Fox News to Black Leaders: $315 Shoes Are the Least of Your Problems [Video]
Fox News does the bidding of corporations, and corporations, like Nike, would love nothing more than for black Lebron James fans to shell out $315 dollars for new 
Lebron X shoes. Hence, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone that Fox lambasted black leaders for being critical of the shoe’s price tag.
Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy used the controversy over the $315 shoes to launch a discussion on the depraved culture of African-American youth. Mind you, the Fox & Friends cast hasn’t engaged in any substantive conversation on white cultural dysfunction, such as the dysfunction that led white supremacist Wade Page to murder worshipers at a Wisconsin Sikh Temple. But Doocy had no problem asking his guest, Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Riley, whether the Urban League’s opposition to this shoe’s price tag is indicative of cultural problems within the black community that black leaders are unwilling to confront.
Riley answered, “When you look at some of the real problems facing black America – 14.4 percent unemployment, 6 points higher than the national average. Kids are heading back to school. Back kids, disproportionately, are heading back to the worst schools, the most violent schools with the worst performing teachers. And this is what the national urban league wants to talk about? The price of sneakers? Doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
Riley is black, so as a black man, he should know that black people, including black leaders, can chew gum and walk at the same time. It is possible for black people to criticize the high cost of the shoes while simultaneously taking steps to address high unemployment, and other ills that disproportionately impact the black community.
“This is about a culture that puts ‘bling,’ puts conspicuous consumption ahead of industry and thrift,” Riley continued. “Blaming corporate America is not going to fix that problem.”
Funny how, during conversation about materialism and bling, no one ever injects into the conversation Wall Street boys who sport luxury cars up and down the streets of the financial district in NYC. Materialism is an American cultural phenomenon, and it was learned from those at the top. It does more damage to black because blacks have less, and are disproportionately impacted by structural racism. But it is remarkably stupid for Mr. Riley to imply that materialism is a black problem. Then again, that’s the job of Fox stooges, I guess.
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I hate fox but on this issue I agree.I am black and wish we woud be more upset about poor education,would set higher dtandards would help our kids to see how unimpotant 315 shoes are and just how to take what we have and make it better. As long as we wait for someone else to make us better,setting no standatds for ourself, we willl continue playing the blame game and tbe race card
The enlightened understand that every corporate-owned media is crooked and biased to degrees unimaginable by the common populace. In fact everything which bares corporate signatures are not to be trusted or taken seriously on important subjects, and should be scrutinized repeatedly on any random subject!
We can’t trust anything which is owned and operated by the “elite” and their vast alliance of murdering, pillaging ‘neo-colonialist’. It is okay to follow their media if you have prepared yourself by listening to public media. Search for non-corporate sponsored news and information online, on radio, and public TV channels such as ‘Link TV’.
Finally. Everyone (black, white or other) needs to study biology, psychology, sociology, and read speeches and writings by humanitarians and not propaganda garbage tossed out there by corporate medias like Fox et al.
Our minds (brains) are both strong and weak! The elite know this better than we do and have access to great sources of information to help them manipulate our way of thinking, and the way we react to their constant and broad input. This is why we are known as a consumerist society. We are programmed to consume things we do not need and should not want!
We are upset about poor education, urban killings of our Black youth, rap songs that disrepect our women, drugs in our neighborhoods, and the foolishness of spending money, especially money that we don’t have, on something as stupid as $315 shoes-no matter what brand they are. Faux News needs to stay out of the business of Black people and start delivering the truth in that propaganda that they claim is news. I stopped watching the Fox network about five years ago because the truth ain’t in them. They have an agenda and it is not to present anything positive regarding Black people.
Are these articles written by professionals or just bloggers? There were too many grammatical errors for this to be taken seriously.
If only everyone could read and write as well as you do! Although that wouldn’t stop ignorant people from buying overpriced, outrageous things which were made by slave laborers, for a tiny fraction of the price they charge here.
Many do not listen, do not understand, do not learn, do not care, and some would rather stay ignorant and retarded for in that they find their own bliss!
