The history behind Pekin’s old, racist nickname
Pekin Community High School, which now uses the Dragons as its nickname, used to have a racial epithet for people of Chinese ancestry as its nickname. Photo via Pekin Community High School Facebook
Warning: this segment includes use of racial epithets.
Over the past few years, many sports teams have made the decisions to change their nicknames and logos. It’s been something of a cultural reckoning over racist nicknames.While it’s been a more prominent trend this decade, it’s nothing new. Nowadays, the high school in Pekin, Illinois, boasts the Dragons as its nickname, but up until 1980, the school used a very different nickname.
The 21st was joined by a local historian and a TikTokker who made a viral video talking about the history behind Pekin’s name and former team nickname.
GUESTS:
Ed Choi
TikTokker
Jared Olar
Local History Specialist, Pekin Public Library
Editor's note: after the initial broadcast, Olar wrote on The 21st Facebook page: "it was an honor and pleasure for you to have me on, and to talk with Ed Choi. Just wanted to correct two misstatements of mine: 1) In quoting written accounts on how Pekin got it's name, I also quoted from the late local historian Dr. Fred Soady, who taught history at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, but misatttributed that to William Henry Bates. I did also quote a passage from Bates, though. 2) The former skating rink building is still there, but is currently vacant, and is adjacent to the new Amazon facility."
Here is a link to the viral TikTok video about Pekin's history:
@etchaskej Replying to @sailesha23 I mean is the ending a surprise to anyone?! #stopasianhate #pekinillinois #illinois #china #mascot #pekinhighschool #news #asiantiktok #bipoctiktok #soundsaboutwhite #asiannews ♬ original sound - Ed
Prepared for web by Owen Henderson
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