Widgetized Section
Go to Admin » Appearance » Widgets » and move Gabfire Widget: Social into that MastheadOverlay zone
Dr. Boyce: Film Shows How Poor People are Dying for LeBron and Nike’s $315 Shoes
By Dr. Boyce Watkins, KultureKritic.com
I spent some time this week sharing my disappointment in the recent Nike decision to charge a whopping $315 for the new LeBron X sneakers that are set to go on sale this week. The images of poor kids in the hood lining up to spend money they don’t have to buy an overpriced piece of plastic literally sickens me. What makes me even sicker is that many of us have been so hypnotized by capitalist greed that we think it’s OK for corporations to exploit poor workers, and sit by silently while kids shoot one another over a pair of sneakers.
Of course there are more serious issues in the black community that we should be focused on, and the fact is that we are focused on those too.
7 Responses to Dr. Boyce: Film Shows How Poor People are Dying for LeBron and Nike’s $315 Shoes
Leave a Reply
Angela Williams
September 14, 2012 at 2:44 am
There is a solution we all just have to brainstorm and come up with one that is positive and productive. Let’s get started now!
Fayizah
September 14, 2012 at 1:58 am
There r no really “poor folk” lining up for no $315 sneakers! Poor ppl simply cannot afford $315 shoes! If there r “poor” youth buying them they r getting $ illegally for the most part or a few with no sense who have jobs(but live @ home & pay no bills) & choose to spend $315 on sneakers. The rest who buy them will be mid-upper class youth. Of course there will be the thieves standing by. There r those though who think of them as investment & will hold on to them in hope of selling for a profit like the original Air Jordans that increase in value, like a nice piece of art of a deceased artist, can still catch a nice profit. Otherwise real poor folk ain’t even thinking ’bout them sneakers! Ok maybe some r thinking about ‘em.
But such is reality in a greed & materialistically focused society. Excess is flaunted in the faces of the poor & mis-class by the rich(via tv, ads, videos). America is a country of too many educated & uneducated fools, fueled by materialism as a way of life. And we expect poor or mid-class youth & even adults to always settle for payless, walmart digs & be satisfied?! I don’t think so! Poverty within capitalism & marketing comes with a psychology that makes interesting(& profitable) behavior.
Harold
August 27, 2012 at 7:49 am
Again? Just as with the Michael Jordan sneakers? This shows that some of us just refuse to improve our mindset. Maybe we should just stop trying to make cats bark and walk away from the people in our group who want to follow the piper. Spend the energy on those who want to improve and be ready and willing to accept all new comers from our community. Let the others live like they want to live.
Miriam
August 26, 2012 at 9:58 am
Dr. Watkins
The root of this particular problem is not corporations. The root of this problem in our ethnic group is fartherlessness and the lack of marriage. It is the parents job to control their children.