As per a statement on July 13, the NFL team formerly known as the Washington Redskins will officially be changing its name and logo. The new name and logo have yet to be revealed, but fans and rivals alike are glad to see tangible change so soon after promises of a thorough investigation into the name’s history/significance were made.
The NFL has been under fire for use of the name “Redskins” for as long as the name has existed. Namely, the word is denounced as an ethnic slur towards Indigenous Americans.
Aside from the announcement itself, fans aren’t sure what to expect, or when the change will officially take place. Original plans were for a name-change by the start of the 2020 season, but some reports also speculate that their preferred name is facing obstacles in trademarking, which explains the lack of an official reveal. Washington’s team has been the first to commit to officially changing their name, but other teams have begun stepping up to the plate as well - the MLB’s Cleveland Indians already announced they would be similarly reevaluating their identity.
These critiques are reclaiming the public spotlight because of recent countrywide protests against racism, but it goes without saying, this has been a point of contention for some time now - without a doubt, all parties seem glad to finally be moving forward. And with a pandemic already on everyone’s minds, it’d be great to just sit back and enjoy a wholesome game of football (or at least a round or two of the new Madden 21).
Source: Washington Redskins
