Thank you all for posting your thoughts. If I made anyone upset that was not my intention. I just wanted to gauge everyones thoughts about this issue. Now another question for you all; Must of you sad no to the change of the Blackhawks logo, but if the franchise does indeed change it, would you continue to be a fan of this team? Even though I posted my thoughts about the issue, I'm stll and always will be a fan. So what say you Blackhawk nation?
Let's see....Washington REDSKINS (THE most offensive name for a team), South Dakota Fighting Sioux, Florida Seminoles, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves (and the degrading tomahawk chop), Notre Dame Fighting IRISH.
All way more offensive than the Chicago Blackhawks classic team logo. No tomahawk chop by Hawks fans. No offensive cheers from the stands. The Blackhawks logo and team "sweater" is probably the most recognized in all of hockey, if not in all sports. The Hawks jersey outsells all others year in and year out. It's a classic.
The Hawks players and front office staff reaches out to the Chicago area Native American community many, many times during the season. This is a relationship that has been fostered over many years. It is not one of animosity. The Blackhawks as a team "Respects the Indian", to paraphrase Denis Savard.
There is no way the Hawks change their logo. It's not politically incorrect, so why is there any need to change?
The origins of the name Black Hawks, as first used by the hockey organization, was not in honor of an indian tribe, but of a infantry division that the original owner commanded in WW1.
In deference to my honesty, not ranking the Flyers logo in the top 5, gmalis the Blackhawks logo is no higher than 4th most recognizable. Montreal, Toronto and Detroit are, I think the most recognizable NHL logos and uniforms.
I have never really analyzed it but the smile, the huge nostril hook and the very SLOPING forehead are not too dissimilar from the sloping forehead thick lips cartoons of Deep South and Old West Negros, caricatures of the brutish Irish by English and Americans after the Famine, Jews 100 times, etc. Particularly the forehead. But if you say it's an accurate physical description of Sak Indians, is that racist?
imo, the only reason to change it would be if the Black Hawk tribe objected to it. in the case of EMU, the Hurons made it clear they had no issues with the school name - too bad that didn't stop the change. Eagles - ya, that's original. never heard anyone else called that before.
Political correctness is out of place with these discussions - they are sports teams. Do the Greeks complain when a team calls themselves Spartans or Trojans? Does Ottawa need to change theirs so that Italians in New York don't go nuts? In what way is the logo racist or offensive other than whatever personal baggage the complainant brings? To think of it as culturally insensitive is a stretch for me - we call cars, planes, helicopters etc after all sorts of things.
If they call themselves "warriors" its taken positively - why not take Blackhawk, Redskin, Brave etc in a positive light as well?
