LeBron James Social Justice Shoes: ‘Equality’ for $185
Sonny Joy Nelson
|
To honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., LeBron James released LeBron 16s “Equality” – the newest version of shoes meant to represent MLK’s desire to bring people together.
The pair was first debuted back in 2017 in the Cavaliers vs. Wizards game where LeBron sported one black and one white shoe with the word “Equality” written in gold on the back. After the release of the shoe, LeBron gave away 400 pairs giving the proceeds to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
LeBron commented on the creation of the shoes:
“Us as Americans, no matter the skin color, no matter the race, no matter who you are, we all have to understand having equal rights and being able to stand for something, speak for something and keeping the conversation going. … We’re never going to let one person dictate us Americans — how beautiful and how powerful we are as a people. Equality is all about understanding our rights, understanding what we stand for and how powerful we are as men, as women, black or white, or Hispanic. It don’t matter your race, whatever the case may be. This is a beautiful country.”
For just $185, you too can receive your own pair of the latest LeBron’s. It is interesting that a shoe meant to help bring together all cultures – both rich and poor – costs almost $200.
While this sounds like a great attempt to bring people together, let’s not forget that the star athlete has long been using his platform to grow the hatred toward the President. The longtime critic of Trump – who even endorsed Hillary in 2016 – stated in the past that Trump was “using sports to kinda divide us”, according to CNBC.
Turning his social justice movement into a political stab, LeBron wastes no time in throwing shade at the President, “…we’re never going to let one person dictate us Americans”, he said when asked about the appearance of “Equality”. A shoe meant to bring people together is actually being used to tear people further apart. This shoe is supposedly made for ‘everyone’, but only if you also disagree with President Trump, like it’s creator.
James even took to Twitter to express his disdain with President Trump uninviting Steph Curry to the White House:
Because calling the President a “bum” is a surefire way to bring people together, right? LeBron’s message contradicts itself. With the appearance of LeBron 16s, the newest version of ‘Equality’, maybe LeBron should be willing to work with the President for overall equality instead of working against him.
LeBron states, “I just wanted to keep the conversation going. We know what we’re going through. We know what we went through as a nation, as a world. So I had an opportunity to use a platform for the greater good and keep the conversation going. Why not?” according to The Undefeated.
Perhaps LeBron should take his own advice and being working with people who have different ideas than his own, to truly reach ‘Equality’.
Share: