/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67093855/1255952121.jpg.0.jpg)
The Washington ___?
On July 13th Dan Snyder announced that they would be changing the 87-year-old Redskins logo and name. Snyder, however, did not come to this conclusion on his own. In days leading up to the press release, Nike as well as many other retailers and sponsors pulled Redskins merchandise from their websites as a silent protest to the name. This is not the first time the team has been asked by Native Americans themselves to change the name. previously, the debate had gained no real public traction and was quickly shut down by Snyder. Like I’ve said before, if there’s ever a year to fix something, it’s going to be 2020. This change has called into question other teams like one close to home, the Texas Rangers. A writer of the Chicago Tribune brought attention to the name after explaining the Ranger’s ties to war crimes against Mexicans and Mexican-Americans as well as comparing the fear they instilled to the that of the Klu-Klux-Klan. Since then, the statue of a Texas Ranger inside Dallas Love Field has been removed. Do you think the Rangers need a name change?
The NBA on Police Brutality
NBA players like Lebron James seem to be the ‘first on the block’ to speak up for the black community. That’s why when the NBA announced they would allow players to wear phrases that highlight their support against police brutality, I wasn’t surprised. The original plan was to wear names of people who have died at the hands of racial injustice, but out of respect for the families they opted out of that idea. The NBA has set a great example with this move, paving the way for peaceful protests among leagues and in other communities. The powerful words promote love for all, rather than cancel culture or the idea that hate can eliminate hate.
The rise of more protest like this have brought the question of kneeling during the national anthem back into the picture. This form of protest seems to be something NFL players, with the exception of soccer, over any league participate in. Do you think we’ll be seeing more of that this year, and if so will it be as heavily scrutinized as it was when Colin Kaepernick did it?