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My guy Colin Kaepernick has just secured a multi million dollar shoe deal as Nike makes him the face of 'Just Do It' 30th anniversary campaign. .

Kaepernick is a reflection of our time. I truly have nothing against the man. I believe his heart is pure and his intentions just. However he is rendered ineffective in 2018. The original intent of his actions have been buried and everyone has co-opted his message. 45 has used it to fire up his racist and xenophobic base by perverting Colin's message on Twitter. Nike is now exploiting the optics to increase shareholder wealth All the while nothing in the Black community has changed -- other than for the worse. @Cynique have you ever lived in a community where people had the shoes stolen off their feet? Does this seems like alien behavior to you? I ask because of your statement. Which struck me: This video is in NYC in May of this year. There are MANY videos like this one. The victim in this video sneakers were apparently worth $2,000, a pair of Air Jordans. Give today's technology the shoes probably cost less to make than the $100 pair of shores a generation ago. These are just the incidences video tapes most of these crimes go unreported. WHile this young man was not murdered for his sneakers, I assure you people are mirdered each year over a pair of Nikes. I wonder if more people are killed over a pair of Nikes than are unjustifiably killed by Police each year. Again, the value and price of these shoes have NOTHING to do with their cost. The "value" of these sneakers has been manufactured, out of thin air by Nike. The resulting crimes are the result. Today Nike is using Colin to improve the effectiveness of their marketing machine. We are a long way from what ever the heck Colin was kneel about. Just Think.

Sacrifice is relative. Anything you give up what robs you of what has meaning in your life is a sacrifice. Kaepernick is being elevated, not by his own design but by others seeking to villanize, idolize or capitalize off him. i think his intentions are good , which is why i continue to give him credit. He has made yet another impact thanks to NIKE. He is using them as much as they are using him. As for NIKE, just as many affluent people buy them as those who can't afford them; even more. And they come in all price ranges. Once again, you and i clash over ordinary people seeking things that make them happy instead of being satisfied with drudgery, just to make a point. i don't think anybody is being killed for their shoes anymore. Nowadays most kids from all walks of life are more focused on video games and iPhones and social media.

LOL! @Troy NIkes are too expensive for me, but before I even knew that they supported Colin, I just recently broke down and scratched my pennies to buy a pair that I need because of my problematic feet. They happened to make a pair that I can use without causing me more damage due to a job injury. And, I don't think this will make up for Colin's financial loss either. From what I understand, he was really good at his sport, so I know he made a sacrifice. I hope his parents will be proud of him though, I believe it is tough on them too. There are already some angry people though, mad at Nike.

Seriously @Pioneer1, you wrote that a Republic was "just ONE FORM of an oligarchy." If you would just name two other forms, I think I can help you think about what the terms mean and why saying something like, "A nation can be an Oligarchy, Plutocracy, AND a Republic all at the same time" is like saying a fruit can be an apple, pomegranate, and a kiwi all at the same time. Just because you can string the words together does not mean that they will make sense. This has nothing to do with college, it is just English. As an aside, it would also be interesting to read some of the other reasons you are "GLAD" you did not go to college, I'd like to hear other reasons why you are happy to have not gotten an education. Do you feel the same way about a high school education too?

@Mel Hopkins Thank you so much! And, your post was so on point! @Cynique You are welcome! @Pioneer1 Thank you. @Pioneer1 I think it is because that was only step 1. I am speaking on a personal basis here. I can't believe that you can't see this for what it is. Ms. Grande's smiling mean noting to his behavior. He borderlined if not crossed the line on what is criminal, and that is why the news reports showed the clip. It's obvious. I was taught that a person doesn't even have to touch you, and certain behaviors is considered 'AN ASSAULT'. Ms. Grande may have smiled and kept up an decent reaction due to being 'caught off guard' and for the sake of the situation being public, but she was clearly tensed up at his grabbing her like that.

@Cynique I didn't think this was unfortunate when I read it... maybe because I also believe men and women should look elegant on occasions such as funerals, weddings, you know any event that require formal attire. But it's a matter of taste (and confession) that's when my matriarchal "victorian" upbringing rears its ugly head. Another reason why this didn't trigger a rebuttal is because I find when you discuss a topic, I don't think I've ever read you attribute the offending behavior to the collective. Correct me, but I've never read you write something like, "black women wear these type of outfits to a funeral to seduce males mourners"... or "black women wear short skirts and dresses because they are trying to be "white" 😨 @Pioneer1 You clearly didn't notice her initial reaction... It doesn't surprise me that you're tone deaf on this subject though. I don't see ANY parents and children participating in any criminal activity -if I did I'd report them to the authorities. I have written and broadcast news reports on sexual assaults against minors when I was Television News Reporter / Anchor. As I've written, even with a small percentage of black people in the Ohio valley - color doesn't matter. Sexual assault is an equal opportunity crime. BY THE WAY, HOW MANY WHITE PARENTS HAVE YOU SEEN participating in these sick and freakish events? As for the rest of your commentary, it's hyperbole. You can have your own opinions but you can't have your own facts. I will agree with you on this point. Because every woman is different. Finally!

Fascinating. What other forms of oligarchy are there?

Yes, because I remember quite clearly how Dyson bashed Cornel West when West spoke out against Obama. Dyson did not start poppin' shit about Obama until Obmana was out of office -- when it was too late to make difference. I'm not impressed.

Chev Have you ever read a book by Sigmund Freud called "Moses and Monotheism"? If not, I think you would find it very interesting.

Good for Colin. It does not sound like it will make up for the loss revenue from his football contract but it is far more than any of us will make. Leave up to Nike to slickly capitalize on the "moment." Imagine what it would be like if NIKE were around in the 60's and co-opted the images of the civil rights leadership during the civil right movement just to sell grotesquely over priced footwear targeting people who can ill afford the buy the stuff... "Sacrificing everything" -- gimme a freaking break! We don't even know what sacrifice means today; Brother and Sisters actually risked their lives fighting injustice little more than a generation ago. We won't even get off social media for 5 minutes.

@Pioneer1 Man, this is a ridiculous statement. I know the masses are easily manipulated, but no one will forget the the Catholic Church's offenses because "bishop" grabbed him some grande tittie. We can remember more than one thing at the same time. I listed to video of Dyson's speech. Again I still not not feel like I missed anything. Sounded more like lines from his standup routine and a eulogy for Aretha. The rant against 45, the dig against Obama absence were uncalled for inappropriate -- That kind of rhetoric was apropo for the old Tavis Smiley State of Black America Conference . But this was clearly not a "normal" funeral.

@Mel Hopkins @Chevdove Thank you! I didn't read this post by pioneer because i didn't feel like shoveling my way through what i figured would be a lotta crap, but i am sooo glad you two did read it and took the lecherous pioneer to task with your on-point rebuttals! (Of course you risk a reprimand from Del who regularly attacks Troy but thinks folks should go easy on his "little brother" pioneer because he loves some black people - some of the time. And of course pioneer will think y'all are being "thin-skinned" because you criticized his ignorant, boorish mentality.) Unfortunately I, myself, was more focused on Ariana's short dress than on the Bishop's taking liberties. I did think his reference to her name reminding him of Taco Bell, was an attempt at humor that bordered on racism. But y'all put things in proper perspective and, once again, I thank you!

By @Chevdove I read on from an instagram comment his wife was sitting right behind him. A young woman who said she was a parishioner in his church - said, "I know his heart. He didn't do anything wrong." Needless to say the other instagram posters took her to task for being "blind"... I'm sorry that you had to experience that from someone you should have been able to trust. I'm glad you made it through without him physically harming you. I do know those mental scars are hard to carry though.