The Chicago Blackhawks this week responded to critics who say they must change their name and logo with a resounding, “Nah.”
A spokesman for the hockey team said Tuesday that the organization, named for the U.S. 86th Infantry Division, which was itself nicknamed in honor of the Sauk Nation war chief Black Hawk, will not rebrand over complaints that its name and logo perpetuate racist stereotypes.
‘‘The Chicago Blackhawks name and logo symbolizes an important and historic person, Black Hawk of Illinois’ Sac & Fox Nation, whose leadership and life has inspired generations of Native Americans, veterans, and the public,’’ the team said in a statement.
It adds, ‘‘We celebrate Black Hawk’s legacy by offering ongoing reverent examples of Native American culture, traditions, and contributions, providing a platform for genuine dialogue with local and national Native American groups. As the team’s popularity grew over the past decade, so did that platform and our work with these important organizations.”
Meanwhile, other professional sports teams featuring similar Native American-themed names and imagery have taken the opposite approach. The Washington Redskins, after years of pressure, announced last week that they would undergo a “thorough review” of the team’s name. The Cleveland Indians announced they would likewise review their team name.
The Chicago Blackhawks, on the other hand, say they have no reason to change anything about their title or imagery because there is nothing at all offensive about either one, despite what certain critics claim.
‘‘We recognize there is a fine line between respect and disrespect, and we commend other teams for their willingness to engage in that conversation,” the group’s statement explains. ‘‘Moving forward, we are committed to raising the bar even higher to expand awareness of Black Hawk and the important contributions of all Native American people.”
The statement adds, ‘‘We will continue to serve as stewards of our name and identity and will do so with a commitment to evolve. Our endeavors in this area have been sincere and multifaceted, and the path forward will draw on that experience to grow as an organization and expand our efforts.’’
In a sane world, the Blackhawks’ response would probably serve as the turning point at which businesses realize they do not need to submit to the increasingly unreasonable demands of the increasingly deranged “woke” mob. But we do not live in a sane world, so we will just have to see whether the Blackhawks’ perfectly reasonable statement puts the issue to rest or whether it leads to the mob declaring all-out war on Chicago’s NHL team.
