This is my number one choice. It just works so well with name and color scheme Washington wants to keep while also being a little woke.
But...
I was talking with someone about this idea and they said someone out there will try to cancel this too. I haven't fact checked this but they claim the Redtails, while having the ability to be the first black airmen, were still segregated from the white airmen and were given the worst, most risky jobs.
Considering the general rottenness of the human species and the various tragedies of our history, one could cancel *anything* if they really wanted to.
Heck, there is a small movement to cancel
Hamilton. It portrays the American founding in a positive and uncritical fashion, has very little mention of slavery, and the history it emphasizes is the "dead White men" style of history regarding politics, fiscal policy, philosophy, and the biographies of "great men" like Hamilton, Washington, and Jefferson.
Having a mostly non-White cast and a score inspired by funk, R&B, and hip hop does not necessarily protect you from portraying a "problematic" and simplistic version of the history. Granted, that movement has gotten nowhere, but they tried.
I think you and I would agree that cancelling "Redtails" is crazy. I think corporate sponsors, who are really calling the shots, would agree. We are not supposed to honor the Redtails
because they suffered discrimination and showed the bravery to take on the most dangerous missions despite what their country showed them?
Our stadium is named after a young Black man who died from injuries sustained in a game -- ones he likely sustained because of racial animus. Are we not supposed to honor Jack Trice because he was a victim? How should the story of the Redtails and Jack Trice not be an inspiration? That is something FedEx can get behind.
I don't care either way, but this culture is getting ridiculous. Tornadoes and Hurricanes kill people every year, if I had a family member killed by one I'm offended and our name should be changed.
You can literally make a case for about any team, you just have to make a stink about it. When I lived in Omaha people associated cornhuskers with hillbillies and us city folk didn't enjoy that.
Let's just get rid of mascots and nicknames and go full on euroleague, they can be the Washington FC (football club).
Such an association with soccer and Europe would trigger me.