December 20, 2018: Matt Priest posted images on LinkedIn
As multiple Black executives seem to be climbing the ladder towards a glass ceiling, in the last year important members of the footwear community have been strategizing and planning ways for African Americans to gain access to the highest levels in companies that were built on the backs of black athletes and the black dollar. As broad as that statement is, it’s true in many instances.
For Nike, adidas and Many Brands, Diversity Appears to Place Gender Before Color
FDRA has joined forces with Pensole to bring attention to and celebrate the accomplishments of Blacks in the sneaker industry. It’s a timely celebration taking place during Black History Month at DC’s African American Museum. The event becomes a lot more timely in Nike’s recent announcment that G. Scott Uzzell, former Coca Cola exec, is heading up Converse now. This is a critical moment as Converse bounced back from a couple of bad quarters as Vans showed solid growth. It’s also important as Converse, like Puma and New Balance, begins to reenter the basketball arena.
Kudos to both Pensole and FDRA for bringing more attention to the an issue that is more pervasive and problematic than companies understand.
To find more information on the upcoming event you can e-mail Jasmine Pendergrass at
jpendergrass@fdra.org.
