The ugliness of the logo is no accident. When Cleveland chose the name in 1915, it had the worst stereotypes in mind: “Indians, on the warpath all the time, and eager for scalps to dangle at their belts,” according to a 1915 newspaper article that a longtime Cleveland fan, Peter Pattakos, mentions in a reflective essay on the subject.

This stereotype is obviously not the one that most Cleveland fans have in mind when they think of their team today. That’s why the team has often begun using an alternate logo — a simple red C.

But that half measure isn’t enough. And it’s not enough to point out that the logo summons fond memories for many people. Those memories don’t actually depend on racism to endure. A slur is a slur, and it needs to be retired.