In the 2020s two major league sports teams yielded to years of questions about whether naming themselves after a racial slur and historic misnomer for a continent full of people was a good idea.
The football team tied to our nation’s capital switched in 2022 to the Washington Commanders − away from what the dictionary describes as an “insulting and contemptuous” term for Native Americans. That was a year after the Cleveland Indians had chosen to become the Cleveland Guardians.
But at least one person, whose social media feed can flip news cycles and rattle markets, disagreed with the moves.
President Donald Trump said the “The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back,” adding in his July 20 Truth Social post that so should Cleveland.
“Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago. We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!” Trump said.
It’s not clear if he has the power, but the president has threatened plans for a new District of Columbia football stadium if Washington doesn’t make the change.
Are the Commanders, Guardians old names racist? Or are they acceptable?
Now we’re asking you, our readers, if you think Washington and Cleveland made the right choices − or if you think the old names are acceptable and even preferable. Fill out our form below or send us an email to forum@usatoday.com with the subject line “Forum Commanders/Guardians.” We’ll pick the best responses for a follow-up post.
Here are some questions to help you respond.
- Do you think it was a good idea for the teams to change their names to the Commanders and the Guardians?
- Considering some Native American tribes use “Indian” as part of their official names, are there arguments for reverting back to the old team names? Why or why not?
- What shifted in our nation’s attitudes from the time these teams first took names referencing Native Americans to the 2020s, when they changed them?
- Should President Trump be weighing in on the issue?
Joel Burgess is an occasionally avid sports fan and a Voices editor for the USA TODAY Network.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Should Commanders change name back like Trump says? Tell us | Opinion