Village changes seal of Indian being pushed to ground with Indian standing

Thursday, September 28, 2017  

The village of Whitesboro in New York has changed its seal after facing criticism for depicting Indian people in a negative light.

The seal still features an image of an Indian man. But instead of being pushed to the ground by a White man, the figure remains standing. The new seal is also more detailed and features more color.

The Indian man is said to represent an unnamed "chief" of the Oneida Nation engaged in a supposed wrestling match with Hugh White, the founder of Whitesboro. The original version of seal featured White's hands on the neck of his Indian counterpart.

The seal was changed in the 1970s to show White's hands on the shoulders of the Indian figure. The symbol was widely derided as stereotypical and offensive after it was the focus of a segment on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” in 2016.

"The seal is based on historical events," Mayor Patrick O’Connor said on the show.

Read More on the Story:
New York Village’s Seal, Widely Criticized as Racist, Has Been Changed (The New York Times September 27, 2017)
Whitesboro village changes controversial seal (New York Upstate September 27, 2017)
NY village changes official seal ridiculed by ‘Daily Show’ (The Associated Press September 27, 2017)

Residents support seal of White man choking a Native American (January 12, 2016)