Nike Boycott vs Kaepernick
McKayla Milam
McKayla Milam
The latest controversy over Colin Kaepernick being the face of Nike’s anniversary campaign has some people elated and others outraged. About a year prior to all of this, Kaepernick was the first athlete who started to kneel down on one knee during the national anthem as a protest to police brutality against blacks and other people of color. While he got a lot of praise from supporters for his bold bravery, he was strongly criticized by those who claimed it was disrespectful to America as a country and the soldiers who fight for it. Nike recently made Kaepernick the new face of their “Just Do It” campaign with the words “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” in front of his emotional face. Nike’s sales have increased by 31% ever since the event occurred. The outraged were so angry to the point that they were burning their already purchased Nike possessions. Then of course the elated were reposting the ad all over social media.
While some people look at Kaepernick’s actions as being nothing but disrespectful, others thought it was better for our country. Hillgrove senior, Ashley Gibson said, “I think it will be better because people are starting to understand about racial discrimination.” Sophomore, Nadia Beavers stated, “It is better because it makes this police brutality issue hard to ignore.” Luis Pulido, who is a freshman at Hillgrove has a different opinion from Gibson and Beavers. “It could maybe create tension between those who think it is okay and those who do not.”
For the most part the three students thought there was at least some good coming from the incident. One positive thing about the situation is that “it brings awareness to those who don’t realize racial issues,” according to Beavers. Pulido thinks Kaepernick was the most appropriate person and athlete to use as the face for the Nike campaign because it teaches a good lesson. “Standing up for something even if it means losing everything because he lost his career, something he worked his whole life for just for utilizing our first amendment.” Gibson claimed, “this whole issue is going global rather than just staying in America.”
There is currently a cross in America between what is right or wrong and what is fair or unequal, as usual. People are still burning what they own from Nike as others continue to rejoice and take pride for what they think is right. Although Colin Kaepernick has been a free agent for about a year now, he still remains the face of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign.
While some people look at Kaepernick’s actions as being nothing but disrespectful, others thought it was better for our country. Hillgrove senior, Ashley Gibson said, “I think it will be better because people are starting to understand about racial discrimination.” Sophomore, Nadia Beavers stated, “It is better because it makes this police brutality issue hard to ignore.” Luis Pulido, who is a freshman at Hillgrove has a different opinion from Gibson and Beavers. “It could maybe create tension between those who think it is okay and those who do not.”
For the most part the three students thought there was at least some good coming from the incident. One positive thing about the situation is that “it brings awareness to those who don’t realize racial issues,” according to Beavers. Pulido thinks Kaepernick was the most appropriate person and athlete to use as the face for the Nike campaign because it teaches a good lesson. “Standing up for something even if it means losing everything because he lost his career, something he worked his whole life for just for utilizing our first amendment.” Gibson claimed, “this whole issue is going global rather than just staying in America.”
There is currently a cross in America between what is right or wrong and what is fair or unequal, as usual. People are still burning what they own from Nike as others continue to rejoice and take pride for what they think is right. Although Colin Kaepernick has been a free agent for about a year now, he still remains the face of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign.