#TuesdayShoesDay; #JustDoIt
In my opinion, Nike has been on a roll.
Following the French Open banning Tennis GOAT Serena Williams from wearing her Wakanda inspired Catsuit, Nike posted the following to their socials:
Around the same time, Nike released their Serena Williams inspired collaboration with Off White and Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh called The Queen Collection. Serena shared this collection when she herself debuted the collection during the recent US Open.
And their latest announcement follows suit. In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of their "Just Do It" slogan, Nike shared this across their socials:
That is right.
Their 30th Anniversary campaign is featuring none other thanColinn Kaepernick. Kaepernick has been under contract with the Nike since his original deal in 2011 even though his face has been rarely used following the rise in popularity of his protests.
Well, Nike, whether through branding genius or to be on the right side of history, has chosen Kaepernick, a man who has been a football free agent since 2016 after choosing to bring light to the police brutality that has been plaguing Black and Brown communities.
Sarcasm aside, while foolhearty and misinformed individuals are choosing to cut the swooshes from their socks and burn their Nike's in protest, how many more pairs will be sold because of Nike's clear and unabashed alignment? How many new Jordans or Lebrons or Queen or Off White or plain ol' trainers might be bought in direct suport of the peaceful movement Kaeperick himself has come to embody?
Quite frankly, I am hesitantly happy about the deal. I don't want a big brand pulling the strings of the movement, however, if they want to align with the string holder to or even support the movement by all means #JustDoIt.
Following the French Open banning Tennis GOAT Serena Williams from wearing her Wakanda inspired Catsuit, Nike posted the following to their socials:
Around the same time, Nike released their Serena Williams inspired collaboration with Off White and Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh called The Queen Collection. Serena shared this collection when she herself debuted the collection during the recent US Open.And their latest announcement follows suit. In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of their "Just Do It" slogan, Nike shared this across their socials:
That is right.
Their 30th Anniversary campaign is featuring none other thanColinn Kaepernick. Kaepernick has been under contract with the Nike since his original deal in 2011 even though his face has been rarely used following the rise in popularity of his protests.
Well, Nike, whether through branding genius or to be on the right side of history, has chosen Kaepernick, a man who has been a football free agent since 2016 after choosing to bring light to the police brutality that has been plaguing Black and Brown communities.
And people are not being shy about sharing how they feel about it:
Especially proud to be a part of the Nike family today. #justdoit pic.twitter.com/GAZtkAIwbk— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) September 4, 2018
Colin Kaepernick drew our collective attention to the problem of continued racial injustice in America. He did so not to disrespect our flag but to give meaning to the words of the preamble of our Constitution—“in order to form a more perfect union.” Well done, Colin, well done. https://t.co/4ALyUxLjM5— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) September 4, 2018
Nike became Nike because it was built on the idea of rebellion. This is the same company that dealt w/ the NBA banning Air Jordans. They made Jordan the face of the company at a time when black men were considered to be a huge risk as pitch men. They aren’t new to this.— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 4, 2018
Other's are not so excited:Those “boycotting” Nike are doing it because of a narrative they, themselves, created. The only reality is that Colin Kaepernick stood up for an oppressed community and peacefully protested police brutality against people of color.— J Guerrero (@JuanGee8) September 4, 2018
There is no other reality
I feel a few different ways about it; While I am never completely comfortable with the idea of a brand being so close to a person who is a leading voice in different struggles, I do very much appreciate that Nike did not stray away from Kaepernick. After all, the idea that a celebrity belonging to a currently oppressed community boldy taking a public and respectful stance against that oppression is apparently a controvercial and unpatriotic act. It's not something the first colonists or of this land did by leaving the distant shores of Europe or abolitionists did by hiding and hurrying trafficked people to freedom or women did by standing up for the right to vote or anything like that, right?People are destroying their Nikes after the company booked Colin Kaepernick to lead the latest ‘Just Do It’ campaign pic.twitter.com/kRHWZ9Ykwe— NowThis (@nowthisnews) September 4, 2018
Sarcasm aside, while foolhearty and misinformed individuals are choosing to cut the swooshes from their socks and burn their Nike's in protest, how many more pairs will be sold because of Nike's clear and unabashed alignment? How many new Jordans or Lebrons or Queen or Off White or plain ol' trainers might be bought in direct suport of the peaceful movement Kaeperick himself has come to embody?
Quite frankly, I am hesitantly happy about the deal. I don't want a big brand pulling the strings of the movement, however, if they want to align with the string holder to or even support the movement by all means #JustDoIt.
Comments
Post a Comment