NIKE INC releases "2011 Black History Month" Pack (Review)

Official Press Release: 
"This year’s Black History Month Nike Air Force 1 celebrates the achievements and pioneering spirit of three important basketball players: Julius Irving, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant. There was a call to greatness for all three players, a moment in time that defined their careers, and changed the course of history for the sport of Basketball. For Dr. J, it was unifying the ABA and NBA with his finesse and high flying style. For Jordan, it was the ’87 Slam Dunk title, the one that made kids all over draw chalk lines to jump from in their backyards. When Kobe scored 81 points in ‘06, it made you question what planet he was from. Each player laid the foundation for the next to elevate the game even further.The predominantly black upper of this Black History Month AF1 is a nod to the past, because in the early days of the sport of basketball, shoes on the court were almost always black. The hints of gold all around the shoe are reminders of the golden moment we all are striving to achieve. You’ll also find a woodblock cut print around the upper by artist Hele Woodruff, adding another chapter to the pioneer story.

With a premium Stetson leather upper, metal eyelets and accessories, gold stitching, and a clear tinted outsole, you’ll see this isn’t just your average AF1. This is a sneaker that celebrates a powerful pioneering spirit."



Finally detailed photos have been released of the four shoes that constitute the Nike "2011 Black History Month" Pack.  The pack includes classics such as the Nike Air Force 1, and an Air Jordan Retro 3.  Two other beautiful shoes in this pack are the Converse Star Player EVO (also part of the Nike Family) and the new Nike Zoom Kobe VI which was just released on the "Concord" colorway this past saturday.  The EVO, Zoom Kobe and Air Jordan represent three African American men who are not only superstar athletes to themselves and their fans but super heroes to others.  They are Julius Erving, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan respectively.  The Converse EVO is said to pay homage to Dr. J for unifying the NBA and ABA.  His star status and unifying spirit and energy helped unify the two and this EVO pays tribute to that.  The Zoom Kobe VI represents a game that kobe played in 2006 where he clocked in 81 points against the Toronto Raptors putting him in 3rd place in the most points scored in a single game. The Air Jordan 3 is here to represent his dunk from the free-throw line from 1987 which sent the crowd going wild.  The Jordan 3 is made of black grain leather, nubuck and suede giving a matte and glossy depth to the shoe.  The BHM logo is printed on the dubrae and the shoe features gold accents just like the other 3.  The accent is the Air Jordan logo, the stitching, the eyestays, the heel Air Jordan logo, the Air sole unit, and on the insole.  

Now to get to the Air Force 1, it is black leather that has a "woodblock cut print" on the upper of the shoe designed by the artist Hele Woodruff.  The black base represents the black of the basketball shoes that were worn in the early basketball days and the gold represents the final moment, that golden finish that everyone seeks to achieve in everything they practice for.  

There is no official information on when the pack will be released. 

Other shoes which surfaced for Black History Month are the Nike Zoom KD III, and the Jordan CP3 IV.  The Zoom KD III was designed to pay tribute to such people as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  The print on the upper is an "African-American handcraft-inspired print".  These shoes also feature a gold accent on the swoosh, flywire forefoot and on the KD logo.  We should be expecting the Oklahoma City Thunder to be rocking these tomorrow on January 17th 2011.  

As for the Jordan CP3 IV, they also feature a similar upper to the Jordan 3, in which there is grain leather and nubuck.  In addition to that just like the rest of the shoes being released, it has gold accents on the logos, parts of the outsole, eyelets, lining and stitching.  Keep your eyes out on Chris Paul to be wearing these tomorrow too.  

Expect a february release for all these shoes but keep in mind that for some of them, word on th street is that only 3000 have been made.  Are you going to be one of the lucky ones to get your hands on these? 



Any thoughts, feel free to comment.