Chiefs Woman behind the Redskins name change says the Chiefs should be on guard - Page 15

**BigRedChief** · 06-25-2014, 11:01 PM

The fight took a monumental shift at a protest nine years at Arrowhead Stadium and it’s about to come full circle. No matter what you think of the issue, it will soon be ubiquitous in and around Kansas City’s greatest obsession other than barbecue.

The Chiefs are aware of it, and are preparing accordingly.

Back in 2005, a group calling itself Not In Our Honor protested before the Chiefs played Washington. The protesters were predominately American Indians, united in their anger over what they perceived as offensive stereotypes passed off as nicknames for sports teams. An older woman, Suzan Harjo, one of the leaders of the protest, met a younger woman named Amanda Blackhorse, then a student at Kansas.
They bonded over their passion for the issue, and that’s how the case known as Blackhorse et al v. Pro-Football Inc. came to be. Last week the plaintiffs prevailed when the United States Patent and Trademark Office canceled the trademarks of the Washington Redskins.

The case is under appeal, but you should know that the woman who took on and (at least for the moment) defeated the corporate entity that owns Washington’s NFL team would like to see the same type of case brought against the Chiefs.
As she says, the spark that started back in 2005 at Arrowhead has created a fire that will probably soon return.

“What happens there, it’s just insane the things they allow to go on,” Blackhorse says of the Chiefs and Arrowhead. “They are definitely in the group (of offensive teams), for sure.”

For now, the Chiefs are publicly silent on this. But they know the fight is likely coming, and they hope a few things work in their favor — most notably that it’s tough to compare their nickname with the one in Washington that is a dictionary-defined racial slur. Blackhorse’s group has also protested baseball’s Cleveland Indians, and that team has greatly scaled back its use of the cartoonish Chief Wahoo logo.

The Chiefs have similarly scaled back some of their more obvious plays on Indian stereotypes, and they hope they have some other advantages when the fight comes. The team is named after H. Roe Bartle, the mayor who was key in Kansas City landing the team from Dallas in 1962. Bartle’s nickname was “The Chief.”

The team stopped using a man dressed in traditional headgear as a mascot during pregame festivities many years ago. In the early 1990s, many of the Chiefs’ defensive players posed for a poster that today both looks absolutely ridiculous and would never be recreated.
The team does, however, play the tomahawk chop during games and welcomes fans in headgear and other stereotypes of Native American dress.

Those are some of the parts of the game day experience that Blackhorse calls “insane,” and why she expects a fight that’s gaining momentum and support nationally to come to Kansas City.

She knows that the vast majority of Chiefs fans will oppose her, but she also knows that the vast majority of fans in Washington opposed her, as well.

She says there is “no middle ground with this issue,” that once an ethnic group is used as a nickname for a sports team, the people in that ethic group lose control of their identity and humanity.

“I don’t want people to think I’m going around pointing fingers, like, ‘You’re a racist, you’re a racist, you’re a racist,’ ” she says. “That’s not the point. The point is we’re offended. You can love Native Americans to death. You can have admiration, love what we do, how we are, whatever, and still (hijack) our culture without understanding it that way.”

Wherever you stand on this issue, there is no denying that Blackhorse’s side is making progress. Teams are sensitive to and aware of perpetuating stereotypes so much more than in the past, in response to public sentiment.

The issue is further complicated by context, that this is a fight centered around Indians, who make up about 1 percent of the nation’s population and who, in Blackhorse’s words, “are invisible sometimes to people.”
That makes getting the message out a bit more difficult. A group of people that feels offended by widespread stereotyping isn’t big enough to get critical mass on its own.

That’s why Blackhorse says the movement needs the help of non-Indians, and part of why she’s so encouraged by developments in Congress and with the trademark case.

There is a lot of momentum here, which can be dangerous for teams like the Chiefs that will likely soon find themselves directly in the fight.
“I’m not sure there’s anything the (Chiefs) can do at this point other than look for another name,” Blackhorse says. “They could be the team that says, ‘You know what? We understand the issue and we don’t want to be Dan Snyder and fight this in court forever. We want to do the right thing and move forward and avoid this entire battle.’ I’m sure fans will be upset, but still, that’s doing the right thing.

“If they want to be sensitive to Native American people, that’s the thing to do.”

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...#storylink=cpy

Early 90's

Crying Ramtard · 06-26-2014, 01:45 PM

I like all indian themed teams and team names now. Have for years.

this is purely a case of taking obsessive behavior by complainers way too seriously

keg in kc · 06-26-2014, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Any time these types of threads come around we see just how "diverse" CP actually is. Apparently, about 85% of you are 1/4 Blackfoot. It's just so comical when you guys step in here with your tirade "I'm 1/16th Cherokee and I'm not offended so why could anyone else possibly be!?!"

