BLACKMAN INDIAN aka MR. NIGGA a reimagining of identity and survival. This bold reinterpretation of the old Cleveland Indians logo reclaims the caricature and flips it into a powerful commentary on the historical erasure and transformation of Indigenous American identity—especially for those who became known as “Black.” The image features a stylized, gold-grilled Black American Indian man in a Yankee fitted, symbolizing the forced shift from tribal unity to individual survival under capitalism. The BLACKMAN INDIAN aka MR. NIGGA represents those Indigenous peoples who, through colonization, slavery and systemic erasure, were reclassified and culturally reprogrammed. During the War on Drugs era, these men—once tribal protectors—became targets in a new kind of war. Lured by the promise of fast money and survival in economically devastated inner cities, many became pawns in a government-led assault on their communities. This piece captures the moment when the Indian identity was replaced with the “Black man” identity—disconnected from tribe, land and tradition. It’s a symbol of cultural loss, resistance and the twisted rewards of assimilation. From communal wealth to personal gain, from warrior to hustler—this is the story of the rebranded native in the age of mass incarceration. This is not just art, this is memory, this is warning, this is RMBR.

🔑 PRODUCT FEATURES:

• Matte Canvas, Stretched, 0.75″
• Back hanging included
• Soft rubber dots on bottom back corners for support
• Frame made with radial pine sourced from renewable forests
• Cotton and polyester canvas composite with a special proprietary coating