What’s in a Name? The Story of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Native American Mascot Controversy
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the few North American scholastic or professional sports organizations remaining with a mascot derived from Native American heritage. Season 2 of Sometimes it Rains chronicles the riches, to rags, and back to riches story of the Chiefs amidst the backdrop of an all too little know history of the Native American people in the United States that led to the intertwining of sports mascots, culture and politics.
Now available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Podcasts, Anchor, Google Podcasts, and Radio Public
Episode 1: The More You Know
When looking at the issue of Native American mascots in sports, so much comes down to a lack of knowledge concerning the history of Indigenous peoples and the relationship between Native Americans and The United States. We also look at the history of mascots in sports and how professional sports teams in Boston, Cleveland and Washington began to claim Native American iconography for their own.
Episode 2: Are You Ready for Some Football?
Professional football comes to the Great Plains when an entrepreneur from Dallas decides to move his team to KC. A look at the history of the Kansas City Chiefs and how the name came about. We also discuss the ways in which the United States criminalized Native American culture and traditions in an attempt to force cultural assimilation.
Episode 3: Let’s Talk About the Chop
We dive into the history of the “Tomahawk Chop” in sports and how it is emblematic of how much we “don’t” know of Native American history. We also take a look at how the movement to end the use of Native American mascots gained momentum in the 90’s and into the 21st century.
Episode 4: The Kansas City Chiefs Are on the Clock
A discussion of what the future might hold for the movement, including the recent significant steps taken by professional franchises to address the issue and what that might mean for the Kansas City Chiefs moving forward.