Anger Over Edmonton Eskimos' Name Reignites After Black Lives Matter Posts
Edmonton’s professional football team is getting ridiculed for claiming to support Black Lives Matter, while still going by a name offensive to Inuit people.
The CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos are among many sports teams who lit up their social media accounts with statements of solidarity with Black communities protesting police brutality. But they’re also among the same teams with names based on Indigenous stereotypes, bringing criticism of poor allyship.
“We seek to understand what it must feel like to live in fear going birding, jogging, or even relaxing in the comfort of your home,” the first statement from the Edmonton team starts, referencing recent examples of Black Americans being intimidated or murdered, while going about their daily lives. It concludes with an expression of solidarity: “We stand with those who are outraged, who are hurt and who hope for a better tomorrow.”
The post was followed by a black square and the hashtag ”#blackouttuesday,” a well-intentioned campaign to support Black musicians that’s been criticized for taking space away from useful resources.
A post shared by Edmonton Eskimos (@officialedmesks) on May 31, 2020 at 1:26pm PDT
Anger over the statement was swift and reignited years-long calls for a name change, with Canadian singer and actor Jann Arden joining the fray.
Change your name. That’s a start. I made a terrible mistake a few years ago- using this derogatory word in what I thought was a harmless, non offinsive way- I WAS WRONG. Be better. https://t.co/1Om2RqSXBQ
— jann arden (@jannarden) June 1, 2020
Wow the audacity to put out a statement like this. Change your name!!!!! #edmontoneskimoshttps://t.co/62P8K4aLYh
— Nadine Pinto (@nadine_pinto) June 1, 2020
The hypocrisy would be hilarious if it wasn’t so harmful and dangerous. Change your name. There is no excuse.
— mood-eye maddy 👀 (@abermaddy) May 31, 2020
