Some have called for a change to the teams name in recent years. It wasnt until Jim Harbaugh took over the reins as head coach that the 49ers returned as one of the top teams in the NFL. "It is not just heartbreaking, but it's spiritually and emotionally harmful," O'Loughlin explained. The Super Bowl is coming up, and in these days of anticipation we often get so caught up worrying about little things like What teams are playing? and Whos going to win? that we lose sight of the bigger question: Why on earth are the San Francisco 49ers called the San Francisco 49ers? Whats the Difference Between Formula 1 and NASCAR? When New Jersey prospector James Marshall "discovered" gold at Sutter's Mill, it was because Native Americans brought the nuggets to his attention without recognizing their commercial value. How are players selected for the NFL combine? Political symbolism in sports doesn't stop with the Olympics and the Jackie Robinson story. Laws were passed that made it possible for whites to kidnap Native American children or arrest Native Americans for minor crimes and then force them to work off their fines, resulting in effective servitude. By David Bonilla. It is why there was so much fuss when it seemed that the Kansas City Chiefs' star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, had defended George Zimmerman over Trayvon Martin (the full story of the tweets, and Mahomes' views, is more complicated). A century after the Gold Rush, the 49ers were. Read: The future of Native American imagery in sports, Sutter and others tried to keep the discovery a secret, but word spread quickly, and soon the population of California swelled. O'Loughlin also reflected on the fact that America's education system shortchanges Native American history, particularly in completely neglecting what has happened to indigenous communities in recent years. Why the San Francisco 49ers are called the 49ers, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Alameda County DAs new policy will reduce prison sentences through widespread elimination of sentencing enhancements. 49ers get high marks for facilities, player treatment in NFLPA survey, 49ers GM John Lynch talks Purdy surgery, Lance recovery, Garoppolo exit, Brady retirement, 49ers must survey NFLs quarterback landscape at scouting combine, Mike McGlinchey soon to strike it rich, if not from 49ers then as free agent, is the nickname for those who flocked to northern California in 1849, also a kind of Olympic-style racing dinghy, team founder Tony Morabito saw opportunity where others saw uncertainty, are registered as the San Francisco Forty Niners,, French prospectors were the first to bring the chewy, tangy sourdough recipe, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life. The miners who arrived in 1849 encountered a number of fortunate coincidences. Who are the main candidates to buy the Washington Commanders? Well, before we start discussing the topic, lets first recognize that a caste system is [], (Last Updated On: July 28, 2020) Youve probably heard this in reference to movies with absurdly poor writing. To his credit, current California Governor Gavin Newsom recently took one of the first steps to acknowledge the facts of history by issuing a formal apology to the states Native American tribes. Since 2014, theyve been playing at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, around 45 miles from San Francisco proper. Sometimes, the name for a sports team is pretty easy to understand. Companies are refusing to broker Redskins merchandise. Its the U.S.s responsibility to educate people on this but some of that falls on you, too. There were no taxes or land rights arguments. And arguments are sure to break out between young and old family members at Super Bowl parties in Missouri and the Bay Area. After keeping a small portion for the Indians, the justice held the power to sell or grant the excess property to any chosen white man, who could, with the same magistrates permission, kidnap Indian children and adopt themor keep the youths as unpaid houseworkers and field hands until they reached the age of majority. "And studies have shown that for youth growing up near those types of sports teams with the mascots that they have, they're suffering from that. Seriously, help me get it. The old 49er has long been a beloved figure in the states lore. There was actually a write-in contest for local Kansas City denizens to name the team. Campbell also expressed concern about a number of issues which impact Native American communities. Sourdough Sam has been the teams rootin tootin unblinkin mascot since the 1970s (though the image of a wily, trigger-happy prospector goes back to the early days of the team). 