The new controversy on the streets are the new Adidas JS Roundhouse Mids, aka the “handcuff” kicks.
They started some real problems though because everyone jumped on them and said they were racist because they had built in shackles. I say had because Adidas got so blown up that they aren’t making them anymore. I’m pretty sure that is purple suede, so that makes the cancellation unfortunate. Adidas says they didn’t know the shoes implied slavery…I’m pretty sure that was a lie since they nicknamed them the “Handcuff” shoes and these cuffs are around their ankles. By not calling them the “shackle”, the proper term for ankle chains, they were clearly avoiding something.
Predictably, Jesse Jackson was right on it.
Calling them “offensive, appalling and insensitive”. Is it even possible for Jesse to say anything else? What if Jesse showed up at CNN and just said…”Yeah, I like em”. Then Jason Whitlock pulls a classic Jason Whitlock and takes a situation he thinks is racist and double thinks himself into an even more racist position. His claim is that the shackle shoes aren’t about slavery. So far so good. He goes on to say Adidas is still wrong and is taking advantage of sneaker culture and prison culture. Which is essentially saying black people love sneakers and black people are in and love jail…that’s why these shoes are racist. Which is ironic, because the entire argument rests on two racist assumptions. Nice one Whitlock. This dude wants you to know white people end up in shackles too.
I personally don’t think these are racist. I actually hate the way twitter can shut down something before it even gets off the ground. If people get loud enough, fast enough, these companies just want to get out of the way before people get out of control.
By the way, before you get offended by these shoes, have you seen the other joints Jeremy Scott created? You want to see some offensive shoes. Check these:
Plush all the way through. I think these are misogynistic.
Or these:
I find these facking turrible. That is offensive as hell.
Finally, if you want to get all Whitlock with it, these:
On the Whitlock scale these are the most racist shoes ever made. Once you assume black people like sneakers and you assume any reference to a Gorilla is a racist jab against black people, these are horrible. They only come in black!
So Adidas decided to back down and stop making the shoes. You know what that means sneaker heads.
Ultra Rare Shoes! These joints will be going to 8 grand a pair on ebay before the week is out. Well done Twitter, you just made a pair of “racist” shoes hotter than the Air Yeezy. I hope you’re happy with yourself.
-Brock
My opinion: The shoe is a shoe, made by some guy with shit for brains.
Lets assume for a moment the shoe is some sort of social commentary or making some sort of statement, intended or otherwise (reasonable, since they weren’t created in a vacuum). What about the shoes makes what they say specific to black people? As you noted above, people of all races end up in shackles, and as you also noted, it is foolishly racist to assume only black people buy sneakers.
So where does the racism come in? They’re just ugly fucking shoes.
Touche
.
I was shocked that the fact that these shoes are so astoundingly fugly didn’t enter the discussion. Exactly what event is the plastic chain a plus? While playing basketball? Afternoon tea? Family picnic? The club?
Yes, I’m sure there is some rapper trying to get a hold of these to wear onstage as a “statement”., trying to be political and a showoff at the same time. All it will really say is that they are a damn fool.
@that dude You’re telling me you weren’t down with the purple suede? The traffic stripes? They should have tried to sell them as biking shoes with a built in cuff so you don’t get your pants caught in the spokes…see, I can’t even save em with function. They’re terrible.
Great article. When I say the cuff shoes, personally I thought, “Finally a sneaker theft deterrent system.” But you know subjectivity, one person may be a lover and another a hater.
P.S. great article. If you use the word ‘center’ follow by 2 , then finish with the word ‘/center’ in brackets, it will center your picture in your blogs.
Keep up the good work.
Peace.
2 brackets, anyway, look for HTML picture centering. It will help.
Peace!
The real question is, why does Adidas keep letting Jeremy Scott design stuff?
@catfish
maybe jeremy scott has some nude pictures of adidas in a compromising situation with some bulgarian hookers and coke?
some form of extortion has to be part of the equation