For years, sports teams across the United States have used Native American imagery as mascots, a tradition once brushed off as harmless or even seen as a tribute. However, in recent years, that practice has come under fire for reinforcing harmful stereotypes and contributing to cultural appropriation.

In response, many teams have begun rebranding, with high-profile cases like the Washington Commanders and the Cleveland Guardians abandoning their former names. Yet the Chicago Blackhawks remain unchanged, still proudly bearing a Native American logo. That raises a real question: are they ignoring the cultural shift, or is their case different?

Some students feel that the logo, not necessarily the name, is the issue. “I think the Blackhawks should change their logo, but keep their name,” said Peter Huang, a senior. “The Native American logo might be offensive or condescending toward Native Americans, but I don’t think also changing the name would be necessary.”

Others see the logo as the most pressing concern due to how it visually represents culture. “I personally think that the Blackhawks, although a professional legacy to uphold, their mascot should probably be changed first,” said senior Andre Chen. “Then the name, if needed, at least fans would still recognize it.”

The team’s defenders often point to historical context that the name honors Chief Black Hawk and a World War I military division and their community outreach as evidence of respect, not mockery. But intention alone isn’t always enough. The line between acknowledgment and appropriation remains blurry, and the Blackhawks are still skating on thin ice.

Overall, if the team wants to move forward while honoring the past, reevaluating their imagery may be the first step toward doing both. However, this is a debate that will go on for some time, but will hopefully come to a solution to make both sides happy.