SHOCKINGLY Bad Sneaker Ads by Nike & Converse (what were they thinking?)

Question

“Nike and Converse, what the hell were you thinking?”

This sneaker ad has gone viral for all the WRONG reasons. After receiving backlash, Converse is backpeddling as fast as they can for its recent sneaker ad campaign.

Rep. Troy Carter from Louisiana had this to say:

“Lynching is not a creative concept. The Ku Klux Klan is not an aesthetic. This campaign should never have been created, approved or released.”

“We’re sorry,” Converse said in a statement to PEOPLE. “We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong.”

“We removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it appeared,” the statement continued. “This should not have happened and we will do better.”

Ten A · Answer

I think that, especially for large-scale projects, they should be reviewed by multiple people before being released. However, isn’t the director ultimately the one who should take responsibility?
As a foreigner,　we might not immediately understand the meaning of that image at first glance, but if we understand the local context and consider the relevant factors, we should be able to fully grasp its true intent.
That said, in the case of Converse, since an Asian woman was featured in the campaign, I find it hard to believe that such an intention was the underlying motive. I doubt we would have been able to arrive at that conclusion even after careful consideration.
As globalization expands, so does the scope of our activities, but this serves as a reminder that we need to pause and reflect on whether we are truly taking the time to fully learn about the issues and events rooted in those specific regions.

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