JIMMIE JOHNSON: THIS PLAY SENT THE ATLANTA BRAVES TO THE 20-21 WORLD SERIES AND THE “TOMAHAWK CHOP” SENT SOCIAL MEDIA SPIRALING ONCE AGAIN.

THE CHOP IS THE MOCK NATIVE AMERICAN CHANT BELOVED BY MOST BRAVES FANS BUT DESPISED AND DEEMED OFFENSIVE BY SO MANY OTHERS. 

WHILE IT’S UNCLEAR WHEN THE CHOP OFFICIALLY BECAME A HOME GAME TRADITION, SOME POINT TO THE EARLY 90S. 

THAT’S WHEN FORMER FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY PLAYER TURNED NFL HALL OF FAMER DEION SANDERS DONNED A BRAVES UNIFORM. 

FLORIDA STATE, IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW ALSO HAVE A SIMILAR CHANT.

SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNS TO RID SPORTS TEAMS OF NATIVE AMERICAN NAMES AND IMAGERY. 

HENCE TEAMS LIKE THE WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM DROPPING “REDSKINS’ FROM ITS NAME AND THE CLEVELAND INDIANS BECOMING THE GUARDIANS NEXT SEASON. 

BUT, NO RETREAT FROM THE BRAVES. THE ORGANIZATION IS QUICK TO POINT OUT ITS LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOCAL BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS 

M-L-B COMMISSIONER ROB MANFRED SPOKE ON THE ISSUE BEFORE GAME ONE OF THE WORLD SERIES. 

“The way the community perceives the gesture, and I think in Atlanta, as I’ve said before, they’ve done a great job with the native Americans. I think the native American group is the most important group to decide if it’s appropriate or not, and they’ve been unwaveringly supportive of the Braves.”

THE NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS, THE LARGEST ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING INDIANS IN THE U-S, FIRED BACK.  

“In our discussions with the Atlanta Braves, we have repeatedly and unequivocally made our position clear – Native people are not mascots, and degrading rituals like the ‘tomahawk chop’ that dehumanize and harm us have no place in American society.”

THE CHOP DEBATE RAGES ON TWITTER.

THIS USER WROTE, Not a “cancel culture” person AT ALL but how is the

@Braves tomahawk chop still an ok thing in today’s world? 

How about something else instead, like… “Go Braves”…”

ONE BRAVES FAN TWEETED… “#CHOPON” WITH THIS GIF. 

SO, SHOULD THE BRAVES CONTINUE TO CHOP IT UP OR NOT?

LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.