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. This is a team that is named after a Native American position of authority, features an arrowhead on their helmets andplays at a facility called Arrowhead Stadium. In just four years, Harbaugh left the 49ers as one of their most successful head coaches. Despite the Senates formal rejection, federal and state officials in California carried on as if the treaties were in forceand apparently nobody bothered to inform the tribes of their true status under the law. This era has made the 49ers, statistically, one of the most successful teams in the NFL. NFL Draft 2022: How much each first-round pick will be paid, contract values, The conspiracies and fallout of Rihannas Super Bowl 2023 halftime show. Why Is The Football Team Called The 49ers. He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2016. Not because of some left/right or politically correct/progressive agenda. From 1991-1998, the 49ers averaged a staggering 13 wins per season, further cementing their legacy in the pantheon of all-time dynasties in professional sports. Theres no way you could go wrong. In early February, the Washington football team announced their new name, the Washington Commanders. Denises father, Edward DeBartolo Sr., purchased the organization for $13 million in 1977. In San Francisco's 24-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, safety Budda Baker tackled 49ers star George Kittle's and the tight end wound up leaving with a sprained left knee. The wide receiver generated a lot of offseason chatter by expressing his displeasure regarding his contract . That cheer still hasnt died to this day. Originally, they played at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco before relocating to Candlestick Park in 1970. The laws final section established a form of state-sponsored slavery. At the time, they were playing in the All-America Football Conference and would end up being the first major sports franchise to play for San Francisco. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. An arrowhead was chosen. The All-American Football League would end up dissolving and merging with rival the National Football League after the teams first season, along with teams like the Baltimore Colts and Cleveland Browns. He later added, "There is a certain honor and respect within American Indian communities that attaches to that. Taylor and his Indian affairs advisers were excited to test an idea that had been attracting growing interest. Yet the reality of the men behind the legend is not quite so lovable and comic. Given this unique cultural moment, people are taking to their social media and journalism platforms to share takes, educate, and reflect on the state of not only the NFL in 2020 but the greater issue of our nebulous-but-supposedly-lofty American values.. Gidget Alikpala G_Alikpala. (A 49er is also a kind of Olympic-style racing dinghy, which would make for an equally rich team name. Besides the fact that it equates an entire people with crude, blind violence, the region the team calls home is particularly fraught. The San Francisco 49ers publicly condemned the person who sent racist messages to Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker and announced that they have begun an investigation into identifying the fan . Houston Colt .45s? The influx of opportunists was a boon for Californias economy, and hastened its admittance into the union in 1850. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? And not anybody in an American Indian community can wear an eagle feather headdress. Montgomery conveniently left out the mistreatment of non-whites in California; indeed, one could read that section of his book and not know they were even there at the time. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. (A 49er is also a kind of Olympic-style racing dinghy, which would make for an equally rich team name. The idea of the Indian reservation continued to evolve in the nations capital. The 49ers won 49-26. is the nickname for those who flocked to northern California in 1849, also a kind of Olympic-style racing dinghy, team founder Tony Morabito saw opportunity where others saw uncertainty, are registered as the San Francisco Forty Niners,, French prospectors were the first to bring the chewy, tangy sourdough recipe. After James W. Marshall, whod been overseeing the sawmills construction, found the gold nuggets he and his boss, John Sutter, attempted to keep the discovery a secret. Fittingly, its deeply tied to the history of the San Francisco area. Not for clicks. As a result of these forms of oppression, Native Americans are having trouble asserting for their rights and interests at the polls, Campbell concluded. These miners were called the forty-niners, and the name was an easy choice for the football team when it was formed. The NFL Has Always Been Racist. The main thrust of the story is that the United States armed local militias thanks to the second amendment and sent them out on raiding parties. ", The devastation wrought to Native American communities wasn't limited to outright violence. Its also deepening stereotypes that are taking funds out of Indigenous peoples pockets while making it harder for them to get loans. "Like I call myself an American Indian and I run the National Congress of American Indians. That excuse is gone, folks. They would go on to win three in a row. Between 1849 and the late 1870s, the United States government in conjunction with the territory of California enacted laws to legally exterminate the Indigenous people of California. 