So it’s okay to talk about the ills of the African American community- just not in front of white people? Everything brother Riley said I have heard said by Dr. Boyce a myriad number of times. And it’s not just him saying these things- many others within our community are speaking out about these issues. But out of fear of being dubbed disloyal to their saviour (Almighty Obama), they rarely speak above a whisper. This has to end. Riley has the right to vent his frustrations about the plight and dysfunction within the African American familt just as well as any other black man so concerned.
Raising a racous over tennis shoes, Really? There’s no need for groups like the urban league anymore -OUTDATED AND OUT OF TOUCH.
Maybe Fox News is the only outlet for those with the courage to dare go outside the Black Leadership talking points….
If they really want to make a difference, seems to me the Urban League & many other such community organizations should be out marching & demanding excellence in our schools & the end to Teacher Union strangling of our public schools by shielding marginal & incompetent teachers with their outdated tenure, seniority & work rules….. There’s pay nothing but lip service in their contracts about requiring excellence in our schools… This is as good a place to start as any if you want to move the ball in the right direction….The Teachers Unions are as outdated as carbon paper & phone lines unless, of course, you are a marginal or incompetent teacher……
WOW!! Seems like you have a problem with the teachers’ unions and teachers. A lot of people like to blame the teachers for the failure of Black students. Have you spoken with a Black teacher? They will tell you that the students have no respect for them or themselves, they don’t want to learn, they are more interested in s****l activity than they are in their studies, and the parents don’t seem to be the least bit concerned. Teachers’ hands are tied. They can’t discipline students any longer. They are overworked and underpaid. I did my student teaching in 1972. I knew I could not teach school for a living-because of of the reasons mentioned. Therefore, I began a career in corporate America. I really wanted to teach to make a difference in the lives of our young people. But I soon realized it would be an impossible task for me. Most of my students were disruptive, disrespectful, and didn’t have the least interest in learning anything. We need to stop blaming teachers and give them their much deserved support.
Why is it that every time I make a comment that is contrary to the KultureKritic byline, it’s posting is invariably stalled with “Your comment is awaiting moderation” as the excuse.Why is this so… I never use curse words or foul language or launch personal attacks on the commentators…but they are still sidelined… When I agree with your POV, they are posted immediately….WHAT’S UP !!! SEEMS TO ME A SUBTLE FORM OF CENSORSHIP…
Why is it that every time I make a comment that is contrary to the KultureKritic byline, it’s posting is invariably stalled with “Your comment is awaiting moderation” as the excuse.Why is this so… I never use curse words or foul language or launch personal attacks on the commentators…but they are still sidelined… When I agree with your POV, they are posted immediately….WHAT’S UP !!! SEEMS TO ME A SUBTLE FORM OF CENSORSHIP…
Why is it that every time I submit a comment that is contrary to the KultureKritic byline, it is stalled, sometimes for days with the excuse that it is “awaiting moderation,” whatever that is….
I don’t use curse words or foul language or nasty personal attacks on those I disagree with & when I agree with TheKK POV, my comment is invariably posted immediately…..
WHAT’S UP WITH YOU GUYS… PERHAPS A SUBTLE PC FORM OF CENSORSHIP???
Don’t buy this c**p shoe, put your money in the bank and save.
