The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Oxford group calls for end of Braves mascot

Train rolls as fire rages
3/21/10
Pilot OK after hard landing
3/21/10
Boy, 14, youngest in county to be tried as an adult
3/20/10
I-75 opens up after four-car crash
3/20/10
Grant applications for history-related projects now being accepted
3/19/10
> More headlines

By Kevin Hern, Contributing Writer Updated 12:07 AM Monday, February 8, 2010

OXFORD — Talawanda schools proudly call themselves the Braves.

But now that mascot is being questioned by a group who says it’s time to retire the blue and red American Indian symbol.

An Oxford community coalition, led by members of the Oxford Citizens for Peace and Justice and the Oxford branch of the NAACP, are working toward a proposal that would call for the removal of the American Indian mascot from Talawanda schools.

Linda Musmeci Kimball, a leading member of the coalition, said this issue has been building for some time.

“Many people in this community have long been concerned about the issue of the symbol and image of the mascot at Talawanda,” Kimball said.

“We formed a coalition with OCPJ and NAACP to attempt to educate the community, school administrators, as well as the school board on the impact this has on people,” Kimball said.

In support of it’s resolution for a new mascot, the coalition points to a number of colleges, high schools and state school boards that have changed their schools’ mascot names out of awareness of the negative impact these names and symbols can have on students and citizens.

The coalition’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by the community. The resolution has sparked debate around Oxford, a town already known for dealing with mascot changes.

A Facebook.com group titled “Keep Talawanda’s mascot the Braves” has gained more than 1,400 members and includes heated discussion about the topic.

Kimball, who also was involved in the Miami University mascot change from Redskins to RedHawks, says opposing responses aren’t addressing the issue.

“I think there are people who base their views on whatever emotional appeal they have and what they do when they strike back is ad hominem attacks rather than dealing with the issue,” Kimball said.

As of now, Talawanda schools haven’t received anything official from the coalition.

“Nobody has come to talk to us as an official group,” said Talawanda school spokeswoman Holli Morrish.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

Vin, better cover up, your ignorance is showing...

So, now you discriminate if someone isn't "indian" enough for you? What percentage of indian blood would be acceptable for this discussion?

Leave the Braves alone. Tribes are dying out all the time, as the indian culture was destroyed by Americans all to make us more "white". And now you want to take away what little is left of our identity.

The OCPJ thinks by eliminating ALL references to Indians, that will fix the past...

Sorry...

Red American
8:11 AM, 2/11/2010

REPORT ABUSE

That's one reason why the Braves term is offensive to those who belong to real tribes, and I don't mean people who have a single Cherokee ancestor; I'm talking about those who are ethnically identified as a Native American.
Vin 9:53 pm 2/10/2010

Sorry, you're wrong. The percentage of those offended by Indian nicknames is less than 1%.

This nonsense has gone too far. I'm Irish and not offended by the "Fighting Irish" of Notre Dame. I've never heard one fellow Irishaman complain.

Fighting Irish
5:56 AM, 2/11/2010

REPORT ABUSE

There never was a real Talawanda Tribe--look it up!!!
It is historically inaccurate to claim that there ever was. The first students at the high school made up the idea so that they could pretend to be like the Miami Redskins. That's one reason why the Braves term is offensive to those who belong to real tribes, and I don't mean people who have a single Cherokee ancestor; I'm talking about those who are ethnically identified as a Native American.

Vin
9:53 PM, 2/10/2010

REPORT ABUSE

You know, there are situations where we become so 'politically correct', that we become incorrect. A mascot is a symbol of pride. Something which represents the good in a person or group of people. I'm a 1980 graduate of Talawnda. I was a 'Brave' then, and I will forever be a 'Brave. I'm proud to be a Brave. And I'm more proud of the positive connotations and images a 'Brave' implies, whether it be a school mascot or a Brave of the Talawanda Indians, Miami Indians, Cherokee Indians, etc.

Phill Baker
8:19 PM, 2/10/2010

REPORT ABUSE

I can't help noticing that many of those who like the Braves as a nickname are from Kentucky. Would they like it if we had the "Talawanda Hillbillys" with a mascot that is toothless and barefoot like the old Mountain Dew ads that stereotyped Appalachians? Would they think that mocking their heritage would be an honor and a tribute?

Vin
11:18 AM, 2/10/2010

REPORT ABUSE

There are 63 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.