Chiefs Woman behind the Redskins name change says the Chiefs should be on guard - Page 5

**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

UK_Chief · 06-26-2014, 06:16 AM

The Ghanaian soccer team are called The Black Stars*

*May or may not be something to do with their flag design...

**007** · 06-26-2014, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

It is offensive. The ~~Indians~~ native Americans just told you so. Why would you want to keep a name that's offensive to people?

The name isn't what is offensive. They are just trying to abuse their perceived power.

teedubya · 06-26-2014, 06:18 AM

Soon, all memories of Native Americans will be wiped away... and then the few remaining will protest that.

Just Passin' By · 06-26-2014, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

The name isn't what is offensive. They are just trying to abuse their perceived power.

You don't get to decide what's offensive to the ~~people of rougeish complexion~~ native Americans find offensive. That's for them to decide. They find it offensive. The name "Chiefs" must go.

**007** · 06-26-2014, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

You don't get to decide what's offensive to the ~~people of rougeish complexion~~ native Americans find offensive. That's for them to decide. They find it offensive. The name "Chiefs" must go.

Ahhhh trolling.

Window Licking Whiner · 06-26-2014, 06:21 AM

I called this awhile back. Being in Virignia, the fans of the Redskins said the same shit you guys are now spouting.

"It isnt offensive".."SNYDER WILL NEVER CHANGE IT", etc etc.

Once the PC train left the station it isnt stopping. Chiefs will be next, count on it.

While YOU dont think it's offensive, and I agree, THEY (the ones who cry the loudest and who the media loves to pander to) claim it's offensive. This lady is even telling you it's you she's coming after next.

After the Skins name gets changed, btw Snyder has already secured a patent for a "Washington Football Entertainment License" for a different name in case this shit goes sour. And it is going sour. But after the skins get changed, it's going to be all in public with MSNBC/CNN/etc talking about the victory for the little guys (indians), then the following questions will be directed at YOU.

And let's face it. Nobody outside of Missouri/Iowa/Kansas likes the Chiefs. Redskins have die hard fans in very big cities, (cities that make policy for the rest of the nation). What do you have?

Wait until you have Obama and Harry Reid claiming that Since the redskins got changed because it's offensive, then you county bumpkin rednecks in the Midwest ought to see the light and change the Chiefs/Blackhawks/Indians/etc.

The train has left. I'd start thinking about what you want your name to be called.

GO PACK

**007** · 06-26-2014, 06:23 AM

Kansas City Bronco Killers

Oops not very PC of me.

Just Passin' By · 06-26-2014, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

Ahhhh trolling.

Not trolling, Guru. I'm just using the same arguments that the PC pussies used in the Redskins thread. The stupidity of their claims is the same in both cases, but Chiefs fans will see it more obviously here, where it's their ox being gored.

**007** · 06-26-2014, 06:29 AM

From 2011 - Just a fan opinion but a good one.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-8754447

The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the most storied and longest-lived franchises in NFL history. When they moved from Dallas to Kansas City, they changed their nickname from the Texans to the Chiefs. There was a very distinct reason why the Chiefs have that particular nickname.

History

The reason for the Chiefs moniker isn't because of a Native American tribe in the area. Instead, the Chiefs got their nickname from H. Roe Bartle who died in 1974. He was a civic leader and executive for the Boy Scouts of America. Bartle was mayor of Kansas City for two terms and was very popular in the ciy when the football team moved from Texas.

It was during his time with the Boy Scouts from 1928 to the 1950s that Bartle got his nickname "Chief." He was an imposing figure at 6-3 and was respected by everyone. As mayor from 1955 to 1959, he was instrumental in bringing the franchise to the city. Lamar Hunt honored his hard work and dedication by naming his team after Bartle's nickname, "Chief"

Protests

In October of 2005, Native American tribes protested outside Arrowhead Stadium when the Washington Redskins came to town. They were making a point that class of people shouldn't be used as a mascot. I completely agree—the Redskins' nickname is based upon the color of someone's skin and is completely out of line.

