The War Chant and Tomahawk Chop
Racism Score: 1.2
Over the past few years, sports team’s names and mascots have been scrutinized, however there is one action that has captivated many on a Saturday afternoon and that is War Chant and Tomahawk Chop.
The War Chant was adopted primarily by the Florida State Seminoles. The Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Chief fans are other mainstream teams that use the chant. The organizations (sans FSU) have distanced themselves from the chant.
Hearing tens of thousands of people scream the War Chant in unison while enacting the Tomahawk Chop is a sight to see. Take a look:
The challenge with the chant and chop is that it has been deemed racist. Heavy sigh. There is a fine line between appropriation and appreciation. There seems to be a split amongst Native Americans regarding the use of the War Chant along with the Tomahwak Chop.
We will defer to the Florida Seminole tribe who partners with Florida State. This one is tough, if the Florida Seminole tribe decries the War Chant and Tomahawk Chop, then it should cease. Until then, enjoy the appreciation!
In Popular Culture
Nelly, P. Diddy, and Murphy Lee collaborated on a song that samples the War Chant.
The following video is shared for educational purposes.
