The Cleveland Indians are changing their name next season to the Cleveland Guardians, the Major League Baseball club announced Friday morning, after the current moniker drew criticism for decades from Native Americans.
“You see, there’s always been a Cleveland — that’s the best part of our name,” actor Tom Hanks says in a video announcement he narrated for the team, which posted it on Twitter. “And now it’s time to unite as one family, one community, to build the next era for this team and this city.”
The move is part of a larger cultural shift across the US as corporate brands reexamine their use of racist caricatures and stereotypical names.
“We acknowledge the name change will be difficult for some of us, and the transition will take time,” team owner Paul Dolan said. “It is our hope and belief this change will divert us from a divisive path and instead steer us towards a future where our fans, city, and region are all united as Cleveland Guardians.”
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SOURCE: CNN – Jason Hanna, Homero De la Fuente and Kevin Dotson
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