Blackhawks History: Logo Edition
The Blackhawks' logo is one of the most iconic logos in sports history, not just hockey. Chicago being one of the Original Six is a factor in that, but of course, so is the controversy. Not being of any Aboriginal descent, I am prefacing everything written with the acknowledgement that my content is based off of research, and I am not claiming to speak for anyone other than myself, as an outsider.
When the team was formed in 1926, Major Frederic McLaughlin named them the «Black Hawks», after his WWI US Army division. He served in the 86th Infantry Division, which was named after the Sauk leader, Black Hawk, who led a small group from Iowa Indian Territory into Illinois in April of 1832 to presumably meet with U.S. Officials to hopefully reclaim land sold to the United States in the disputed 1804 Treaty of St. Louis.
McLaughlin's wife, Irene Castle, is actually credited with the original design of the logo, the simple side profile of an Aboriginal American, which we can only assume was her rendering of Black Hawk, himself, inside a black roundel, which included the team name in white letters - similar to what can be found on the Hawks' third jerseys.
Over the years, there have been approximately 10 more versions to get to the logo we have now, most changing in size and color, after getting rid of the roundel in 1957.
The secondary logo was introduced in the 155-56 season, and was red and white with the handles of the tomahawks black.
https://thehockeywriters.com/ezoimgfmt/s3951.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Chicago-Blackhawks-1955-56-Secondary-Logo-Red-Jersey-482x480.png?ezimgfmt=ng:webp/ngcb57
This logo's colors were also changed and went through multiple changes before settling on today's. They also had a separate color scheme design used in 2009-2011 when the team wore their 2009 Winter Classic jerseys as their alternates.
Obviously there is still controversy surrounding the main logo's image, but the fact that the team is named after one specific man (which might spark a conversation about changing the name back to Black Hawks, as opposed to Blackhawks, which was adopted in 1986) is decidedly better than a generic stereotype. Add in the informative tribute to Black Hawk himself, and the United Center's land acknowledgment, and it seems like the logo, and the team itself, are working in the right direction to recognize, preserve, and celebrate history.
| POLL | ||
Do you think the Blackhawks should change their logo? | ||
| Yes | 49 | 16.7 % |
| No | 191 | 65.2 % |
| Leave the logo, go back to | 53 | 18.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
