# Is the "Betsy Ross" flag racist **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 2, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-betsy-ross-flag-racist/836376 "2019-07-02T01:59:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 144
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-betsy-ross-flag-racist/836376/144 "2019-07-05T02:33:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So, yes, there is a large market for them, as Nike tested and that’s why they came up with the idea until they wimped out. It has yet to be demonstrated, as **you with the face** suggested, that this outcome wasn’t Nike’s strategy all along, as in the following scenario: 1. Get Kaepernick’s unenthusiastic take on the “Betsy Ross flag” sneakers, but don’t talk about it. 2. Commence manufacturing and distributing “Betsy Ross flag” sneakers. 3. Ostentatiously announce that they’re discontinuing this particular version of the sneaker design because the symbol has some unpleasant associations that could harsh the patriotism buzz by unintentionally (!) offending people. 4. Watch the controversy blow up as furious self-proclaimed “anti-PC” types lose their shit at Nike for “denigrating our country’s history” and similar melodramatically exaggerated takes on Nike’s position, thus reinforcing the impression that Nike’s getting trashed for taking a principled anti-racism stand and providing huge amounts of free publicity that boosts their image with their customer base. 5. Profit! 6. Bonus free publicity from [resellers getting up to thousands of dollars for now-rare pairs of “Betsy Ross flag” sneakers.](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nike-betsy-ross-flag-sneakers-selling-for-more-than-2000-on-stockx/) “Wimped out” like a fox. 😃 --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-betsy-ross-flag-racist/836376)._