I just got a newsletter from an alumni association of my high school, Flint Central High in Michigan. I don't know how they got my address. As I read through it, I saw a logo, and recalled (three decades on) that our mascot was the "Indians."

I idly wondered how long such a symbol of Amerikkkan racism and imperialism could stand.

I went to the web site, and was simultaneously amused and appalled to find that the Flint, Michigan school board had in fact voted to no longer allow this cultural hegemony and continuing genocide to continue. (Note that it's not a permalink--it will probably be good for a few months, because they don't seem to update much, but not forever...)

It gets better. My junior high, Whittier (now a "middle school"--what's that all about?) was "The Braves." My elementary school (named after a total dud of American history, President Franklin Pierce) was the "Pierce Arrows." They idiotically struck down these symbols of racism as well (ignoring the fact that the Pierce Arrow was a car...).

There's a happy end to the story, though. Being Flint, Michigan (which Michael Moore continues to pretend is his home town, even though he's actually from Davison), they're broke, and can't afford to implement it (which would involve purchase of various new paraphernalia), so for now, we remain the Flint Central Indians. If I spoke Algonquin, I'd offer up a prayer of thanks.

Hey, Franklin Pierce is the only president we have from New Hampshire, watch your mouth, buddy !

And: the Michigan Indians spoke Algonquinian ? I thought that was only in the northeast (roughly, NY / New England / SE Canada ) ?

There were several different tribes in the area, but some of them were of the Algonquin language group, which is one of the largest in North America. Among them were the Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi, and in the south, the Miami.

Now that they have removed the Indian from the school, I heard someone is selling shirts that say once and Indian always an Indian. Anyone know where you can get one???