Chiefs Woman behind the Redskins name change says the Chiefs should be on guard - Page 19

**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

Chief Roundup · 06-26-2014, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

NAtive American...just another word for Asian.

You know how is that not offensive as well. Will we see that name change as well? Black people have been called various names, deemed proper at the time, over the years.
If Indians are Native Americans then why isn't every body else some "fill in the blank" Americans, i.e. Italian American, French American, African American and so on? Otherwise some race is still being treated differently, which will be viewed by someone as offensive.

**hometeam** · 06-26-2014, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

You know how is that not offensive as well. Will we see that name change as well? Black people have been called various names, deemed proper at the time, over the years.
If Indians are Native Americans then why isn't every body else some "fill in the blank" Americans, i.e. Italian American, French American, African American and so on? Otherwise some race is still being treated differently, which will be viewed by someone as offensive.

White people aren't allowed to have heritage.

Reerun_KC · 06-26-2014, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hometeam

White people aren't allowed to have heritage.

or be offended.

Chief Roundup · 06-26-2014, 03:12 PM

Everyone better stop calling Christian Okoye "The Nigerian Nightmare" it is racist and offensive.

Carlota69 · 06-26-2014, 03:31 PM

What the **** is wrong with everyone? This whole thing is so outrageous. What's next, after Chiefs, Braves, Indians, Cowboys? Then what? Are we not allowed to dress up as Anything other than table lamps for Halloween because it could offend someone? This is such bullshit.

I bet you money, this lady sits around a disparages other races. She probably talks abut the dirty person of Hispanic heritages, the over privileged WASPS, the gang banging thugs and the flaming phaaaaggggooots as she sits and writes Congress her complaints about football teams and their "names". The loudest pieces of shit, are usually the most hypocritical.

**** her.

Oh and BTW, I'm pretty liberal. This isn't politics at its heart. It's ****ing stupid at its heart, or should I say at it's asshole.

Hammock Parties · 06-26-2014, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlota69

What the **** is wrong with everyone? This whole thing is so outrageous. What's next, after Chiefs, Braves, Indians, Cowboys? Then what? Are we not allowed to dress up as Anything other than table lamps for Halloween because it could offend someone? This is such bullshit.

I bet you money, this lady sits around a disparages other races. She probably talks abut the dirty person of Hispanic heritages, the over privileged WASPS, the gang banging thugs and the flaming phaaaaggggooots as she sits and writes Congress her complaints about football teams and their "names". The loudest pieces of shit, are usually the most hypocritical.

**** her.

Oh and BTW, I'm pretty liberal. This isn't politics at its heart. It's ****ing stupid at its heart, or should I say at it's asshole.

LET'S MAKE BABIES

Coochie liquor · 06-26-2014, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForeverChiefs58

I wish people that represented 1% of anything would shut the **** up.

Even 1% we bikers??

R8RFAN · 06-26-2014, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlota69

What the **** is wrong with everyone? This whole thing is so outrageous. What's next, after Chiefs, Braves, Indians, Cowboys? Then what? Are we not allowed to dress up as Anything other than table lamps for Halloween because it could offend someone? This is such bullshit.

I bet you money, this lady sits around a disparages other races. She probably talks abut the dirty person of Hispanic heritages, the over privileged WASPS, the gang banging thugs and the flaming phaaaaggggooots as she sits and writes Congress her complaints about football teams and their "names". The loudest pieces of shit, are usually the most hypocritical.

**** her.

Oh and BTW, I'm pretty liberal. This isn't politics at its heart. It's ****ing stupid at its heart, or should I say at it's asshole.

Sorry... You voted for this shit... Live with it

Carlota69 · 06-26-2014, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3rd&48ers

Sorry... You voted for this shit... Live with it

Wtf are you talking about? Oh nevermind, you're an idiotic Raider fan. There's no logical conversation with you.

R8RFAN · 06-26-2014, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlota69

Wtf are you talking about? Oh nevermind, you're an idiotic Raider fan. There's no logical conversation with you.

Here we go, the angry liberal attacking..

You voted for this shit lady, deal with it.

**Tribal Warfare** · 06-26-2014, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Im tellin' ya.

Yankees are due a lawsuit from white people.

Same with Cowboys.

It's time for white people to play the same game.

Start a revolution!

What no mention of the Vikings? I'm Scandinavian damnit, it pisses me off.... I think?

Carlota69 · 06-26-2014, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3rd&48ers

Here we go, the angry liberal attacking..

You voted for this shit lady, deal with it.

Like I said, no logic at all.

Eleazar · 06-26-2014, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Native does have a point.

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!?!"

You're not Native American, bitch, you're ****ing white as shit. Sit your ass down somewhere.

According to my mom, I would be 1/32nd or 1/64th or something. (Not sure how true it is, no one is living any longer who could say for sure)

The idea that I would consider myself Native American because of that seems hilarious to me.

R8RFAN · 06-26-2014, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlota69

Like I said, no logic at all.

That all you got?

If you had voted for the Tea party lady. Harry Reid would have lost and he is the chief puppet in all of this (uh oh, I said Chief)

Halfcan · 06-26-2014, 03:51 PM

“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.”

WTF is this suppose to mean?

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.

That was paid for by the players-they wanted something to band them together. The Chiefs had nothing to do with that. Besides it was over a decade ago- ****ing get a clue. It was NOT meant to degrade anyone. I think it might have even been done for a charity? 3rd and long maybe?

06-25-2014, 11:01 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $2599627 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: 79,305

06-26-2014, 03:12 PM	#274
Chief Roundup Admitted Planet Junky Join Date: Oct 2000 Casino cash: $1521627	Everyone better stop calling Christian Okoye "The Nigerian Nightmare" it is racist and offensive. __________________ Fanaticism is nowhere. There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
Posts: 19,245

06-26-2014, 03:31 PM	#275
Carlota69 MVP Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Las Vegas Casino cash: $9925282	What the ** is wrong with everyone? This whole thing is so outrageous. What's next, after Chiefs, Braves, Indians, Cowboys? Then what? Are we not allowed to dress up as Anything other than table lamps for Halloween because it could offend someone? This is such bullshit. I bet you money, this lady sits around a disparages other races. She probably talks abut the dirty person of Hispanic heritages, the over privileged WASPS, the gang banging thugs and the flaming phaaaaggggooots as she sits and writes Congress her complaints about football teams and their "names". The loudest pieces of shit, are usually the most hypocritical. her. Oh and BTW, I'm pretty liberal. This isn't politics at its heart. It's **ing stupid at its heart, or should I say at it's asshole. __________________ Women want someone who can make them laugh and protect them. So basically a Clown Ninja.
Posts: 6,592

06-26-2014, 03:51 PM	#285
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	“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.” WTF is this suppose to mean? 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. That was paid for by the players-they wanted something to band them together. The Chiefs had nothing to do with that. Besides it was over a decade ago- ****ing get a clue. It was NOT meant to degrade anyone. I think it might have even been done for a charity? 3rd and long maybe?
Posts: 43,200