I have always had mixed feelings about clothing brands or boutiques selling non-Christmas themed clothing items. I say that because, in my opinion, the word “tribute” gets thrown around so easily and as such I’ve become jaded to the idea of people trying to show “respect” for a person or period in history by trying to hock some merch‘.
I especially feel some kind of way about the financial exploitation Black History Month. It sorta reminds me of how Paul Lukas, of the all mighty Uni Watch Blog, is turned off by teams that rock (and subsequently sell) “Military Appreciation” outfits.
The point of contention for me, and I assume for Paul as well, is that the actual struggle and commitment to excellence that these people (civil rights workers and military personnel alike) stand for can not be properly recognized by new shoes and clothing.
Unless you’ve been in a combat, you can’t possibly understand the importance of a war veteran’s contribution to our way of life by simply purchasing a camouflage embellished football jersey. Nor can one pay homage to the pain and humiliation an entire race of people had to endure by rocking some limited edition Jordans.
You want to show respect to the men and women fighting for our freedom? Buy lunch for the Veteran in your life or better yet send a care package to a solider overseas.
Want to “pay tribute” to our civil rights leaders of old? Put some money on that memorial the National Memorial Project Foundation is trying to build in DC.
HOWEVER…
While my beliefs on the subject are firm, I’m honest enough to admit that I’m digging the recent “Martin Luther the King” inspired tee shirt by Atlanta area boutique, Wish. I still call poppycock on the whole “Black History” theme. Especially since Wish is only releasing ONE shirt that just so happens to represent the most popular, and therefor marketable, figure in all of African-American history (straight cash homie). But the design of the shirt was executed well enough to be admired so there’s the silver lining in this situation for me.
If you don’t have your panties in a bunch over this like I do then I’d encourage you to swing by Wish’s online store and cop something as only 20 of these bad boys were printed.
