Colin Kaepernick and Nike have been humiliated after the history lesson they got on Betsy Ross, the alleged racist who sewed the first American flag. She owned no slaves because slavery was banned in Philadelphia.
And even if it wasn’t Betsy would never own a slave because she was a Quaker and an abolitionist. She fought against slavery. Nike refused to make the shoes honoring her and the United States but had no problem making shoes celebrating communist China and Turkey.
The Quakers were the first religious group to condemn slavery in the United States and England.
In a last-minute move as the Air Max 1 Quick Strike “Betsy Ross flag” shoes were hitting store shelves, Nike pulled its release and made immediately made national headlines.
And Ross’ name was subsequently dragged through the mud.
According to a history of Quakers and Slavery by Bryn Mawr College, “The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) was the first corporate body in Britain and North America to fully condemn slavery as both ethically and religiously wrong in all circumstances.”
The Quakers also spent considerable time attempting to sway public opinion on the evils of slavery. They even provided education and resources for formerly slaves.
How much more anti-slavery can a group possibly be?
It’s unfortunate that no one at Nike did their homework before the company kowtowed to Kaepernick’s demands. It could have saved everyone else a lot of time.
Nike issued a ridiculous statement concerning the decision to cancel the shoe’s release, according to ESPN.
“We regularly make business decisions to withdraw initiatives, products and services. NIKE made the decision to halt distribution of the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July based on concerns that it could unintentionally offend and detract from the nation’s patriotic holiday.”