Bay Area families have criticized a school’s plan to scrap the Minuteman mascot to make students feel “safe” — saying they’d be better off just adding a Minutewoman and a black Minuteman to the existing design to add.
Concord High School is currently represented by a lone Minuteman — a historic Revolutionary War soldier — but officials announced last year that it was considering revamping the mascot to create a safer, more welcoming environment for students.
The current mascot holds a musket and is depicted as a man. But local families who support the existing design say that instead of scrapping it, it could simply be modified to include a Minutewoman and a black Minuteman as well.
Concord, California, is 55 percent white, 30 percent Hispanic, 13 percent Asian, and nearly four percent African American, according to the Census Bureau.
However, families and longtime alumni aren’t too happy that the high school is considering such an option, saying there’s nothing wrong with the historic mascot.
Concord High School is currently known as the Minutemen — a historic revolutionary soldier — but last year announced it was considering revamping its mascot to create a safer, more welcoming environment for students by including minute women and African-American minute men or completely change the school mascot of the bears
“You have whole families who identify as Minutemen,” Mark Lloyd said at the school board meeting. “You have families who buy a house to continue their legacy there.”
“I am a former note-taker. That’s my history. I went to school here, graduated in the class of ’91, but I also want to make sure we have a mascot that represents everyone,” said Julene Mackinnon, director of Concord, according to NBC Bay area.
“I have relatives who were in the War of Independence. They would be shocked to see us lose our heritage,” said Wes Anderson.
The conflict was fought between 1775 and 1783 and culminated in Minutemen defeating the British, making the United States the independent republic it is today.
Former Concord High student, Rachel Lloyd, suggested that the amount of money the school will spend to change the mascot is unnecessary, especially given that schoolchildren fear for their lives on a daily basis as mass shootings escalate across the country.
As we stand here in a meeting talking about spending millions of dollars on a new mascot, students are sitting in a classroom making plans to escape in case there is an active shooter on campus. I was one of those students,” she said at the meeting.
You have entire families who identify as Minutemen,” said Mark Lloyd (right) at the school board meeting. ‘You have families who buy a house to continue their legacy there’
“I have relatives who were in the War of Independence. They would be shocked that we are losing our heritage,” said Wes Anderson (pictured).
Last year, the school district chose to move away from human mascots for less controversial animals. The final decision on the mascot is expected to be made in the coming weeks
Earlier this year, students voted to change their mascot to the Bears, but the poll did not allow the young scientists to keep their current mascot, according to CROWN 4.
However, only 190 votes out of 500 were for the bears.
“Out of 500 who voted, only 190 voted for the bears, so I don’t think the students are thrilled about that,” said one parent.
The Concord High School administration will discuss the mascot change with the board in May.
Last year, the school district chose to move away from human mascots for less controversial animals, according to NBC Bay Area.
According to NBC Bay Area, the final decision on the mascot is expected to be made in the coming weeks.
The Minutemen were the first US militia and played a vital role in the Revolutionary War. The first group started in Massachusetts in September 1774. They were designed to be “done in a minute,” which is where their name came from.