Converse's Plan to Sell Shoes Using Klan and Lynching Imagery Backfires: New Ads Mock Black People's History of Dehumanization. Racists at Company Owned by Nike Apologize for Their Intentional Conduct
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GENOCIDAL HUMOUR. Yes, Converse is owned by Nike. Since 2003, Converse has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Nike, Inc., following a $305 million acquisition. Nike holds 100% of Converse, meaning there are no public shareholders or external investors at the brand level.
The first ad raised ire after it was posted on Converse’s Threads account on Sept. 3 showcasing its recently-released Chuck 70 X sneaker
The second ad, previously released on Sept. 14, is for a collab with Danish lifestyle brand Palmes and features a man on a ladder holding a pair of sneakers overhead. [MORE]
The brand apologized in a statement first reported by Women’s Wear Daily, and sent to ADWEEK: “We’re sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong. We removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it appeared. This should not have happened, and we will do better.”
Fuck Nike’s politics. FUNKTIONARY explains, to “apologize” is to “lay the foundation for a future offense.” An “apology” is “a plea bargain in disguise” or can be a device to avoid conflict. Apology is a trick - applied as anger solvent - you need not be authentic in your apology as it is merely a social device (gesture) to detonate anger. Apologies, like excuses, are not for the benefit of the one to whom they are made, but the one who makes them.” These Converse ads weren’t made by mistake - they went through a process that was purposeful and deliberate. If Black people were in their right minds Nike could be shut down or substantially harmed using the great power of withdrawal.
The racists at Converse and Nike knew outrage to its ads was reasonably foreseeable but released them anyway because they also knew there would probably be no organized pushback by Black people. Boycotts cannot be random or individual or disorganized. Personal boycotts or symbolic boycotts are not boycotts. They are simply a temporary, individual consumer choice and have only a minimal, symbolic effect. Boycotts also require an African or pro-Black centered group consciousness which does not exist in enough people at this time - as Black people's individual and group consciousness has been falsified and other directed by racists in the interests of racism/white supremacy. [MORE]