My problem is why the some have a problem with the “conspicuous consumption” of these shoes but not the thousands of dollars spent on Christian Louboutin, Prada, Birkin purses, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, etc., just to name a few brands that we, yes, African Americans included, shell out for products likes shoes, purses, sunglasses, watches, cars etc., that cost the company $.50 to $20,000 to produce that they in turn sale to ALL of us for $500 to millions of dollars? Do anyone really think that any one pair of shoes is worth in excess of $1,000; or any purse is worth in excess of $10,000 to $85,000; or any car that can still only get you from point A to point B–no matter how much it costs–is worth in excess of $350,000; or any watch–diamond encrusted or not–will keep better time just because it sells for in excess of $10,000 to up to a million dollars? My point is, we overpay for items because it is a status symbol, and yes, African Americans have joined the bandwagon of aspiring to “status symbol” items. The problem here appears to be that it is because African Americans dare to aspire to “status symbol items”. I say this because I heard no outcry at the overpricing of the aforementioned “status symbol” purchases, but then, what do I know. My point is, let’s not pick and choose the point of our outrageousness. Yes the shoes are overpriced, but those that see the silliness of this will not buy into this foolishness, and those that decide that “this is how I want to spend MY money”—the operative word being “MY”—will look at those shoes and see them for what they are—a pair of overpriced sneakers—nothing more or nothing less. This, to me, is really a non-issue.
You seem to be comparing apples to oranges. Black people who can afford to buy Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chanel, Hermes, etc., are not in the same category with Blacks who choose to buy Nike sneakers. When people need/get public assistance and foolishly spend their money on something ridiculous as $315 sneakers it needs to be criticized. Expensive, quality merchandise also isn’t manufactured or produced in sweat shops. I once read an article written by a white man who said Blacks drink Courvoisier, Hennesey, Crown Royal because they can’t affor Rolex watches or drive Rolls Royces. This gives them a good feeling about themselves. This came after some Black leaders criticized the alcohol bottlers for displaying large billboards advertising these products in the Black community. It was a known fact that these same billboards did not appear in white communities. It’s time we wake up and start spending our money with other Blacks and save as much money as possible. We need to stop making other races rich. They certainly don’t spend money with us.
I wrote everything I had to say about this topic several days ago when you first reported this story. What I find interesting is the context Fox news and even some the commentator’s are now trying to frame the argument against these shoes using the old diversion tactic. Instead of sticking on the topic at hand, simply point out a bigger problem or a problem that doesn’t have anything to do with the topic being discussed. Example: If you catch a kid stealing the last cookie from the cookie jar and while punishing that kid for his actions he says, ‘well Susie peed in the kool-aid’. Sure Susie is a problem but what in the frog does that have to do with you stealing the last cookie? Susie is a separate issue. This is the typical patronising type of racism where some flippin’ cavebeast thinks they have some manifest right to tell other people what their priorities should be like we are their pets. It doesn’t matter if I have a knife in my back. I still get to say something about you spitting in my face. You don’t get to tell me I shouldn’t worry about it. Also, it’s basic common sense that no one white is going to die over these shoes. Alot of Black people are going to die over this. Fact. It’s all fun and games and we are told to be quiet when it’s our family members or friends who are the ones who are going to die. True, there are some of you who say simply don’t buy these things and that won’t happen. You are right. But, how can we who don’t want to buy a new pair of Lebron’s tell some kid who does he shouldn’t if he can scrape up the money to get them while at the same time flossing our a***s off whenever we buy a new car, a new pair of European shoes, a new suit or dress? Just because one is more socially acceptable to the White European aesthetic doesn’t change the bs in most kids’ and younger people’s minds that it is the same exact thing. You can’t afford that Mercedes either. But you bought it. Where do you think most of these young people got their value systems from? Still once again it boils down to this. Remember how when the Trayvon Martin story first broke most of the White Fox type newscasters instead of focusing on the issue of a un-armed Black male teenager being shot by grown man who had no business following him or speaking to him in the first place. All of them decided to go on some typical problems in the Black Community rant. None of us ever says there aren’t problems in the Black Community. What we are saying and seeing quite obviously is that whenever we encounter a problem with White, non-Black or the bottom line of Corporate America making money is the only time they want to address any problems in the Black Community. A person has every right to buy these murder shoes if they want too. But at least Nike or Lebron should have the kindness to put a letter of apology signed by “King James” himself stating how he is sorry your loved one was killed over his sneakers in the box to be read at the funerals of all the victims of this bullshit. A little act of kindness goes a long way don’t you think? (sarcasm) Nike should make coffins as well.
