Still #NotYourMascot

This week, the Toronto Blue Jays will face Cleveland in the American League Championship Series in baseball. The Jays head to Progressive Field in Ohio for the first game, to face off against a team with an unprogressive name.

The debate around racist team names and mascots has flared up again, especially in Canada, thanks to some key people taking strong stances against announcers using the names in their commentary.

In a recent interview on the Jeff Blair show, long-time Blue Jays radio commentator Jerry Howarth renewed his promise to never say the name of Cleveland’s baseball team while calling the games. His decision was sparked back in 1992 when an Indigenous fan wrote to him to say why terms like “powwow on the mound” and “tomahawk chop” are disrespectful.

Since then, Howarth has never spoken Cleveland or Atlanta’s team names on air. Several other sports commentators have also vowed to #JustSayCleveland in the upcoming series, including Sportsnet’s Jamie Campell.

Jesse Wente, a public speaker, columnist and TIFF Bell Lightbox’s Director of Film Programmes, commended Howarth and spoke out against the racist names as well, expressing exhaustion at having to explain to his kids yet again why the derogatory name for his people is still plastered all over the franchise.

Check out Wente's interviews on the CBC Morning Show and CBC Metro Morning to hear more about why Cleveland's Chief Wahoo is not a welcome sight for Indigenous people.

Header photo by Pat Bolduc, courtesy of A Tribe Called Red. Design by Brian Kirby.