RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A minor league baseball team coming to Richmond has eliminated “Hambones” as a potential team name after the local NAACP chapter called it offensive.
The Richmond AA franchise said in a statement Tuesday that it was unaware of any negative, derogatory or offensive connotations and that “Hambones” was chosen from submissions as a finalist because of the concept of Virginia ham.
The hambone is the foot-stomping, hand-clapping, thigh-slapping dance brought to America by slaves and later performed at minstrel shows for white audiences.
The name for the team that was formerly the Connecticut Defenders is down to five choices: Flatheads, Flying Squirrels, Rock Hoppers, Rhinos and Hush Puppies. The winner will be announced Thursday.
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