The Washington Redskins must change its name for three reasons. And FedEx, Nike and Pepsi must apply practices of equality throughout their organizations.
Would you choose heritage over hate?
The fact that there’s backlash against the American football team, the Washington Redskins, reviewing their name is absurd to me. The Washington Redskins logo and brand identity need to change too. The controversial name is more than racially insensitive; it’s derogatory, a racial slur (just like the n-word,) and straight out hurtful to others.
According to Esquire, “a ‚Redskin‘ is the scalped head of a Native American, sold, like a pelt, for cash.” A.k.a., it’s a toxic term and enough to make your skin crawl.
So, I’m not surprised that the team’s headline sponsor, Fed Ex, prompted a „thorough review“ of the Washington DC Football team’s name. And I’m not surprised that Nike pulled its Redskins merchandise from its website.
Here’s what we need to learn from the debate surrounding the potential name change.
Firstly, we can’t choose history over hate. That’s the formulae for failure in this ever-changing landscape. For brands to stay relevant, they need to move with the times and change. Sure, it’s important to remain true to your DNA.
