Dec 2, 2018
In this episode of The Authority, I discuss the pairing of Nike
and exiled NFL star and activist Colin Kaepernick. Since Kaepernick
has paired with Nike, according to ESPN, Nike’s stock has risen
6.25 percent, adding 6.38 billion to Nike’s value... http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24796806/nike-colin-kaepernick-ad-results-record-engagement-says-ceo-mark-parker
Ever since Kaepernick took his public stance against racial
injustice and police brutality, taking a knee on NFL sidelines on
gameday Sundays, a legion of sports pundits, reporters, and figures
alike have argued that Kaepernick would be bad for the NFL
regarding popularity and TV ratings if he were to ever enter back
into the league. But what does the historic rise in Nike’s stock
and value due to Kaepernick presence say about that theory?
I also focus on Nike’s history of pairing with high profile black
celebrities with uncompromising racial politics. From Spike Lee to
Lebron James and Serena Williams to now Colin Kaepernick…should
Nike get credit for historically accepting and marketing high
profile black figures with radical racial politics?
Years…even decades from now will Nike be on the right side of
history because of their acceptance of such racially and socially
outspoken black stars? Or will Nike’s sullied history of
exploitative labor and business practices around the world outweigh
their public acceptance of such stars? I discuss this topic with
Dr. David Leonard, national scholar on race, sports and popular
culture.