My problem is why some have a problem with the “conspicuous consumption” of these shoes, but not with the thousands of dollars spent on Christian Louboutin, Prada, Birkin purses, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Audemar and Rolex watches, etc., just to name a few brands that we, yes, African Americans included, shell out for products likes shoes, purses, sunglasses, watches, cars, etc., that cost the companies anywhere from $.50 to $20,000 to produce, but that they in turn sell them, to ALL of us, for anywhere from $500 to millions of dollars? Does anyone really think that any one pair of shoes is worth in excess of $1,000; or any purse is worth in excess of $10,000 to $85,000; or any car that can still only get you from point A to point B–no matter how much it costs–is worth in excess of $350,000; or any watch–diamond encrusted with VVS stones or not–will keep better time just because it sells for in excess of $10,000 to up to a million dollars? People, let’s face it, who really NEEDS a $20 million-dollar house, even if you say it is an investment—especially, in today’s housing market? My point is, we sometimes overpay for items merely because it is a status symbol, and yes, African Americans have joined the bandwagon of aspiring to purchase “status symbol” items. (It has been said, image is everything, and yes, African Americans has, too, bought into this premise.)
The problem here appears to be that it is African Americans who dare to aspire to purchase “status symbol items.” I say this because I heard no outcry at the overpricing of the aforementioned “status symbol” purchases, but then, what do I know. My point is, let’s not pick and choose the point of our outrageousness of purchasing overpriced item. I would venture to guess, most of us have purchased overpriced items for the sake of “status symbol” and we probably will again. Yes, the shoes are overpriced, but those that see the silliness of purchasing $300 sneakers will not buy into this foolishness, but others will decide that “this is how I want to spend MY money”—the operative word being “MY”—will look at those shoes and see them for what they are—“a pair of overpriced sneakers, but I want them anyway, because this purchase makes me momentarily happy”—nothing more or nothing less. This, to me, is really a non-issue.
That man can change what he wants for his shoes . Those are he’s shoes if u cannot afford them don’t buy them . He fot a family to take care of just like e veryone else . If his name sales oh wel . l
Wealth, greed, and accumulation aside:
We are “black”, yes. Our history of slavery gives us a keen sense of why we are suffering so much discrimination etc., today, true. Our ancestors were stripped of their heritage, culture, language, pride, traditions, land ownership, memories, tribal superstitions and beliefs, etc. What they received in place is what has been passed down to us! Including the religious superstitious beliefs we posses in mass today!
Everything we are today is a direct result of the things we have been given by the captor/descendants of our ancestors!
The culture we have assimilated into is not a good one, but most people believe otherwise because it is the guidance of this psychosocial norm.
The longer we reside, and assimilate our offspring into this form of Eurocentric idiosyncrasy, the more we will become as brutal and sociopathic as our “overseers” are. The “white” commoners don’t know why they suffer such horrible tragedies because they are as unaware who is actually pulling their chains as we are! Yet they will go to extra lengths to exhibit their ignorant hatred towards blacks and others!
We are victims of “Stockholm Syndrome” and many other mental diseases this White-Power social-structure and it’s hidden “Anglo-elite” have, and continue to bombard us with. And if we cannot find a wise ‘enlightened leader’ who can avoid being murdered by them (ignorant misguided whites and others) we will never have true unity and we will never toss-off the many negative aspects of being mentally and physically “enslaved” in this, our own country!
L W O…..Agree with your comments 100% about parental control & student indifference…But’s it’s shortsighted to believe that marginal & incompetent teachers are not also a big piece of the problem & perhaps part of the reason for student indifference…That is not to say that there are not brave & talented people teaching in these schools but I know from personal experience that there are a bunch of lackluster ones just showing up for the check & no way to weed them out…And with the Union Work Rules & disruptions to the performance process, cannot be a coincidence that the worst of the lot are being shuffled around or sitting in rubber rooms collecting their checks while the marginal ones continue to squash the spirits of those kids who could benefit from great teacher without any worry about performance standards… ITS A MESS!!!