NCAA teams have changed their names to reflect changes in attitudes such Southeast Missouri State and Arkansas State. They became the Red Hawks and Red Wolves, respectively.

Should the Chiefs follow suit with some "red" nickname and an animal? After all, KC Wolf is our on-field mascot.

I don't think the Chiefs need a new name at all. They stand for Kansas City itself, a legacy that is both proud and honorable. Arrowhead Stadium and the arrow symbol is a testament to the tradition and values of Scouting throughout the world. The arrowhead logo is also a symbol used for a leadership award in Scouting on the district level. It is also prevalent in many Scouting organizations such as the Order of the Arrow , a branch of the Scouts that passes on Native American lore and traditions.

Unlike another NFL team name that is racist, the Chiefs nickname is just fine on its own. The next time the Chiefs and Redskins play, the protest is really about the NFL team in Washington.

William Browning is a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs after latching on to the team during the lean years of St. Louis football. Born in the gateway city, he is also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.

Mother****erJones · 06-26-2014, 06:31 AM

Yup...let's just change our name to the Pelicans!...****ing twat

Kman34 · 06-26-2014, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gochiefs_va

I called this awhile back. Being in Virignia, the fans of the Redskins said the same shit you guys are now spouting.

"It isnt offensive".."SNYDER WILL NEVER CHANGE IT", etc etc.

Once the PC train left the station it isnt stopping. Chiefs will be next, count on it.

While YOU dont think it's offensive, and I agree, THEY (the ones who cry the loudest and who the media loves to pander to) claim it's offensive. This lady is even telling you it's you she's coming after next.

After the Skins name gets changed, btw Snyder has already secured a patent for a "Washington Football Entertainment License" for a different name in case this shit goes sour. And it is going sour. But after the skins get changed, it's going to be all in public with MSNBC/CNN/etc talking about the victory for the little guys (indians), then the following questions will be directed at YOU.

And let's face it. Nobody outside of Missouri/Iowa/Kansas likes the Chiefs. Redskins have die hard fans in very big cities, (cities that make policy for the rest of the nation). What do you have?

Wait until you have Obama and Harry Reid claiming that Since the redskins got changed because it's offensive, then you county bumpkin rednecks in the Midwest ought to see the light and change the Chiefs/Blackhawks/Indians/etc.

The train has left. I'd start thinking about what you want your name to be called.

GO PACK

North and South Dakota Better watch out.....
Fort Osage High School too..

|Zach| · 06-26-2014, 06:34 AM

Lots of great and relevant analogies here in this thread.

You guys are at the top of your game.

Chief Roundup · 06-26-2014, 06:37 AM

I just don't understand why people do not understand that those names for sports teams were and are being used because of the respect that people had for the fierceness and the way they fought.
It is not meant to be a bad thing, yet some want to view it that way to push their agenda.

KCUnited · 06-26-2014, 06:41 AM

I think the Kansas City Heshers could be relatable.

teedubya · 06-26-2014, 06:42 AM

The Kansas City Perennial Playoff Losers!

06-25-2014, 11:01 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3109627 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: 79,047

06-26-2014, 06:16 AM	#61
UK_Chief Veteran Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $6856512	The Ghanaian soccer team are called The Black Stars* *May or may not be something to do with their flag design...
Posts: 1,723

06-26-2014, 06:18 AM	#63
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9480002	Soon, all memories of Native Americans will be wiped away... and then the few remaining will protest that.
Posts: 36,652

