Posted on 07/02/2019 10:00:10 PM PDT by mkleesma
Nike is pulling a tennis shoe adorned with a Betsy Ross flag image after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick complained to the shoemaker about the racist undertones of the design, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The heel-area back of the shoe features has the early design of the U.S. flag, which has 13 white stars in a circle on it and is named after Ross, a Philadelphia upholsterer and flag-maker who died in 1836.
Citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, the Journal said Kaepernick, a Nike endorser, told the company he and others found the flag symbol offensive because of its connection to slavery.
According to the Smithsonian museum, the flag was used from 1777 to 1795, well before slavery was abolished in 1865. Though less well known than the Confederate flag, the Betsy Ross flag has been also been used by white supremacist groups.
The Air Max 1 USA shoe had already been sent to retailers to go on sale this week for the July 4 Independence Day holiday, the Journal said.
But after the former quarterback and current Nike pitchman spoke with the company, Nike changed its mind.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
Hey Nike! Kaepernick thinks the flag is racist? Guess what? Millions of us (who used to buy your products) KNOW Kaepernick is racist, and now we know YOU ARE TOO!
The Betsy Ross flag has nothing to do with slavery. These people are idiots.
hell that’s ra cist to call the betsy flag racist..you know we should start accusing them of being racist day in day day out until it sticks, racist black population seeks overthrow of hard working americans for reparations most do not deserve..
hell with it, let’s rock
correction:
BET is racist but I don’t see the “has been” complaining about that. Oprah has made some over the top racist comments yet she gets a pass. B Hussein and his faux wife have made incredibly anti white, racist comments (typical white person) but those get ignored.
And I have NEVER heard of ANY black person returning to their roots to live in Africa. Because it’s a $HITHOLE continent
(And somebody will likely point out that New Balance is run by fags and have a special rainbow edition shoe. What're you gonna do?)
OK, you win. We realize that no matter what we do or say, no matter how much money we give you, America will never be "Not Racist" enough for you.
Oh, look, there's no waiting at the Kenyan Airlines desk...
Nike and Kapernick are wrong about the history of the Betsy Ross Flag.
It is the symbol of rebellion against oppression.
It was adopted by the American Colonies during the Revolutionary War for Independence from the oppressive actions of the British.
We should NOT allow ourselves to be held hostage to few bad people who try to hijack our history.
Kaepernick is ignorant of American history and Nike is complicate.
They both must be reminded that they owe their freedom and success to those who sacrificed and fought for freedom under that flag.
No nation on earth spends more time in self-examination and constant attempts to improve the lives of its citizens then the USA.
Happy Fourth of July!!!!
The swoosh offends me.
Haven’t worn swoosh clothing or used swoosh gear since the early ‘80s
Nike is an African company
This is easy to fix. Don’t buy any Nike products.
It was all marketing, all along. They sold some for an exorbitant price to “collectors” (who collects sneakers?), and now they will be available to all, due to “demand”.
No more Nike. Will try Brooks or some other alternative.
Is Tiger Woods still associated with Nike? I can’t imagine Woods would stick around with this going on.
Uh, not it has not been used by those groups.
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