Last week, news broke that Nike canceled an American flag-style shoe at the behest of famed national anthem kneeler, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who’s a big-name sponsor for the athletic gear brand. Kaepernick apparently found the patriotic shoe, which showcased a Betsy Ross flag, racially “offensive.”
As noted by The Wall Street Journal, the heel of the sneaker has a U.S. flag with 13 white stars in a circle, “a design created during the American Revolution and commonly referred to as the Betsy Ross flag.” Notably, the supposedly racist Revolution era flag was flown during the inauguration of former President Barack Obama.
The move sparked backlash from big-name conservatives, including Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who called for a boycott. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, also announced he’d be withdrawing financial incentives promised to Nike.
Popular former “Dirty Jobs” host Mike Rowe reiterated via Facebook that Nike and Kaepernick are completely free to pull the patriotic shoe, but emphasized how illogical it is to consider the Betsy Ross flag as racist.
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3 comments:
Betsy Ross was a Quaker and they opposed slavery and she worked to help the runaway slaves.
I'm glad they pulled. Because now real patriot companies can make money from the flags, shirts etc. Nike shouldn't be getting that money. Let that colored boy run your company, and see what happens.
Upon reflection wonder if it was just a cynical marketing ploy.
Nike is very low on my list of 'patriotic' companies.
A lot of their customer base is indifferent to the blessings of our republic and reluctant to take off their backwards caps for the national anthem or put their hand over their heart as it's sung.
So who was going to buy these shoes that were just being introduced on the eve of the Fourth?
And why would the failed QB be influential enough to have a product instantly recalled with all the attendant costs that entails?
Presumes they'd done some market research before even getting to the stage of slapping Betsy's flag on the back of a prosaic pair of shoes. Were actual prospective customers raising objections? Or just Colon the Knee?
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