Cleveland baseball team agrees to remove logo from uniforms: The Cleveland Indians major league baseball team announced last month that the offensive "Chief Wahoo" logo used for decades will no longer be used on uniforms and on-field displays. Unfortunately, the cartoon face will still decorate official team merchandise. In response to the change, Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred Jr. said, “Major League Baseball is committed to building a culture of diversity and inclusion throughout the game. Over the past year, we encouraged dialogue with the Indians organization about the Club’s use of the Chief Wahoo logo. During our constructive conversations, [team owner] Paul Dolan made clear that there are fans who have a longstanding attachment to the logo and its place in the history of the team. Nonetheless, the club ultimately agreed with my position that the logo is no longer appropriate for on-field use. Source: huffingtonpost.com.
Nolan's retirement throws race into question: Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, a traditionally Democratic stronghold that includes Mille Lacs Band Districts I, II, IIa, and III, voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump in the 2016 election. As a result, Democratic Congressman Rick Nolan's February 9 announcement that he would not seek reelection has Republicans licking their chops and Democrats looking over their shoulders. Potential candidates in both parties are putting out feelers and checking their bank accounts. Democrats have held the seat for 68 out of the last 70 years. Source: minnpost.com.
Smithsonian exhibit examines Indian images and stereotypes: Americans, a new exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, explores how Native Americans have been central to America’s sense of itself even as they were systematically persecuted, marginalized, and erased. The show contains nearly 300 objects and images of Indians, including a motorcycle, a missile, sports memorabilia, movie footage, and photos of celebrities in headdresses. Cécile Ganteaume, associate curator at the museum, said, "It’s a deep paradox: for Americans, American Indians are essential to their own sense of themselves, but while imagery of American Indians is everywhere, it’s a curtain to prevent Americans knowing who American Indians truly are.” Source: theguardian.com.
Washington theatre stages play by Cherokee playwright: Sovereignty, a new play that incorporates Cherokee language and is written by Mary Kathryn Nagle, a playwright, lawyer, and citizen of Cherokee nation, is being produced at Arena Stage, one of Washington D.C.’s leading theatres. The play shifts between the 1830s and the near future with characters including President Andrew Jackson, who signed the Indian Removal Act, and a violent drunkard wearing a “Trump” T-shirt. Artistic Director Molly Smith said, “I have to tell you there’s a big upswing in Native American plays being produced around the country. It is your time. So it’s pretty thrilling that this voice is now being heard.” Source: theguardian.com.