06-26-2014, 06:21 AM	#66
Window Licking Whiner Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Casino cash: $10017935	I called this awhile back. Being in Virignia, the fans of the Redskins said the same shit you guys are now spouting. "It isnt offensive".."SNYDER WILL NEVER CHANGE IT", etc etc. Once the PC train left the station it isnt stopping. Chiefs will be next, count on it. While YOU dont think it's offensive, and I agree, THEY (the ones who cry the loudest and who the media loves to pander to) claim it's offensive. This lady is even telling you it's you she's coming after next. After the Skins name gets changed, btw Snyder has already secured a patent for a "Washington Football Entertainment License" for a different name in case this shit goes sour. And it is going sour. But after the skins get changed, it's going to be all in public with MSNBC/CNN/etc talking about the victory for the little guys (indians), then the following questions will be directed at YOU. And let's face it. Nobody outside of Missouri/Iowa/Kansas likes the Chiefs. Redskins have die hard fans in very big cities, (cities that make policy for the rest of the nation). What do you have? Wait until you have Obama and Harry Reid claiming that Since the redskins got changed because it's offensive, then you county bumpkin rednecks in the Midwest ought to see the light and change the Chiefs/Blackhawks/Indians/etc. The train has left. I'd start thinking about what you want your name to be called. GO PACK
Posts: 1,666

06-26-2014, 06:23 AM	#67
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $14060126 VARSITY	Kansas City Bronco Killers Oops not very PC of me. __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,554

06-26-2014, 06:29 AM	#69
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $14060126 VARSITY	From 2011 - Just a fan opinion but a good one. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-8754447 The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the most storied and longest-lived franchises in NFL history. When they moved from Dallas to Kansas City, they changed their nickname from the Texans to the Chiefs. There was a very distinct reason why the Chiefs have that particular nickname. History The reason for the Chiefs moniker isn't because of a Native American tribe in the area. Instead, the Chiefs got their nickname from H. Roe Bartle who died in 1974. He was a civic leader and executive for the Boy Scouts of America. Bartle was mayor of Kansas City for two terms and was very popular in the ciy when the football team moved from Texas. It was during his time with the Boy Scouts from 1928 to the 1950s that Bartle got his nickname "Chief." He was an imposing figure at 6-3 and was respected by everyone. As mayor from 1955 to 1959, he was instrumental in bringing the franchise to the city. Lamar Hunt honored his hard work and dedication by naming his team after Bartle's nickname, "Chief" Protests In October of 2005, Native American tribes protested outside Arrowhead Stadium when the Washington Redskins came to town. They were making a point that class of people shouldn't be used as a mascot. I completely agree—the Redskins' nickname is based upon the color of someone's skin and is completely out of line. NCAA teams have changed their names to reflect changes in attitudes such Southeast Missouri State and Arkansas State. They became the Red Hawks and Red Wolves, respectively. Should the Chiefs follow suit with some "red" nickname and an animal? After all, KC Wolf is our on-field mascot. I don't think the Chiefs need a new name at all. They stand for Kansas City itself, a legacy that is both proud and honorable. Arrowhead Stadium and the arrow symbol is a testament to the tradition and values of Scouting throughout the world. The arrowhead logo is also a symbol used for a leadership award in Scouting on the district level. It is also prevalent in many Scouting organizations such as the Order of the Arrow , a branch of the Scouts that passes on Native American lore and traditions. Unlike another NFL team name that is racist, the Chiefs nickname is just fine on its own. The next time the Chiefs and Redskins play, the protest is really about the NFL team in Washington. William Browning is a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs after latching on to the team during the lean years of St. Louis football. Born in the gateway city, he is also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo. __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,554

06-26-2014, 06:34 AM	#72
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5316768	Lots of great and relevant analogies here in this thread. You guys are at the top of your game.
Posts: 53,435

06-26-2014, 06:37 AM	#73
Chief Roundup Admitted Planet Junky Join Date: Oct 2000 Casino cash: $2031627	I just don't understand why people do not understand that those names for sports teams were and are being used because of the respect that people had for the fierceness and the way they fought. It is not meant to be a bad thing, yet some want to view it that way to push their agenda. __________________ Fanaticism is nowhere. There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
Posts: 19,209

06-26-2014, 06:41 AM	#74
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $2258244	I think the Kansas City Heshers could be relatable.
Posts: 33,940

06-26-2014, 06:42 AM	#75
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9480002	The Kansas City Perennial Playoff Losers!
Posts: 36,652