The Cleveland Indians logo has developed significantly over the years and is now known as ‘Chief Wahoo’. The logo has caused much outrage, with many finding it outdated and racist in terms of its imagery and underlying motifs. A depiction of a stereotypical American Indian, the face has bright red skin, a feathered headband and a hooked nose. While the contrasting colour scheme is striking and reflects the American Flag, it is seen as a disrespectful representation of the American Indians and their culture. The cartoon style and ‘cheesy’ grin are also seen to promote the idea that the natives were subhuman, a stigma that has lingered throughout much of American history. While over the years the logo has consisted of several different variations of an American Indian, the call to dump the imagery all together is yet to be answered.
According to the Cleveland baseball franchise, the name ‘Indians’ was adopted in 1915 in honour of Louis Sockalexis, the first Native American to play Major League Baseball. His arrival at the club created such a stir that local newspapers nicknamed the team the ‘Cleveland Indians’, however at a time when racism was accepted, they often reported such things as “he’s gonna be scalping people.” The Cleveland Leader published a story on January 17, 1915, publicising the name change by saying “in place of the Naps, we’ll have the Indians, on the warpath all the time, and eager for scalps to dangle at their belts.”
In terms of its design, ‘Chief Wahoo’ is simple yet attention-grabbing. With vivid use of colour and a sense of humour portrayed through the large grin, the logo does the job that is intended – to be memorable. While I agree that it is insensitive due to its stereotypical portrayal of an American Indian, the logo itself is done in a highly stylised and interesting manner, making it an ideal symbol for a sporting team from a design point of view.
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9/10 Good research and interesting opinions.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Jane