It doesn't have to be a caricature to be racist

According to the definitions of caricature (see other post or definitions at the bottom of the page), I wouldn’t actually call the image on the YPD logo a caricature. I can agree with the police chief on that point, in the definition only. However, I wholly disagree with his meaning in stating that, that since it isn’t a caricature then it’s okay and even honoring.

Just because it isn’t a caricature doesn’t mean it isn’t problematic. The problem is the continued use of a stereotypical image with no known info about its origin being used to “honor” the local Native American tribe which has no culturally historical ties to ceremonial headdresses, nor can it be said that the tribe has approved the usage of the image as a way of honoring them. It is dishonorable to think that because you’ve put that image on your badges and logos that it is somehow honoring a tribe that is unconnected to that ceremonial item.

There is no indication that the image of the man in red paint and headdress is based on an actual person or even on the Yakama tribe, either. To date, there is no info to be found about the origin of the image – when it was implemented, who designed it, how or why it was chosen, if it has ever been evaluated for being changed, if the Yakama Tribe or any Yakama tribal member was involved in its creation and usage, etc. All of my attempts to find this info have come up empty so far. Those ongoing attempts include a public records request with the City of Yakima including any info about the logo, requests to the Yakima libraries and museum, requests to the Yakima Herald Newspaper, and requests to the public for info. So far, there is no information that has come up, which is problematic, of course, and, considering the scope and detail of records required to be kept for any type of government organization, quite strange. Answers to these questions are needed and are an important part of the conversation. Knowing who designed it and why will contribute one way or another to the points on cultural appropriation and racism. If you have any info about the logo origin, please contact me.

At this point, it can be assumed (yes, I know what assuming can do) that the man in the image is not an actual specific person related to the Yakama Tribe or any other tribe. It is a generic and stereotypical image of a Native American man in culturally significant and specific piece of traditional ceremonial attire, not unlike ones seen with sports or school mascots, some of which have finally been removed. The fact that it is a Native American man in a headdress, a piece of attire not at all related to the original Yakamas but is being portrayed or imagined as such and stated as being used to honor them, can only be interpreted as racist, ignorant, and inappropriate. To think that all Native American tribes are monolithic, that they all utilized headdresses, and it is therefore appropriate to use such an image to honor the local tribe is, again, racist, ignorant, and inappropriate. It only serves to perpetuate ignorant stereotypes that all Native American tribes are the same.

“These images relegate people to a timeless past. “Any appropriation of American Indian images or cultural imagery to sell a product,” scholar Victoria E. Sanchez asserts, “amounts to perpetuation of institutionalized racism and is a contributing factor to insensitive stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and stigmatization.” (https://jimcrowmuseum.ferris.edu/native/homepage.htm/?fbclid=IwAR1t9eVSFcnHHQfKcz68JKGzJCzvqZkRBgZ-HT_cdkKdL6JhmuKljYA-U3A)

If an organization wants to truly honor the local tribe, there should be clear and specific discussions with and consent from that tribe regarding any names or images relating to them being used, as a bare minimum. As I mentioned, so far there is no evidence this has happened, either at the origin of the logo’s use or since then.

In contrast to the YPD logo and to utilize and expand on the example the police chief pointed out in our conversation, Seattle has adopted and recently updated their city logo, which includes their police department, that has an image of Chief Sealth (siʔaɫ; Seattle in Lushootseed, https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Chief_Seattle). However, their usage of this image, their documenation of information about the image, and their very specific requirements for its use are a stark and informative contrast to the YPD logo.

“The current official corporate Seal was adopted in 1937 by passage of Ordinance 67033. The Seal includes an imprint of the profile of Chief Sealth in the center of a circle. . . The Seal was patterned after a model designed by artist/sculptor James A. Wehn of Seattle. The Seal was cast by Richard Fuller, director of the Seattle Art Museum.”

 City of Seattle seal

 City of Seattle flag

“The Council passed Resolution 28207 on July 16, 1990, adopting an official City Flag. The Flag was designed by Councilmember Paul Kraabel. The Resolution called for a white and teal blue/green flag with a stylized portrait of Chief Sealth ringed by the words Seattle, City of Goodwill and undulating white lines, representing the waves in Puget Sound flowing from the center to the left edge. Only three copies of the flag were made.” https://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/city-symbols

For more in-depth info on the City of Seattle logo and branding and an interesting look at their rules for using the logo, please click here: https://seattle.gov/documents/departments/economicdevelopment/logo/seattle_brandguidelines_v1.3.pdf

 The current Seattle police badge is on the right below.

 

Caricature definitions:

“a picture, description, etc., ludicrously exaggerating the peculiarities or defects of persons or things,” www.dictionary.com.

“Caricature is the distorted presentation of a person, type, or action. Commonly, a salient feature or characteristic of the subject is seized upon and exaggerated, or features of animals, birds, or vegetables are substituted for parts of the human being, or analogy is made to animal actions. Generally, one thinks of caricature as being a line drawing and meant for publication for the amusement of people to whom the original is known; the personal trait is usually present,” https://www.britannica.com/art/caricature-and-cartoon