I actually admitted I was 1/16th more as a statement that I don't consider myself american indian, since it's so far back. And it actually was cherokee. But I'm no more indian than I am german or dutch.

So yeah, I think it's funny when he's talking about his native american heritage with his 1/128th blood.

Reerun_KC · 06-26-2014, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

I bring this up all the time. It's something i noticed back in elementary school and i've been making fun of white people for it ever since. It's hilarious.

White people can never just be white. There is ALWAYS, ALWAYS some white guy in the room that's 1/8 cherokee or 1/10 Blackfoot.

ALWAYS. It's so funny.

I'll always remember the first white person who did it. I was in the 3rd grade. Some little pasty, blonde white girl...."I'm 1/8th blah blah blah and 1/16" blah blah blah".

I just had to give her an epic 9 year old facepalm.

And ever since then, it's never failed. Whenever ethnicities are brought up there is ALWAYS some white guy who is part indian. Always. And i laugh about it every time.

how is this any different than the white guy trying to act black? or the white guy supporting any radical racial group who wants change?

So if you can make fun of the people that are part this or that, they can look back at you and tell your dumb white ass to shut the **** up. You are not Native American, keep your man pleaser shut and take your honkey ass back to the casino.

Those people always crack me up. White man 100% invested into some movement that doesnt affect his race....

Reerun_KC · 06-26-2014, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I actually admitted I was 1/16th more as a statement that I don't consider myself american indian. And it actually is cherokee. But I'm no more indian than I am german or dutch.

So yeah, I think it's funny when he's talking about his native american heritage with his 1/128th blood.

I am about as honkey as you, but if I can throw shit at the debbie do gooders, then my 1/128 makes it all the better.

IT gets under their skin and in their heads...

Fish · 06-26-2014, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Both "Chiefs" and "Redskins" are currently considered offensive, according to this native American woman. There's no difference at all.

And to another individual native American, neither word is offensive.

Can't please everyone.....

cosmo20002 · 06-26-2014, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj56dt58

Yes let's take away freedom. I have a better idea. Let's line these ****s up and put one in the back of their head

I don't agree with her, but you are a dumbass.

keg in kc · 06-26-2014, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

I don't agree with her, but you are a dumbass.

Too much extremism creeping into today's world. "You don't agree with me so you deserve to die".

Just Passin' By · 06-26-2014, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

I am about as honkey as you, but if I can throw shit at the debbie do gooders, then my 1/128 makes it all the better.

IT gets under their skin and in their heads...

It's also perfectly valid, as that's how the rules of the game force it to be played. Those calling it hilarious, or telling the poor girl that she's not native American and to sit down, are complete idiots.

**ptlyon** · 06-26-2014, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Too much extremism creeping into today's world. "You don't agree with me so you deserve to die".

Pretty much since caveman days

**BigMeatballDave** · 06-26-2014, 01:52 PM

I do hope they ban the Tomahawk Chop. It's just ****ing stupid.

Reerun_KC · 06-26-2014, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

It's also perfectly valid, as that's how the rules of the game force it to be played. Those calling it hilarious, or telling the poor girl that she's not native American and to sit down, are complete idiots.

Everyone is showing their ass in this debate including me. We all have different opinions and views, none of us are correct until we have walked in the shoes of the native americans that find these phrases and images, etc offensive..

Garcia Bronco · 06-26-2014, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Everyone is showing their ass in this debate including me. We all have different opinions and views, none of us are correct until we have walked in the shoes of the native americans that find these phrases and images, etc offensive..

Living on the planet means hearing, seeing, and feeling things you don't like.

keg in kc · 06-26-2014, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptlyon

Pretty much since caveman days

Oh yeah, but I'm talking here at home, in the US. Seems to be more flag waving while at the same time saying stuff that sounds like the US version of radical islamicist venom.

Be nice if people could just live and let live. But I guess that's not the human thing.

Reerun_KC · 06-26-2014, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Oh yeah, but I'm talking here at home, in the US. Seems to be more flag waving while at the same time saying stuff that sounds like the US version of radical islamicist venom.

Be nice if people could just live and let live. But I guess that's not the human thing.

Interesting view KIK....

Reerun_KC · 06-26-2014, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Living on the planet means hearing, seeing, and feeling things you don't like.

That is reality of every day life... But just because someone has an opinion it doesnt make it wrong or right...

