The “Old English D”, Essay Example

The “Old English D” has been around for some time now. For some individuals, this tattoo on an individual’s arm is nothing more than a letter. For other individuals the letter stands for someone who is proud to come from the city of Detroit. For the small majority of people who were born and molded in the city of Detroit, the “Old English D” means home.

The reason as to why individuals outside of the city of Detroit may never understand the significance behind the simple letter is due to the fact that they have not lived in the city in order to realize its significance. The literal meaning of the “Old English D” to the majority of individuals is the simple fact that it is the Tigers’ logo. The Tigers team was formulated in 1901 by the American League. The reason as to why their logo is called the “Old English D” is due to the fact that the font of the letter is a style of Old English (Gothic). This kind of font style dates back all the way to the mid-12^th century, meaning it has been around for quite some time now. The reason the selection of this font style is rare is due to the fact that a new sports team would seldom choose such a letter so represent their team. This is because a new team would want to appear modernized to the public in order to become more popular among everyone. The Tigers did exactly what they were not supposed to do if they wanted major publicity; they chose and Old English font over a modern font. Despite the fact that that Tigers’ logo could, of course, be changed at any point in time, no person from Detroit would happily embrace such a drastic change.

Despite the fact that the logo is nothing more than a letter to some individuals, people who have been around long enough in Detroit realize that it is much more than a letter. Lexy, a woman who has had a Tigers’ logo tattoo for years even went as far as to say “”That D symbolizes strength and it symbolizes pride and it symbolizes the fortitude that we have here, that resilience.” (CITE) The fact of the matter is that Detroit people take great pride in their heritage, and the “Old English D” has now been integrated into their everyday life. The meaning behind the “Old English D” is something that should be respected, for any group of people who take such great interest in a single letter because of its meaning should be looked up at. It is a fair statement to say that if one were to visit the city of Detroit, one would realize just how popular the “Old English D” is. Not only that, but another reason that individuals take such a fond interest in the “Old English D” is because it links these individuals back to their history. It tells about when times have been good and when times have been bad. It might come strange to some people as to why Detroit city folks care so much about a logo for a simple baseball team. The reality is that it is much more than that. Many might not realize it at the beginning, but it is the “Old English D” that keeps everyone in the city together in times of trouble. It reminds the individuals that in times of difficultly, the city has always been able to push through the hard times.

It is up to certain individuals on how they decide to see things. As stated before, some see the “Old English D” as no more than an Old English font style letter, whereas when other individuals, they almost go as far as to shed a tear or two, for this logo makes them think of home. It might be difficult for some individual to see past the fun and games that come with baseball, but once they see through that, they will realize why the “Old English D” is imperative in Detroit’s community.

Works Cited

Kovanis, Georgea. “Tigers’ D Logo Shows Detroit Pride, Tells a Story over Time.” Detroit Free Press. Detroit Free Press, 30 Sept. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.