1:30 PM EST, Sat February 1, 2020, A look inside the stadium hosting Super Bowl LIV. The area consisted of several hundred Americans; about 6,500 Californios (people of Spanish or Mexican descent); and roughly 150,000 Native Americans. Alas.). Lets end by taking this out of the theoretical. Enjoy live and on-demand online sports on DAZN. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! All rights reserved. Thats not to say that everything is the worst. Things are changing in some regards. between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City . The Anaheim Mighty Ducks, anyone? In fact, James Marshall and John Sutter, the two men linked with the start of one of the most pivotal events in California history, never got rich. The California Gold Rush began in 1848 but it took a year for the word to get out, and so by the time 1849 rolled around, thousands of fortune hunters had .
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, Jalen Carters Arrest Dominated the Discussion at the NFL Combine, for Better or Worse, Biggest Takeaways From The NFLPA Report Card: Vikings, Dolphins, and Raiders Shine, NFL Scouting Combine News and Rumors: The Unspoken Truth About the Ravens and Lamar Jackson, Fastest Running Back 40-Yard Dash Times in NFL Combine History, Fastest Cornerback 40-Yard Dash Times in NFL Combine History. In 2008, Jed became president of the franchise, with his parents transitioning to co-chairmen. While the team colors of red and gold are certainly a nod to the whole gold rush aspect of the 49ers name, their official mascot takes the Northern California representation to new heights. Despite its negative history, the word is regularly used by various races. Matthew Campbell, staff attorney at the Native American Rights Fund and enrolled member of the Native Village of Gambell on the Saint Lawrence Island in Alaska, made a similar point. Sure, people should feel free to enjoy the Super Bowl if they like. But those aggressive gold miners would give their nickname to a football team one hundred years later. Indeed, the Gold Rush was made possible by Native Americans, including the Mewuk and Maiduwho built Sutter's Fort in what's now Sacramento. John is also the chairman of the NFLs International Committee and sits on the leagues Audit and Business Ventures Committees. So, if your football festivities seem to be lagging on Super Bowl Sunday, feel free to whip out some of these facts and launch into a detailed conversation about bread. Bezos, Fertitta. Established in 1944, they are one of the oldest teams in the league. The San Francisco 49ers dominated the Los Angeles Rams in a 24-9 win over their divisional rival on Monday. What did Georgias Nolan Smith say at the NFL Combine about the death of his teammate Devin Willock? As one Native American recalled many years later, "My grandfather was enslaved by Sutter to help in building the Fort. 8 of the Worst (or Weirdest) Video Game Adaptations, Sporcle Events Newsletter Bonus Questions Week of 2/27. When the NFL moved The Texans to Kansas City in the early 1960s, the team needed a new name. While the Kansas City Chiefs have in recent years taken steps to improve their relationship with Native American communities, they have not banned offensive regalia from their games, ended their problematic rituals or seriously considered changing their name. Why Is it Called Death Valley? There are more historic parallels between the team and the historical context of its name: The 49ers were the first NFL team, and, in fact, the first major professional sports team to originate on the West Coast. 49er, the lowest initiated rank in a Triad. So understand this: when Indigenous people see Sourdough Sam, the 49ers mascot, they may very well think of the sheer audacity it takes to whitewash an actual genocide with a smiling, blue-eyed miner rather than a folk hero. Copyright 2019-2023. He pointed to "the distance it takes to travel to polling locations, the distance it takes to travel to county seats to obtain voter IDs, the ability to use a tribal ID to vote, the lack of access to transportation, the lack of access to a residential address, when those are made requirements for voting." Activate your account. They were relatively early compared to the competition that would follow over the next six years; they could put a pan in the river and pull out gold. Its fueling the suicide rate amongst the youth and the dehumanization of Indigenous women. Published January 31, 2013 When the California Gold Rush began in 1848, American football didn't exist. Theyve nabbed five Super Bowl titles and were home to several NFL legends, including Steve Young, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. That, to me, provides some hope. Names change all the time. The conditions in the mining camp were rough and crude. "The 