizations have dropped Native imagery and mascots, she estimated about 1,000 stay.
“All of this cultural thievery actually has to cease,” Harjo mentioned. “What the Washington crew and the Cleveland crew have completed is to take away two of probably the most grotesque and vile photographs and names that exist. They offered by instance what could be completed even should you’re making a fortune doing it.”
“Even when they didn’t suppose it was 100% flawed, the homeowners, an entire lot of individuals did. And they also needed to as properly. So, good, so long as they may also help clear the decks.”
Ray Halbritter, consultant of the New York-based Oneida Indian Nation and chief of the Change the Mascot marketing campaign, mentioned the identify change is “a victory for all of these world wide in search of to advance inclusivity and respect in our societies.”
“But, equally vital is how all of us select to recollect what was concerned in getting the crew to lastly change its identify,” Halbritter mentioned.
Because the Commanders, Washington retains the identical burgundy and gold colours that have been round for the three Tremendous Bowl championships within the Nineteen Eighties and early ’90s glory days. It follows the will of crew president Jason Wright and coach Ron Rivera for the brand new identify to have a connection to the U.S. navy.
Commanders was chosen over different finalists reminiscent of Pink Hogs, Admirals and Presidents. Pink Wolves, an preliminary fan favourite, was dominated out earlier within the course of due to copyright and trademark hurdles.
The rebranding course of had been occurring because the summer time of 2020, when crew officers opted for the short-term Washington Soccer Workforce identify that lingered into the 2021 season.
The change comes amid the group’s newest controversy: dozens of former staff describing a poisonous office tradition, which brought about Snyder to fee an investigation that was taken over by the NFL. After the investigation by lawyer Beth Wilkinson’s agency, the league fined Washington $10 million and Snyder briefly ceded day-to-day operations of the crew to his spouse, Tanya, whereas he targeted on a brand new stadium settlement.
The league didn't launch a written report of Wilkinson’s findings, a transfer that sparked criticism. The U.S. Home of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform is holding a roundtable dialogue Thursday with a handful of former crew staff to debate their experiences.
Getting a stadium deal completed is subsequent on the agenda for Snyder and his entrance workplace. The crew’s lease at FedEx Discipline expires after the 2027 season and momentum is constructing for an settlement in Virginia, although websites in Maryland and the District of Columbia are nonetheless into consideration.