I went to Girl Guides as a kid. I don’t think I dressed up (I was about 8), but one of my fashion staples was a pair of white Air Jordans with black and red accents. If I remember correctly, the kicks featured an iridescent midfoot swoosh. I believe they were kid boy sizes. During one event, two girls stared in my direction, whispering to each other. A few moments later, one of the girls approached me, admitting they were chatting about my Jordans. The thing is, rocking fresh kicks wasn't a big deal. That was just the story of my life.

I grew up on Nike.

Seeing powerful black celebrities wearing Jordans mesmerized me. Two, in particular—Spike Lee and Michael Jordan—were everything I wanted to be. All my influences at the time, from Monie Love and MC Lyte to Kid'N'Play and Kris Kross, rocked Jordans.

It wasn’t surprising, at least to me, that I'd want to work for the big SWOOSH as an adult. I'm not an athlete, nor have I tried to be, but the brand's ethos made me feel there'd be a place for me within its content team to help shape Nike's narrative for younger generations, particularly young black girls like me.

Working at Nike's HQ has been on my wishlist for some time, so much so that I added several employees on LinkedIn and even arranged informal Zoom chats. However, I received rejections for every position I applied for. Is it disheartening? Yes and no.

A lot is alluding to Nike’s internal culture, but knowing me, this revelation didn't sway my opinion of the brand. When I learned that John Donahoe was stepping down as CEO, coincidentally ahead of the US election, I thought, 'Maybe this is a positive thing!' given that his tenure at the brand wasn’t a fit. However, after reading Forbes’s piece about the brand’s failing reputation, especially over the past four years, I’ve started to wonder about this brand I admired and its hazy future.

I am a journalist covering streetwear and youth culture beats. So, I need to report on things as they land on my desk. However, I sincerely hope that the brand transforms.

Nike needs to redefine what diversity means as a global brand known for pushing boundaries. Instead of the cool kid, Nike should broaden its teams to include individuals who don’t align with traditional norms yet possess innovative, fresh ideas and concepts. The new minds' contributions to the brand should stem from their passion; Nike's approach should be genuine, not just a tick on the box. Customers know what’s up.

Does this mean that I'll never work for Nike again? I mean, never say never. Even though many activists have said, "Don't buy Nike," I'd be lying if I didn't admit to being a Nike stan. As I've gotten older, I still find Nike's shoes and brand messaging aspirational. However, there's a glaring disconnect between Nike's public perception and reality. As the adage goes, nothing is as it seems, but what's going on at Nike, an all-American emblem, feels symbolic, almost like the implosion of the West.

As I said, I'm keeping it light for this post, but I'm committed to seeing where this journey takes me.