49ers", a group of Cathay Pacific Airways pilots fired on 9 July 2001. Around this period of US history, the government reportedly armed local militiasto kill Native American men and seize women and childrento besold to miners and used as free labor. In the summer of 2020, they announced that they were retiring their name and logo, after decades of criticism that the name was an anti-indigenous slur . The sleeping Indians werent even members of the same Maidu tribe, but to the miners, it didnt matter: Indian was Indian. They already have the mascot in place. These are all mainstays of a Kansas City Chiefs game. The winner that shook out was an honorific for a local mayor whose nickname was Chief. This is due to said mayor starting a Boy Scout club that ripped off Native American rituals and paired it with Hollywood-inspired iconography, but thats another fight for another day. They were founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and joined the NFL in 1949 when the two merged. Aaron Rodgers reaches 500 career touchdowns, to kill Native American men and seize women and children, How did the Los Angeles Rams get their name? With the Chiefs specifically, the damage caused is that it disrespects Native American images and customs in front of millions of people. It was a single-generation system. The California Gold Rush began in 1848 but it took a year for the word to get out, and soby the time 1849 rolled around, thousands of fortune hunters had arrived in Northern California to mine for gold. After a newly constituted legislature created the governors office, a judicial system, and penalties for cattle rustling, the 49er legislators turned to the business of installing the state-fortified foundations of white supremacy. Southerners used the term for Black people who didn't "know their place" and coupled it with a racial slur. The Indians in this part of the State, in the main a harmless race, are left entirely at the mercy of every ruffian in the country, and if something is not done for their protection, the race will shortly become extinct. The-CNN-Wire Sports have political meaning because we, as consumers of entertainment, have chosen for decades to idolize athletes, identify with teams and invest greater social significance in the games themselves. The California Genocide is not taught in schools. Which Continent Is Russia Part of Europe or Asia? In the 1940s, when the team was founded, the idea of expanding the league that far across the country was considered a very risky move. Americans (of all cultural backgrounds) are woefully uneducated or, worse, miseducated about anything pertaining to Indigenous history or our modern lives. Relics like Cahokia, the largest urban center in the Mississippian culture pre-colonization was a wonder to see. Pro Football Network, LLC. Of all those who came to California, some 49ers grew wealthy but it was the merchantsthose that sold goods and services to the gold seekerswho typically made more money than the miners. To get a full view on the horrific nature of the war on the plains, listen to Daniele Bolellis amazing recounting on his History on Fire podcast focusing on the Sand Creek Massacre (one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history). Technically, the San Francisco 49ers are registered as the San Francisco Forty Niners, but that definitely wouldnt fit on a football helmet. In fact, James Marshall and John Sutter, the two men linked with the start of one of the most pivotal events in California history, never got rich. Suppose they painted a couple of small pigs black, placed Afro wigs on their heads, and then chased them around the football field at half time?". Because roughly 80% of the U.S. population was white in the 1960s, it's safe. Besides, would a single person in Kansas City be any less stoked if the Kansas City Wolves were going to the Super Bowl? Under Edward, the franchise became a juggernaut. & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. While the team colors of red and gold are certainly a nod to the whole gold rush aspect of the 49ers name, their official mascot takes the NorCal representation to new heights. It barely makes a blip on the national consciousness. While Montgomery acknowledged that there were some "reckless adventurers" who caused "serious trouble," he reassured readers that "the stern hand of a Vigilance Committee, organized by a majority of the best citizens of San Francisco, speedily taught desperadoes and thieves that life and property must be respected.". Theyd raid Indigenous towns, kill all the men, and then take the women and children to slave markets to be sold to miners as free labor. San Franciscos professional football team, the 49ers, was named in honor of the men who came to California during the Gold Rush. It was a single-generation system. The 49ers did their part to kill off Indian chiefs and their tribes. Before 1850 (when California became a state), the gold was free. Jay Inslee (2013-present), dog cognition researcher Alexandra