Vans releases "The Prison Issue." Tone-deaf or celebratory?
Did you know that the United States of America locks more people up than any other country on earth? More than North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Iran, even Australia. More than Russia, Mongolia, Ukraine, South Africa, France, even Syria.
So many people!
1 out of every 36 Americans is under some sort of correctional supervision according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, growing by 700% from 1970-2005 creating a multi-multi billion dollar industry.
Moreover, the whole proposition is wildly racist. The Center for American Progress reports that one out of every fifteen men in prison is black, one out of thirty-six Hispanic and one out of one hundred and six white. One out of every three black men will go to prison at some point in their lives generally for some low-level, petty drug crime. Black men get stopped more often by the police, searched more often, beat more often and then get carted off to the big house very much more often to spend at least 20% longer there.
A human rights disaster by any measure.
And are you reading this on a contraband cellphone behind bars right now?
Probably not (because if you are not Maurice Cole then you are white) but if you want to feel like you are try buying a pair of the new Vans Prison Issue. A shoe modeled on the very same sort black and Hispanic inmates wear in cages.
The release reads:
The return of the prison issue (AKA style #23) features an updated toecap and resized straps for the ultimate comfort and support.
Hmmm.
Do you think actual prisoners get updated toecaps and resized straps? Do you think releasing a shoe celebrating hard time in an era of extra-hot racial tension is tone-deaf or do think Vans parent company VF Corp is honoring a truly American pastime?
Should some percentage of sales go to the non-profit The Sentencing Project aimed at fixing America’s criminal justice system?
Oh what a grand idea!
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nah, anybody with that written on their shirt in jail can probably hold their own.
Is anyone else concerned for the guy sitting on the bench in the top photo? Can’t see how having “COCK” on your prison issue shirt is going to work out well for you.
That rather depends on what you want out of life.
hats off to vans if they get a prison contract. i work for a food company and we do prison contracts. we ship them dog food, and they pay us, easy money..
“Dear Bob McKnight:
We degenerates here at BeachGrit have found a way to save Quiksilver. Given the state of mass incarceration in the United States…”
hahahah, you’re in rare form Mariano.
Oh, it’s my regular form. I’d write posts more regularly, but fun as it is, pro-bono, pseudonymous satire cain’t pay dem bills and don’t do much for ‘career advancement’ whatever the fuck that is these days.
Want a job?
Sunny Garcia is sponsored by Vans?
Lame marketing centered around trying to be hard. Thumbs down all day.
“…after the surf industry.” – Paul Speaker
It’s imprudent to discuss racial issues here, but if you’re going to do so, at least get your facts straight. The stats you give regarding the racial makeup of prison inmates don’t even add up. Also, where are your figures to show the crimes-by-race? Very disingenuous. ProTip: stick with what youre good at writing about, because you don’t know fuck all about prison, either as a convict or a cop.
How does it not add up/how is it imprudent?
i think he’s going to say that the prison statistics approximate the propensities of each race to commit crimes in the first place. like, of course 1 in 15 blacks are locked up and only 1 in 106 white dudes, cause they aren’t as criminal to begin with. (hope i’m wrong though)
On average in the US, prison populations are 37% black, 32% white, 22% Hispanic, and 9% Asian/other. “1 in 36” under some kind of correctional supervision? What is the source of this? There are a little over one million in jail/prison in the US. With a population of over 400M, that’s 1 in 400. As I said, your stats are wildly inaccurate. We live in the information age, d00d… the facts are at your fingertips. A little bit of research goes a long way.
The Atlantic!
And backing up racial theories with stats from CAP? That’s like going to Westboro Baptist Church for info on gays! *facepalm*
But how is imprudent?
What do you stand to gain by broaching racial issues on a surf blog? Is your motivation Caucasian guilt? Are you virtue signaling? *facepalm 2.0*
“Correctional Supervision” might include probation. There are 4.7M under probation (2015 stat, Bureau of Justice Statistics), combined with 2.2M incarcerated (2013 stat, Bureau of Justice Statistics) would be about 1 in 58. Updated stats would be better.
Out of your 157 – 10.5 would be black (1in 15) , 4.7 Hispanic, 1.5 white – the rest Asian, muslim?? and of course probably Brazilian!!!
Some pretty ordinary stats there I think
Did you know you can in-fact be a White Muslim, a Hispanic Muslim, a Black Muslim or even an Asian Muslim. These stats are going to get a little complicated.
yeah I was going very generic there just thinking of a region really!!
very complicated too true
When you purchase a pair Vans also takes your belt away.
They opened their Get N Classic Vol 3 video with a song by convicted murderer, church arsonist and neo-nazi Varg Vikernes. Its safe to say someone with sign off powers over there is either tone deaf or likes being oh-so-edgy.
Glad to see someone else noticed the Burzum track.
More offensive, though, is any song written or performed by a Vans team rider.
True DAT. Nonetheless… will Satan take Varg and give us back Euronymous? \m/
I think the shoes they give you in jail look A LOT like vans slip on’s already. Blue or Orange. These things here?? FUGLY!!!
I guess Asian.
I’m more offended by how ugly those shoes are
For real. And nothing like prison shoes, either. Double fail.
Even my 8 year old son has grown out of Velcro… but I suppose he’s not going to hang himself or Fashion a garrote out of his shoelaces.