After seeing controversies, Nike is finally canceling their newly sneaker that featured the “Betsy Ross” version of the American flag which features 13 stars in a circle from the late 18th century.
Nike in a statement to CNN Business said, “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,”
The statement further added, “Nike is a company proud of its American heritage.”
As per to the Wall Street Journal, this decision came out after Colin Kaepernick, a former NFL player and activist complained that the flag was a throwback to that time period when prominent Americans held slaves.
Betsy Ross was an American upholsterer who has been recognized in the past by making the first American flag. On the other hand, there is no evidence or other recorded verbal practice in order to prove her story of the first American flag. But, it appears that the story first appeared in the writings of her grandson in the 1870s with no reference or citations in previous decades.
Ross’ grandson William Canby published the first ever known written account of the original flag in his one of the writings titled “The History of the Flag of the United States.”
As per to the Canby, they asked his grandmother whether she can make one, on this Ross told Washington that “she did not know but she could try; she had never made one but if the pattern were shown to her she had not to doubt of her ability to do it.”
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Marc Leepson, author of “Flag: An American Biography,” in an interview claimed that the story is more of a tale than fact. “Every historical study has come to the same conclusion,” he said.
He then further added, “There’s no good historical evidence that she did. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t. There’s simply a lack of documentation. Most historians believe the story is apocryphal.”
On what would turn out to be Flag Day, June 14, 1777, Congress passed a law calling for the single American flag in order to switch the several standards flying at the time. “Resolved. That the flag of the United States is thirteen stripes, alternating red and white; that the union is thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
The shoe was set to be released on Monday as per to Sneakernews.com for $140. The website has also comprised of several photos of a shoe that featured the American flag version with 13 stars organized in a circle and 13 stripes.
As per to the Smithsonian, that version of the flag was used in the United States from the year 1777 to 1795. It is still not certain if any of the shoes were sold or not.
In the meantime, this is now the second occurrence of Nike where they have removed a product in recent days. After a fashion designer’s support for protests in Hong Kong ignited a social media criticism, the company then decided to stop selling some of the products in China.
At that period of time, Nike also said in a statement that it had made the decision to eliminate some of its goods “based on feedback from Chinese consumers.”
Also, as per to the footwearnews.com, Nike canceled an Air Force 1 sneaker in the month of May after the local group in Panama opposed to its design.