Horowitz, Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson (2012, 2016), comedian and writer Larry Charles ("Seinfeld"), Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman (2000), Ambassador Michael McFaul (2012-2014), economist Richard Wolff, director Kevin Greutert ("Saw VI"), model Liskula Cohen, actor Rodger Bumpass ("SpongeBob Squarepants"), Senator John Hickenlooper (2021-present), Senator Martin Heinrich (2013-present), Egyptologist Richard Parkinson, Rep. Eric Swalwell (2013-present), Fox News host Tucker Carlson, actor R. J. Mitte ("Breaking Bad"), theoretical physicist Avi Loeb, biologist and genomics entrepreneur William Haseltine, comedian David Cross ("Scary Movie 2"), linguistics consultant Paul Frommer ("Avatar"), Maryland Gov. Suppose their fans did the same thing to the pigs as they did to Native Americans. And then, I have to ask, are we so blind to our own history that we want to cheer on a team that is, at the very least, covering up genocide and, at the very worst, celebrating one? This slave trade lasted well into. The San Francisco 49ers drafted Ohio State pass rusher Nick Bosa with the second overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, but a number of left-leaning 49ers fans were not happy. Is It Called Presidents Day Or Washingtons Birthday? And yes, it all connects: According to legend, French prospectors were the first to bring the chewy, tangy sourdough recipe to northern California during the gold rush, and it was first popularized in San Franciscos Boudin Bakery in you guessed it 1849. They were the 49ers from the start. As you watch Super Bowl LIV, bear in mind that rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs and taking no issue with either their mascot or their fans' traditions means rooting for racism. Meanwhile, Warpaint the horse is back. Now you can watch the entire NBA season or your favorite teams on streaming. What Is the Real Meaning Behind Ring Around the Rosie? Over a period of 10 months in 1851, three agents of the Indian Affairs Office negotiated 18 treaties of peace and friendship with the Native Americans of California. They unquestionably were not stone-age people riding horses in loincloths. Yet the same men and women who attempted to become wealthy off of the precious metals in the earth exploited, enslaved and even murdered the indigenous people in what's now the state of California in order to do so. But sports are, and always have been, inherently political sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! The 49ers is the nickname for those who flocked to northern California in 1849 hoping to take advantage of the gold rush. The teams name is a nod to history. Until 2019, when the 49ers went 133 and advanced to Super Bowl LIV, they had losing seasons every year following Harbaughs departure. He was suspended in 1999, having pled guilty for failing to report felony extorsion. A relic of the stone age which, yes, represented weaponry used during the previous millennia but also helped solidify in peoples minds that the Indigenous people of the western plains were stone-age savages. The rest was history. California, at this time, was still a part of Mexico, but in just a few days, the United States and Mexico would sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending their two-year war and transferring a huge swath of territoryincluding present-day Californiato the Americans. The teams mascot was a gold miner named Sourdough Sam (pictured above). That was a nice step. There were alsono taxes or land rights disputesat the time as California had yet to become a state. Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area noted the 49ers have a history of signing their core players to extensions, but it tends to take them longer than it might for another team.. Maiocco cited the . Fake buckskin drums. Maybe not all the way back to 1849, but the story begins in 1946, when the 49ers were first founded as a football club. Chapter 133s most abhorrent clause stated, In no case shall a white man be convicted of any offence upon the testimony of an Indian, or Indians. With those 20 words, California effectively legalized the rape, robbery, and murder of any Native American within the boundaries of the state. A few days later, they killed the hostages too. A franchise rich in tradition and success spanning several decades, the San Francisco 49ers are one of the pillars of the NFL. Goats in California? HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Matthew Rozsa is a professional writer whose work has appeared in multiple national media outlets since 2012 and exclusively at Salon since 2016. Zachary Taylors Indian affairs commissioner embraced reservations as the answer to the Indian problem in the West. The voided agreements would not see the light of day again until 1905. Why Is The Football Team Called The 49ers? The miners who arrived that year faced veryfavorable odds of getting rich. If they win it all, they will tie with the New England Patriots for the most Super Bowl victories in NFL history.