An Open Letter to the Atlanta Braves:

I know you’re probably tired and over it when it comes to people telling you to change your team name, but I ask you to bring some empathy and patience to the table one more time.

You should be more than aware now that your team’s name, branding, and traditions carry centuries of racial insensitivity against the Indigenous Peoples of the United States, and we as a nation are beyond tired of it. 

Although you have promised to end the Chop, among other harmful and problematic traditions, results are yet to be seen. At the same time, your own city’s many, city history based suggestions for a new name have gone unheeded.

Therefore, I’m proposed two options for you to choose from:

1. The Bare Minimum

• Rebrand the entirety of the team branding, while still keeping the name
• this includes any references to Indigenous peoples in brand images, cheers, etc 
• Restrict any fan with old branding from coming into games, home or away

2. the above and beyond 

• Change the team name to any of these (or other) city of Atlanta based options including, Atlanta Hammers (after Hank Aaron) or Atlanta Redtails
• Immediately cease production of any old branding
• Automatic ban for any fans who come to games wearing old branding

I’m not going to sit here and make some sort of ultimatum saying the fans are going to walk away and rebuke you if you don’t do this; WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT ALREADY FOR YEARS NOW. So do something different. If Cleveland can do it easily, why can’t you? Do it TODAY, do it before the season begins, and just maybe we’ll forgive you.