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SUCCESS! November 12, 2020
Douglas Freeman High School changes mascot from Rebels to Mavericks!
“[Mavericks] really captures the ethos of our student body and our school as change agents, forward thinkers, an independent spirit”
— School Principal, John Marshall
“A vote was held among students, faculty and community members, and the 1,400 participants overwhelmingly chose Mavericks over three other finalists: Pioneers, Trailblazers and Freeman United. The winning name was first submitted by an anonymous student, and it continued to surface on social media and in discussions.” - Richmond Times-Dispatch, November 12, 2020
“More than two decades ago, the song “Dixie” was played at Freeman football games, and a person dressed as Confederate general strolled the sideline. Both have been retired, and Marshall said he’s unsure if there will be any costumed individual at sporting events. The student body has gotten used to not having one, he said, and some prefer it that way.” - Richmond Times-Dispatch, November 12, 2020
“School culture matters. School spirit matters,” Marshall said. “But inclusivity and building the most inclusive school we can matters.” - School Principal, John Marshall - November 12, 2020
The school was named after Douglas Southall Freeman (May 16, 1886 – June 13, 1953) who was an American historian, biographer, newspaper editor, radio commentator, and author. He is best known for his multi-volume biographies of Robert E. Lee and George Washington, for both of which he was awarded Pulitzer Prizes. It opened in 1954, slightly more than one year after Freeman's death.
School principal John Marshall said, “These elements of our school’s culture are a part of our past. We do not wish to erase them from our history, but we do wish to learn from them.” - August 9, 2020
“We recognize that changing a name on a uniform and some signs is just a small step toward becoming a leader in culturally responsive and anti-racist education, but it is a necessary step,” Marshall said.
“These elements of our school’s culture are a part of our past. We do not wish to erase them from our history, but we do wish to learn from them.” Marshall said.
“Once a new mascot is determined, the school will hold a fall “spirit-wear swap” where students can trade in Rebels gear for items with the new nickname.” -WFXRTV - Aug 9, 2020
In an Oct. 14, 2020 letter to families, school principal John Marshall wrote that the panel has been working with Virginia Commonwealth University’s Brand Center to establish a new nickname.
A survey listed four choices: The Mavericks, the Pioneers, the Trailblazers, and Freeman United.
The VCU Brand Center’s work was built on interviews with students, alumni, and past school employees, determining a list of core values to inform the new mascot name. Some of those core values include family, pride, excellence, diversity, and community.
Part of the reason the four names were chosen, Marshall said, was that they still captured the independent “spirit” of the Rebels nickname.
“A lot of people reported that they liked the spirit of the term ‘rebel’ in terms of someone who challenges the status quo and stands up for what’s right,” Marshall said.
The aim was to find a nickname and mascot that represents the school’s core values of family, pride, excellence, intensity, diversity, community, independence, tradition and leadership, according to school officials.
In an email to the Douglas Freeman community, principal John Marshall said, “Each name on the short list was generated by a community member and, in different ways, fit the criteria that our community and students said we were looking for in our new moniker: an enduring connection, a collective identity, purposeful and forward movement, retaining the independent spirit of our old name, and being unique yet timeless.”
“We want every member of our community to proudly cheer the name of our teams from the sidelines without wondering if they are hurting their classmates or betraying their identity,” Marshall said in the email.
An internal newsletter for the school states the new mascot will be announced the week of Nov. 9, 2020