Wahoo is Out of Style at Library
County system's staff can't sport Tribe logo
from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 20, 1999

You can’t check out Chief Wahoo at the Cuyahoga County Public Library.

The executive director of the library system has banned employees from wearing clothing with the grinning, red-skinned Indians baseball team mascot because he believes the symbol is insulting to American Indians.

“I felt that Wahoo is a caricature that is demeaning to Indians and Americans interested in diversity,” said Executive Director John A, Lonsak. “Our library is dedicated to diversity and Wahoo is insulting to some. I can recall images - of [Little Black] Sambo and that was not appropriate. Neither is Wahoo.”

Lonsak sent a memo last week to all 700 employees in 29 branch libraries advising them the regular dress code would be suspended on Indians’ home game days to allow people to show their support of the team, as long as clothing does not depict Wahoo. Cynthia Sledz, president of the Cuyahoga County Library Union, said the majority of the union members oppose the Wahoo ban.

Members “understand that there are certain segments of the population who don’t find it politically correct and that we might be hurting some of our patrons,” she said. “They also say that there has not been any determination in court against it, so wearing Wahoo is legal and should be permitted.” Lonsak said if employees violate the dress code rule, they will be warned not to do it again. He said he was not sure what he would do if an employee repeatedly wore Wahoo clothing.

Leaders of local American Indian groups said the library’s decision is positive.

“We have been working so hard to make people understand how insulting Wahoo is,” said Fay Brings-Them, chairwoman of the Lake Erie Native American Council. “It’s good to know we are getting through.”

She said the county library is one of the few places to find the video documentary “In Whose Honor?” by Charlene Peters, which examines Wahoo and other mascots deemed offensive by American Indians.

Juan Reyna, chairman of the Committee of 500 Years of Dignity and Resistance, said the library’s policy is encouraging.

“In the final analysis, as we have said over and over, no one would do something like this to Jewish people or African-Americans, so why should they insult our people?” he said. “It’s blatant racism and it’s right in our faces. It’s not even enough to get rid of the logo, we want the, name ‘Indians’ changed as well.”

Lonsak said he had been “getting a lot of grief” from library employees about his decision, but plans to stick by it.  He said he might bring in an American Indian to talk to the staff and explain why American Indians find the logo insulting.

Sledz said some employees objected to the ban because it means having to buy Wahooless clothing to support the team.

“They’ve been wearing their team clothing to work during home games for years. Why should they have to go out and buy new clothing?” she asked.

The Cleveland Library also allows “dress down” days for Indians’ home games but has no ban on merchandise with the Wahoo logo.