Target: Steve Bodow and Trevor Noah, executive producers of “The Daily Show”
Goal: Applaud coverage of racist town seal debate that resulted in town’s decision to create a new seal.
After the village of Whitesboro voted to keep the embarrassingly disrespectful town seal that represented a white man choking a Native American, national coverage of the issue strongly encouraged a quick reconsideration less than two weeks later. A petition on ForceChange even demanded that the town change the racist symbol. National attention was paid to the seal by The Daily Show’s segment on the acceptance of the racist seal, presented on the popular Comedy Central channel. Due to these efforts, this town will finally change its disrespectful seal.
Racial violence and the infamous oppression of Native Americans are often topics that the general public avoid addressing. Although the existence of both are indisputable, people usually shy away from confronting these contentious issues. However, in this modern age, America is making progress towards recognizing and changing damaging symbols of historical oppression and the glorification of white hegemony.
The Whitesboro seal has been in question for at least 17 years with the first attempt to change it in 1999 being unsuccessful simply due to a lack of creativity for a new seal. The people of Whitesboro are coming together to cooperate in creating a new town seal. This seal will be markedly less offensive. Descendants of the white man portrayed in the seal have given their approval in generating a new seal and have agreed to work with Native leaders in the area to do so.
By signing this petition, you will be thanking the executive producers of “The Daily Show” for shining the national spotlight on Whitesboro and, subsequently, helping to affect positive change.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Bobow & Mr. Noah,
I would like to thank and applaud you for covering an issue as relevant and consequential as the Whitesboro town seal. As you know, the seal has long been under question, but advocates for change have had trouble in actuating permanent change. Some citizens in the town of Whitesboro saw nothing wrong with portraying history in a demeaning or berating way.
After 132 years of the offensive town seal, the town of Whitesboro is finally acting on its professed value of inclusion. This is a remarkable step toward removing painful reminders of racial oppression. Exposing the trivial ‘barriers’ to changing the seal allowed for an immediate and decisive reversal of the complacent choice to keep the obviously hurtful depiction.
As a popular TV show on a popular channel, you have allowed your correspondents to create something meaningful out of a negative situation and have used your platform to benefit humanity. The coverage of the issue and its value does not go unnoticed, and I wish to extend a warm thank you to your whole team. I look forward to seeing your show’s coverage of more issues like this in the future.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Doug Kerr
YOU GUYS ROCK, THANKS!