This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This past Monday, Nike paid tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. Day by providing some of its brand members with special kicks to wear that night. We must applaud Nike for recognizing this day which lands on or around King Jr.’s birthday each year. However, this day also represents what Martin Luther King Jr. believed in and what he stood for; did Nike’s tribute coincide with King Jr’s beliefs? Each sneaker featured a grey foil-like base combined with black, green and red accents; you can find this same color combination on the Pan-African flag. For this reason, one may wonder what Nike was actually commemorating. Pan-Africanism centers around a belief which seeks to unite native African heritage into a worldwide society. However, Martin Luther King Jr. believed in not only uniting the African heritage, but unifying the entire world no matter what race. Therefore, the Pan-Africanism inspirations ultimately have nothing to do with King Jr.’s ‘Dream’. In conclusion, we still must applaud Nike for at least trying its hand at this tribute. However, it would have been all the more special if the commemoration coincided with MLK’s concepts. What are your thoughts on this act? |