06-25-2014, 11:01 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $2849627 VARSITY	Woman behind the Redskins name change says the Chiefs should be on guard The fight took a monumental shift at a protest nine years at Arrowhead Stadium and it’s about to come full circle. No matter what you think of the issue, it will soon be ubiquitous in and around Kansas City’s greatest obsession other than barbecue. The Chiefs are aware of it, and are preparing accordingly. Back in 2005, a group calling itself Not In Our Honor protested before the Chiefs played Washington. The protesters were predominately American Indians, united in their anger over what they perceived as offensive stereotypes passed off as nicknames for sports teams. An older woman, Suzan Harjo, one of the leaders of the protest, met a younger woman named Amanda Blackhorse, then a student at Kansas. They bonded over their passion for the issue, and that’s how the case known as Blackhorse et al v. Pro-Football Inc. came to be. Last week the plaintiffs prevailed when the United States Patent and Trademark Office canceled the trademarks of the Washington Redskins. The case is under appeal, but you should know that the woman who took on and (at least for the moment) defeated the corporate entity that owns Washington’s NFL team would like to see the same type of case brought against the Chiefs. As she says, the spark that started back in 2005 at Arrowhead has created a fire that will probably soon return. “What happens there, it’s just insane the things they allow to go on,” Blackhorse says of the Chiefs and Arrowhead. “They are definitely in the group (of offensive teams), for sure.” For now, the Chiefs are publicly silent on this. But they know the fight is likely coming, and they hope a few things work in their favor — most notably that it’s tough to compare their nickname with the one in Washington that is a dictionary-defined racial slur. Blackhorse’s group has also protested baseball’s Cleveland Indians, and that team has greatly scaled back its use of the cartoonish Chief Wahoo logo. The Chiefs have similarly scaled back some of their more obvious plays on Indian stereotypes, and they hope they have some other advantages when the fight comes. The team is named after H. Roe Bartle, the mayor who was key in Kansas City landing the team from Dallas in 1962. Bartle’s nickname was “The Chief.” The team stopped using a man dressed in traditional headgear as a mascot during pregame festivities many years ago. In the early 1990s, many of the Chiefs’ defensive players posed for a poster that today both looks absolutely ridiculous and would never be recreated. The team does, however, play the tomahawk chop during games and welcomes fans in headgear and other stereotypes of Native American dress. Those are some of the parts of the game day experience that Blackhorse calls “insane,” and why she expects a fight that’s gaining momentum and support nationally to come to Kansas City. She knows that the vast majority of Chiefs fans will oppose her, but she also knows that the vast majority of fans in Washington opposed her, as well. She says there is “no middle ground with this issue,” that once an ethnic group is used as a nickname for a sports team, the people in that ethic group lose control of their identity and humanity. “I don’t want people to think I’m going around pointing fingers, like, ‘You’re a racist, you’re a racist, you’re a racist,’ ” she says. “That’s not the point. The point is we’re offended. You can love Native Americans to death. You can have admiration, love what we do, how we are, whatever, and still (hijack) our culture without understanding it that way.” Wherever you stand on this issue, there is no denying that Blackhorse’s side is making progress. Teams are sensitive to and aware of perpetuating stereotypes so much more than in the past, in response to public sentiment. The issue is further complicated by context, that this is a fight centered around Indians, who make up about 1 percent of the nation’s population and who, in Blackhorse’s words, “are invisible sometimes to people.” That makes getting the message out a bit more difficult. A group of people that feels offended by widespread stereotyping isn’t big enough to get critical mass on its own. That’s why Blackhorse says the movement needs the help of non-Indians, and part of why she’s so encouraged by developments in Congress and with the trademark case. There is a lot of momentum here, which can be dangerous for teams like the Chiefs that will likely soon find themselves directly in the fight. “I’m not sure there’s anything the (Chiefs) can do at this point other than look for another name,” Blackhorse says. “They could be the team that says, ‘You know what? We understand the issue and we don’t want to be Dan Snyder and fight this in court forever. We want to do the right thing and move forward and avoid this entire battle.’ I’m sure fans will be upset, but still, that’s doing the right thing. “If they want to be sensitive to Native American people, that’s the thing to do.” Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...#storylink=cpy Early 90's
Posts: 79,223

06-26-2014, 01:45 PM	#211
Crying Ramtard Veteran Join Date: Jun 2014 Casino cash: $10012670	I like all indian themed teams and team names now. Have for years. this is purely a case of taking obsessive behavior by complainers way too seriously
Posts: 1,199

06-26-2014, 01:52 PM	#220
BigMeatballDave GBM 8-12-15 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Dayton, Oh. Casino cash: $10052154	I do hope they ban the Tomahawk Chop. It's just ****ing stupid.
Posts: 59,997