Heap Big Horse Dung: Prof Claims ‘Tomahawk Chop’ Racist

One of the most famous fan traditions in MLB is the Atlanta Braves’ “Tomahawk Chop.” Some people think the celebration is too sensitive because of the American Left’s obsession with racism.

Kevin Bruyneel is Professor of Politics at Babson College in Massachusetts, and he specializes in teaching Indigenous Studies Settler Colonialism, U.S. Theology, Politics and Political Theory. The guy who lives off teaching people that America is inherently racist would naturally think this is a sign of white colonialism.

However, Bruyneel doesn’t believe that. Bruyneel wrote an editorial in which he called all those who participate in the chant racists towards Indigenous people.

“Through this colonialist logic, ‘honoring’ means Indigenous people are rendered as the ghosts of a primitive past, noble savages who could not survive the U.S. ‘manifest destiny’ and its civilizational expansion, although they put up a good fight, like ‘braves,’ ‘warriors,’ and ‘chiefs’ do,” Bruyneel wrote in The HuffPost.

Bruyneel makes the point that Americans behaved differently during Westward expansion.  However, I can assure you that nobody who goes to Braves games or chops Indians is doing so in an attempt to trivialize their culture.

Related: No Surprise: New Name Doesn’t Command Love from Redskins Faithful

Bruyneel didn’t let that stop him from doubling down on his evaluation of the supposed American good-for-nothing racism. He said that many Americans don’t see “Indigenous” people as their peers, or as those who live within and around them. Fans believe there aren’t enough Indigenous people in the world to be offended. Many team owners and fans agree that these names are actually meant to honor Indigenous people.

The total lack of intellectual competence and hate displayed by Bruyneel towards his American counterparts is shocking. The fact that positive aspects of another culture’s history are used by us does not mean that sports fans or our teams are insensitive to a particular group. We should be ashamed of the names of NFL Packers, as they are discrediting all their hard work in the dairy business.

We have yet to see a reason enough for this “racist gesture” to be discarded. Atlanta!