Editorial: What's in a name?
CMU should reopen debate on Chippewa name change with Tribe, Athletics
As much as we’d like to think we’ve evolved as a society, racism still appears and must be called out by those who refuse to tolerate such behavior. At Central Michigan University, we saw an act of racism before our annual football battle with Western Michigan University.
What was supposed to be a “joke” on the part of a spirited Broncos fan quickly turned vile as word spread that a WMU graphic artist created a T-shirt depicting a Native American solemnly behind bars. The tagline on the shirt said “Caught a Chippewa ’bout a week ago,” with “Hot Bronco” emblazoned on the back.
Within a matter of days, the media had jumped all over the incident, forcing Western’s president to make a statement denouncing the shirt. That statement was coupled with expressions of disappointment from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, CMU’s administration, its Student Government Association and even the CMU marching band.
We applaud all of these groups for speaking out against such behavior, however, the larger issue is still unresolved. It is ever apparent in the wake of this story to reopen the debate – with conviction and sincerity – on whether or not CMU should change its name. By simply having our sports teams associated with a minority group, we open ourselves to accidental racism. If CMU cares about being a progressive university, it will reopen its dialogue with the Tribe about changing our name.
Sport is probably the one institution left in America that can divide so many throughout the week, and then brings us back into perfect synchronicity with the click of a remote.
That’s why moments like these are just sad; sad because deep down, past the pomp, circumstance and furious fandom, the institutions of professional and college sports continue to fly the flag of racism in front of millions of viewers 365 days a year.
To say that sports entertainment has a problem getting past its own institutionalized and accepted racism is an understatement – the NFL, NHL NCAA are the very last in line when looking at groups that have flat-out ignored their bigoted caricatures of minority groups.
In the last year, sports personalities and football fans called on the Washington Redskins – the epicenter of the debate on mascots and race – to change the name of the team.
We get it. It’s tradition. These names have history. When groups the Tribe sanctions the use of its name, it makes it easier for sports teams to ignore the realities of using a minority as a mascot.
We contend that a name, with or without a character handing out hotdogs at halftime, is still viewed by most as a “mascot.” Calling ourselves Chippewas is not inherently racist, but is it right?
It’s time we face facts, the tide of public opinion is in opposition to having sports teams using Native Americans as symbols.
CMU is one of the most benign among a group of teams with much more harmful representations. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take the lead in this debate.
Let’s help shape the conversation before the consequences of not taking a stand shape the narrative for us.
