Redskins Name Controversy Familiar to Natick

The Washington Post reported nearly two weeks ago about the "Racist Stereotypes and Cultural Appropriation in American Sports” forum that took place at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

About a dozen mostly academic speakers spoke at the symposium, and together they demanded that the NFL's Washington Redskins change their name, while one museum trustee even urged people to boycott the team and their sponsors if they don't.

The ongoing controversy surrounding Native American mascots in sports is familiar to Natick.

Natick High School became the Redmen in 1957 when Silvio Mandino began using the moniker as a young journalist covering NHS athletics.

Redmen remained the Natick High mascot for 51 years, until the school committee found it to be racially offensive in 2008 after some residents expressed that they found the nickname to be distasteful.

Natick became the "Red and Blue" beginning in 2009, until about a year ago when Natick High School principal Rose Bertucci announced that they would be looking for a new team name.

After taking suggestions from students, staff and residents for a new mascot to replace Red and Blue, the choices were narrowed down to a final list of five in May. Students and staff at the high school were given the opportunity to vote, and over half of the ballots cast chose Redhawks. The new logo design was finalized six weeks later by Diane Fassino.

With more than half the school year over, what do you think of Redhawks as the new team name now? If you didn't like it before, has it grown on you?