The news media are running reports that Robert Griffin III, aka RGIII, is urging fans to urge the Washington NFL franchise owners to reinstate the team’s former logo. This week he posted on X (formerly Twitter) the following message: “Dear Washington Commanders fans, this is a safe space. Would you be happy if the old logo was brought back?” The message was accompanied with his photo (above) in the old uniform. That post received 13 million views, 11 thousand replies, 2.9 thousand reposts, and 88 thousand likes.
He followed that up two days later with this question: “Would you rather Washington keep the current name or go back to the Football Team?”
The final results for the second question were 39.6% for Washington Commanders and 60.4% for the Washington Football Team. The generic name won by a 3 to 2 margin. That’s like saying a majority would rather have no name than Commanders.
The article on FanBuzz went on to include the results of a 2004 poll of 700 self-identified Native Americans of which less than 10 percent were offended by the name. Still, powerful activists were able to convince journalists and corporations that this term, which was originated by the Piankashaws in 1769 to differentiate themselves from white and Black men.
Perhaps lack of fan support will convince Commanders owners to consider a change.
Tags: RGIII
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