By Ken Reed
The American Sociological Association (ASA) has joined other academic and civil rights organizations in calling for Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Indians franchise to abandon the Chief Wahoo caricature used by Cleveland as the team’s logo.
In a letter to Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, ASA president Michelle Lamont wrote:
“Sociologists and scholars from allied social and behavioral science fields (e.g. anthropology and psychology) have conducted research on the topic of Native American sports nicknames and logos. The findings from these studies are clear: these nicknames and logos involve stereotypes that harm Native Americans.”
In the past, Cleveland ownership and management has said they’re more concerned with the logo’s relationship with fans than with the logo’s relationship to American history.
At its core, this isn’t an issue of political correctness. It’s an issue of common decency and dignity.
It’s time to flush Chief Wahoo. The team will be just as good next year — and outings to the ballpark just as fun — without him.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans
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