House That Hank Built
Fansided

Three reasons why the Atlanta Braves will maintain their nickname to the bitter end

By Alan Carpenter

A Native American poses for pictures along the highway in 2018 in Cherokee, North Carolina. The region is home to the Cherokee Nation band of Indians, and the Atlanta Braves are partnering with them for specific priorities. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
A Native American poses for pictures along the highway in 2018 in Cherokee, North Carolina. The region is home to the Cherokee Nation band of Indians, and the Atlanta Braves are partnering with them for specific priorities. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
Atlanta Braves
A detail view of an Atlanta Braves hat during the game against the New York Mets at Turner Field on May 3, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Pouya Dianat/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) /

The dominoes fall slowly, but the Atlanta Braves could be the last domino — if they ever fall.

The names, they are a’changing:  the Washington Football Team and now the Cleveland Indians – remaining with the offending moniker through 2021.  Which still leaves the Atlanta Braves as they are.

It’s a fair question to ask, then (as Jake did early this week):  are the Braves next?

In an interview with MLB Network Radio — and frankly, egged on by host J.P. Morosi — Fawn Sharp, the President of the National Congress of American Indians, noted that her organization has approved a resolution calling for the elimination of all sports mascots, imagery, memorabilia, and the like.

This would include not only the Atlanta Braves, but also a number of college programs that have established a healthy rapport with the tribes they purport to represent.  Here’s just two of them:

  • Central Michigan University Chippewas.
  • Florida State University Seminoles.

In the case of CMU, they are very careful about how they refer to their namesake tribe.  They do so with the express permission of the tribe as well:

"But the Chippewas haven’t been forced to change, and the university doesn’t believe the nickname is racist. Neither does the Mount Pleasant-based Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Rather, the nickname is used as a sign of pride and honor toward local indigenous people. “The partnership goes back many decades, and I see the value in the education and outreach opportunities in sharing of the nickname,” Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe chief Timothy Davis said in a statement Wednesday. “I support open dialogue and appreciate the leadership from President Davies and CMU as we continue to find new and innovative ways to expand our partnership.”"

Nonetheless, outside pressure from those who typically either haven’t investigated or don’t care about the steps that these Universities have undertaken to show their respect for their namesakes and for indigenous people in general will continue to be a drumbeat as they push for a resolution to a perceived slur that may or may not actually exist.

That brings us back to the Atlanta Braves National League Baseball Club, Inc.

Here, then, are three reasons why fans can expect the “Braves” moniker to continue indefinitely…

Home/Braves News