New Year - New Baseball Team!
As a lifelong Cleveland sports fan, I knew the nickname of our professional baseball team was highly offensive to many. However, it was not until this weekend that I learned that the previous name actively prevented so many Clevelanders and baseball fans from participating in the national pastime. I have been to many opening days and games for the team when they operated under their previous name. I attended a Congressional forum at the Cleveland City Club this past Friday and found myself in dialogue with a woman of Native American descent. During the conversation, she shared with me how relieved she was with the name change, and how for the first time as an adult that she was looking forward to attending a Cleveland Guardians game! As an African American, I have found myself on the receiving end of offensive comments, actions, and situations. I have been called the most offensive word in the English language, and had my intelligence questioned - simply on the basis of race. Howeve...