Nike has pulled a pair of sneakers intended to commemorate the Fourth of July after reported insight from Colin Kaepernick about the shoe’s design. This early version of the American flag featured 13 red and white alternating stripes and 13 stars in a circle design, symbolizing the 13 original U.S. colonies.
Nike is yanking a sneaker featuring the “Betsy Ross flag” after Colin Kaepernick said he and others consider the symbol to be offensive https://t.co/eKVtPM6oTA
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) July 1, 2019
Some people have a valid point about this version of the American flag and groups who have adopted it in recent years.
If you’re going to tweet about the Betsy Ross Flag, make sure you include this part: “It has been appropriated by some extremist groups opposed to America’s increasing diversity.” https://t.co/k5N5bGhDut
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) July 2, 2019
Others don’t agree with Nike’s stance at all.
I am a veteran and I have a beautiful Betsy Ross flag flying that recently replaced it’s predecessor-another Betsy Ross flag. If that offends Colin Kaepernick,that’s tough. I am not a right wing voter but let’s get real. This is too much. pic.twitter.com/uW8N50AOHJ
— JackHanson (@hanson_ya) July 2, 2019
Also a reasonable point.
This is getting absurd. The shoes don’t stand for slavery, they represent the first flag that flew over our united nation. People need to realize that any historical artifact of the US is not a symbol for slavery purely since they existed at the same time. https://t.co/jNK2u34mvY
— Ben Silvey (@freefeets) July 1, 2019
But now, people are offering top dollar for these now rare kicks.