So I’m enjoying my morning, watching CNN give us the “news” that ADIDAS was trying to come out with these new kicks that appeared to be hightops with plastic shackles that would attach to your calves, I guess?

ADIDAS’ “Shackle Shoes”

The point of the story was to illustrate the power of public outrage in the face of (apparent) insensitivity, as these shoes resemble the shackles that slaves in this country from six generations ago were forced to wear.

Well, sure they do, if that’s what you want to see.

I’m sure that ADIDAS’ design team chief woke up that day and said to his team, ” Hey guys, I have a great idea.  Let’s design a shoe that alienates a significant chunk of our target market.  Let’s make it resemble a deep cut in America’s history–yeah, that’s it.  Let’s make it remind everyone of the fact that at one point in our history, things weren’t right.  No, really–this will work.  It will stir debate, piss people off, and create controversy.  Guys, trust me on this…we’re going to sell millions of these!”

I’m speaking directly to those who run with their gut-reaction to most things:  Don’t.  

I would submit a very high likelihood that this backlash was nowhere on their radar when they designed it.  I believe they were thinking of the next cheap, stupid, faddy thing they could spring on boys between 8 and 10 years old, not trying to resurrect a two hundred year old wound.

Further, no matter who you are, none of you are any more a slave than I am.  We are all slaves to money, bills, the government, social pressures, adult responsibility, and all of the rest of the daily grind.  You haven’t been slaves, and you don’t know anyone who has.  I understand the lingering resentment–people long for a cause–but why do we still keep it alive?  We’ve come so far from that time in this country, in terms of civil rights and social equality, and focusing all of this energy on a bygone era from so long ago is a complete waste of it.