KC Star demands the Chiefs stop the chop

[Hammock Parties]

****ing piece of shit fishwrap

Stop the offensive ‘Arrowhead Chop.’ It’s time for a new Chiefs tradition

link redacted

The image of former Kansas City Chiefs star Derrick Johnson banging the war drum at Arrowhead Stadium provided a stark reminder of the home team’s offensive and outdated tradition.

While Johnson led the prelude to last Sunday’s nationally-televised contest between the Chiefs and Green Bay, fans waved their arms back and forth in unison, banding together for the Tomahawk Chop.

It was a bad look for Kansas City — and an affront to Native Americans.

For years, the Chiefs organization has worked with Native American groups to address concerns about the negative stereotypes that have been on display at our home games. The team no longer promotes face paint or headdresses that disrespect the heritage or customs of Native Americans.

And Native Americans have blessed the use of the Chiefs’ war drum in accordance with their customs and rituals.

But the ever-present “Arrowhead Chop” at home games, along with Chiefs officials’ unwillingness to disavow the cheer, are evidence that the team still has more work to do.

“The Arrowhead Chop is part of the game-day experience that is really important to our fans,” said team President Mark Donovan.

But why? Arrowhead Stadium is one of the loudest places to play in the NFL, and there’s no doubt that Chiefs fans will bring the noise — with or without the chop.

The divisive chant is racially insensitive and entirely unnecessary.

“The chop itself is the most disgusting thing you can do in sports,” said Amanda Blackhorse of Arizona to Rally Against Native Mascots, a national group opposed to the use of Native American images in sports.

The continued use of Native American mascots, nicknames and themes in sports dehumanizes Native Americans, Blackhorse said.

“I disagree with so much of what they are doing,” she said of the Chiefs organization’s continued encouragement of the chop. “At this point, they are ignoring the opposition. Shame on them for allowing racism to happen in that stadium.”

Elizabeth Glynn, the CEO of Travois, which helps create affordable housing and economic development opportunities for American Indians, has spoken to leaders of tribal nations and said most are against the use of any imagery that depicts Native Americans in a bad light. Travois works with more than 100 tribes in 22 states.

“No one wants to take away the enjoyment for fans,” Glynn said. “There are a lot of ways to have fun at games. You can do that without labeling and stereotyping an entire group of people.”

Of course, the Chiefs aren’t the only organization that has clung to this offensive celebration. The Tomahawk Chop came under fire earlier this month during the Major League Baseball playoff series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves.

St. Louis pitcher Ryan Helsley of the Cherokee Nation was asked for his thoughts about the Braves’ game-day tradition. Hensley didn’t mince words, and the Atlanta organization immediately halted its foam tomahawks giveaway.

“I’m trying to use my voice to get awareness out there and try to help people in that way, to help people see another side, help people see our side,” Helsley told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

While sports teams have paid lip service to racial sensitivity, the Washington Redskins have shown no inclination to change their distasteful and inappropriate nickname. Cleveland’s baseball team was painfully slow to phase out its mascot, which belittled Native Americans, Chief Wahoo.

The Chiefs have taken steps in the right direction, but their unwavering commitment to the Arrowhead Chop is confounding and disappointing. What purpose does it serve? And why continue the chant if it offends even a single Native American?

Chiefs fans are among the most loyal and enthusiastic in the NFL. And there’s no doubt they would fill any void left by the absence of the chop with a high-decibel celebration of our team.

November is National Native American Heritage Month. The Chiefs plan to celebrate the culture during a game against Oakland on Dec. 1. But the organization could do far more good if it used this month to reevaluate a practice that perpetuates stereotypes and dehumanizes an entire group.

It’s time for a new Chiefs tradition.

[Gravedigger]

I personally think of it as an homage more than anything. We stand for something, stand for each other in the stadium, stand for the team, stand for a rallying cry or pure intimidation, we stand together to enjoy something in unison and let both teams know that we're there. There's no political or religious boundaries. There's no war, poverty, racism, misogyny, or world hunger for those moments, just us. We can worry about life later, at that moment, all the worries go away and when the adrenaline kicks in, it's an amazing experience. I voted Democrat in almost every election that I voted in, and you're not stopping me from doing the chop. Even if the team stopped playing the music, the fans would still carry on the tradition.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by 13and3

What about the Vikings, that shit is racist too.

It's impossible be racist against white people these days. Learn the rules.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I wish KC had their own thing (instead of some retread from Atlanta, FSU), but other than that, it’s fine. With our luck Chief Fan would simply replace it with 7 nation army...


The chop is more of an indictment of Chief Fan’s lack of originality than anything else.

This is kinda my feeling its a ripoff of FSU.

Native Americans have no claim of exclusive right to Chop. The tomahawk is derived from Algonquian word tomahawken meaning used for cutting. Every culture has a tool for cutting. I believe the Chiefs call this The Chop so **** off Indian Nations. I personally dont partake in the chop for reasons I stated at beginning just like I refuse to do the wave also its stupid. If you want to do it knock yourselves out I won't work to stop it. Grow thicker skin.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by 13and3

Would this be considered offensive

No its just a name. Would be silly for a sports team comprised of 90% black men though.

[JakeF]

Originally Posted by Bowser

It's impossible be racist against white people these days. Learn the rules.

Some guy on tv said the name "Cracker" wasn't racist either because it wasn't about race is was about the crack sound of the whip of slavers. Cracker means slave owners. Some stupid shit like that.

People will make it whatever they need to make it.

[ThyKingdomCome15]

The Chop unifies the crowd. Its unique and fun. Daunting to opposing fans. I really like it.

Now bring back Rock N Roll part II

[13and3]

That damn drum is racist too

[srvy]

Originally Posted by JakeF

Some guy on tv said the name "Cracker" wasn't racist either because it wasn't about race is was about the crack sound of the whip of slavers. Cracker means slave owners. Some stupid shit like that.

People will make it whatever they need to make it.

Well I learned something today. I just believe its was like a saltine kinda white.

What if the person cracking the whip was black? I pretty sure every race at onetime has cracked a whip on another.

[13and3]

Its arrowhead stadium for **** sake. What do these mother fathers expect

[srvy]

Originally Posted by 13and3

Its arrowhead stadium for **** sake. What do these mother fathers expect

And again arrowheads aren't exclusive to American Indians.

[HemiEd]

“The chop itself is the most disgusting thing you can do in sports,” said Amanda Blackhorse of Arizona to Rally Against Native Mascots, a national group opposed to the use of Native American images in sports.




Oh looky here, more victims.

[Kiimo]

Originally Posted by kcclone

F the Star. F SJW’s. F hyper sensitive libs who assume any mention of race or different cultures are derogatory in nature.

F the hyper sensitive republicans too stupid to know the difference between a liberal and a SJW, just chiming in here because per usual people are roping every left leaning person in with anything they find overly sensitive.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

Oh, really?

I can think of a whole host of things more disgusting, starting with Brooke Pryor.

Yeah. I’d say trying to ruin a guys career on an extortion attempt is far more disgusting

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Kiimosabi

F the hyper sensitive republicans too stupid to know the difference between a liberal and a SJW, just chiming in here because per usual people are roping every left leaning person in with anything they find overly sensitive.

How much longer are you going to keep using that culturally misappropriated Native American weapon as your avatar, bitch boy?

[Deberg_1990]

I’m not against the Chop. But it is curious that the Chiefs have been slowly toning down the Native American imagery for awhile now......and then they install the drum deck thing....