Greg McDonough
Sep 4, 2018 · 2 min read

Of Nike and Men

The brand: Nike. The face: Colin Kaepernick. The campaign: Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.

The ad campaign is less than 24 hours old as I sit down to write this response. If reports are to be trusted, conservatives across the country are calling for boycotts of Nike products and the company’s shares are already dropping. The massive gap between two differing sides of this great nation is widening even further still. It grieves me.

My observation is simple. As a Christ following, white, American man… it appears to me that this campaign of Nike’s means something to most of my African American friends. It resonates with them. It strikes a chord deep within a wounded spirit.

This is not a call to conservatives. I’m not a conservative myself. This is not a call to liberals, as I also do not identify with that party line. This is a call to all of my brothers and sisters in Christ living within the borders of this great nation. It is not time to boycott. It is not time to widen the gap. It is time to humble ourselves and listen. It is time to ask our fellow image bearers of the God that is light and love, born of African descent... "How can we close the gap?" "How can we love you and stand with you?"

Let us not ask these questions with our own solutions in mind. Let us humble ourselves, considering others above ourselves, for this is the Spirit we have been given in Christ Jesus.

Your brother in Christ,

Greg McDonough

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:3‭-‬5 ESV

Greg McDonough

Written by

dabbler: everything – master: nothing

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade