Shoe manufacturer Nike on Tuesday apologized for producing a limited edition run of the new trainers it calls “Black and Tan” because its colors look reminiscent of a pint of Guinness mixed with a pint of Harp.
A apologetic spokesman for Nike, hoping to quench the growing firestorm, told The Daily Telegraph: “This month Nike is scheduled to release a version of the Nike SB Dunk Low that has been unofficially named by some using a phrase that can be viewed as inappropriate and insensitive. We apologize. No offence was intended.”
But critics have called foul because the name echoes the moniker of the perhaps most hated British regiment ever to patrol Ireland. The Royal Irish Constabulary, a group of war veterans and hired would-be mercenaries who patrolled the nation between 1920 and 1921, were nicknamed the Black and Tans after their makeshift uniforms.
The Black and Tans led a brutal nationwide crackdown on Irish Catholics, terrorizing entire communities in a horrifying reign of terror that was calculated to intimidate and suppress.
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Nike, who officially named the new trainers the SB Dunk Low, said it had picked the nickname because the trainers colors looked like a pint of Guinness mixed with Harp pale ale. However Irish American leaders were appalled by this admission, saying that calling the trainers Black and Tan was comparable to calling them Al-Qaeda.
Nike’s national ad campaign to announce the new trainers read: “Tis the season for Irish beer and why not celebrate with Nike. The Black and Tan sneaker takes inspiration for the fine balancing act of a Stout on top a Pale Ale in a pint glass.”
However Ciaran Staunton, President of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, was incredulous: “Is there no one at Nike able to Google Black and Tan?” he asked.
The Black and Tans, comprised of World War One veterans and what historians of the period have called hired thugs, were recruited by the Royal Irish Constabulary as temporary constables sent to Ireland to suppress the IRA uprising which eventually led to the formation of the Irish Republic.
The Black and Tans attacked men, women and children indiscriminately, sacking entire towns and villages and setting them on fire in revenge for IRA attacks. Thanks to their actions, to this day a "Black and Tan" remains a pejorative name for the British security forces in Ireland.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Greendays | Mar 19, 2012, 04:44 PM EDT
Nike is a giant in the world of sports products and I doubt they are not aware of the things that might get your "Irish Up"; and I suspect the most significant factor in this promotion is the marketing demographic that is rapidly developing in the "New Ireland's" population.
jamthecat | Mar 16, 2012, 10:55 PM EDT
Talk about a bunch of nonsense. I used to drink Black & Tans (I'd mix Guinness with Grolsch) till I went on the Storehouse Tour at the Guinness Brewery and had a real one. And I'm sure that's all Nike meant by it. Jebus, don't people have better things to worry about or get offended over?
slainte9 | Mar 16, 2012, 04:41 PM EDT
Now if you could just get Chris Matthews to apologize for calling Al Smith, Bob Wagner and David I Walsh corrupt politicians in his Kennedy celebration, all would be right with the world. The Matthews family, by the way are longtime Republicans. Their idea of corruption is Social Security.
joma5004 | Mar 16, 2012, 04:27 PM EDT
So d that I must immediately fall to the floor, beat my breast and ask forgiveness? It happened, it was in the past, get over it!
Larry777 | Mar 16, 2012, 09:50 AM EDT
Shalom, The Black & Tans were the greatest anti-terrorist force the British had before the SAS. Ireland was given to the English by Pope Adrian & William of Orange was fighting on the Papacy's side at the Battle of the Boyne. The IRISH, Papist & Prod are as thick as the Rock of Gibraltar! Give it up! Rejoin the United Kingdom & obey the Papacy! How's that for a Great Irish Joke! Come here, there's more! The THICK PADDIES fought the British for 800 years to get them out of Ireland, but then the FOOLS joined Europe & there's about 100 different nationalities running wild all over Ireland, ripping the system off! Its a CRACKER!
IrelandNorth | Mar 16, 2012, 06:46 AM EDT
The Black 'n' Tans were remobilised working-class British ex-servicement from WWI recruited as a form of British state terrorism to avenge 1916 - NOT a formal regiment of the BA! The Auxiliaries (or 'Auxies') were likewise remobilised British officer class WWI vets who were appalled at the excesses of their lower-class inferiors. The RIC were a locally recruited police force of RC middle-class collaboraters. The B&T's reprised IRA (not Catholic) hostilities. IRA flying columns deliberately ambushed BnT's close to hostile towns to provoke them a backlash. See English-British film director, Ken Loache's "The Wind that Shakes the Barley" for an accurate depiction of the times.
patriot | Mar 15, 2012, 06:03 PM EDT
I'll never "get over" any thing the brits did. They murdered my Great Aunt and burned her cottage to the ground. I hate them brits and always will. I feel darn GOOD about it too.
geoIIIIV | Mar 15, 2012, 11:33 AM EDT
As a drink I enjoy a Black&Tan. As I take it in, I bless the Irish and as I let it go; I bless the queen and all things British. Nike has just given us another way to express our feelings; and one can always find mud or a "cow pie" somewhere.
marygag | Mar 15, 2012, 11:13 AM EDT
there is also a drink called black & tan
Marcella | Mar 15, 2012, 09:28 AM EDT
Occassio - Maith thu! (good on you) - your statement is quite close to one I made to a co-worker, little white pointy caps for the tongue of the shoe with kkk...... Sadly the lack of depth any of us go to at times to understand history and or each other is appalling. And marketing is just that, but in this day of 'multiculturalism and global' marketing the laziness of some marketers is beyond me.
mcdolan | Mar 15, 2012, 05:15 AM EDT
Fab looking sneakers! Are we are over the top on this PC-wise? And this comment comes from someone whose grandmother's family was burned out of their home by the Black & Tans in Belfast. While we don't forget, we have to move on as well!
britpix | Mar 15, 2012, 04:42 AM EDT
Think the sneakers look great..with all the publicity they'll end up a best seller for Nike !! On a more serious note we have a lot more to be worried about here at the moment !!
johhnyb | Mar 15, 2012, 04:19 AM EDT
Thank goodness we've got over the latest insult. we'll be getting over the famine next if we're not careful.
sirpeter | Mar 15, 2012, 12:33 AM EDT
DaileyPlanet.You are right.People are thin-skinned.Not Americans though.They are thick-skinned until you piss on their flag and say you want to kill them.Then they bomb you with freedom that kills you.
bazzarooney | Mar 14, 2012, 08:48 PM EDT
I remember a while ago that Nike put some symbols on the back of a new shoe design and the Muslims were in an uproar and found the design offensive. The show was removed. Go figure.
DaileyPlanet | Mar 14, 2012, 07:39 PM EDT
For God's sake, stop being so offended by everything. People have made a career out of being thin-skinned. Get over it. It's not all about you.
mandrake | Mar 14, 2012, 06:44 PM EDT
First up my Grandfather was a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary born and reared in County Sligo and a Black and Tan he was not. I've been looking through some old photos and all I see is a normal police uniform Maybe you lot should shake YOUR act up and give us some facts.
seagreen | Mar 14, 2012, 06:37 PM EDT
Not surprised that NIKE has offered an apology, but at the same time, they probably had to research what they were apologizing about. There is so much surface intelligence in this day, that people have learned what has to be known in order to be successful in their careers. Black and Tan is a drink that many of the marketing types have been aquainted with during their college years, and it was probably served in an Irish Pub! That was their identification with Irish history. The same situation could apply to something relating to Serbia and Croatia, not to mention the history of a "Cuba Libre" Maybe its time to pull out the dart of persecution that seems to affect so many Irish..
adrienrain | Mar 14, 2012, 05:36 PM EDT
If you can get Nike to apologize to the wage slaves they abuse and underpay in the making of their shoes, I would think more highly of them. But of course, THOSE people aren't customers and Nike knows that because they know how little they're paid.
angrypaddy | Mar 14, 2012, 04:59 PM EDT
Whinge,Whinge,Moan,Moan,Beg ,Beg What a shower
danders1 | Mar 14, 2012, 04:40 PM EDT
I don't even think Harp makes an ale, all I've seen is a lager and that makes a half and half. The black and tan uses Bass.
occassio | Mar 14, 2012, 04:20 PM EDT
I cannot count the number of invectives that have been hurled my way in my six decades. None of them by accident. All meant to insult and demean. However, herein lies the issue. I venture to guess that none of the people who insulted me had any idea of the pain and the sorrow of the African-American journey through history. A difference to some. No difference to others. The Irish experience in America is a far, far cry away; almost three thousand miles and one thousand years of history. Most businesses don't think (really Think) before making these decisions. They don't have a clue because they aren't historians. They are marketers. The difference comes when there is a populous hue and cry for consideration and in the resultant action that is taken. I certainly would not want an all-white sneaker (kind of funny!) or a white sheet named, “Ku Klux Klan”. While we can't control all of the manufactures, we can register our complaints to make them aware, then vote with our pocketbooks. The intent is to remove the spread of bigotry. Don't blow it off so easily as trivial. But, if no offense was meant, then educate, and no offense taken.
maryosullivan | Mar 14, 2012, 04:15 PM EDT
Apology????, of what value is that? The question is, Have they removed the shoes? Nike; bet you wouldn't try offending Jews, well we demand the same courtesies you give any other group
jax | Mar 14, 2012, 03:46 PM EDT
I have always been surprised that no one has ever complained about the drink --and yet the sneaker causes a problem? I guess it would be as insensitive as naming a drink here in the US a kamikaze. Oh wait, there is such a drink and no one cares! We should focus on real problems, not sneakers.
Glendalouch | Mar 14, 2012, 03:29 PM EDT
Give me a break... recently a Marine division was in hot water over an "SS" on their flag. That offended as being a Nazi symbol. I would have never given their flag a second thought but it was USED as a cheap shot to keep the wallowing in the past and hatred alive. Human history is rife with the evils humans are capable of... crap like this will make sure the next generation has reasons to carry it into the future.
Murph46 | Mar 14, 2012, 03:23 PM EDT
You are confusing an apology for after marketing!
citizen69 | Mar 14, 2012, 03:03 PM EDT
Where does this end? My car stereo has an Auxiliary input. Should we all feign offence and complain to the manufacturers for the outrage of naming an input after the perpetrators of Bloody Sunday!? Seriously guys, there was obviously no offence meant by these shoes. They are inspired by a drink, and the drink was NOT named after the Black & Tans of Ireland. It's just colours, no connection what-so-ever.
Chieftain | Mar 14, 2012, 02:36 PM EDT
Naming a shoe 'Black and Tan ' is comparable to naming an all white shoe the "Ku Klux Klan" shoe. Let's see how many people come out and say that is racist and terrible. Same goes for the "Irish Car Bomb", it is deplorable. Let's make another shot called "The 9-11 attacks" or the "Twin Towers bomb". My point that I will protect the comedic aspect of a racist or off-color joke however these are not jokes. The comedic value is nonexistent hence the "outrage". We cannot protect one race of people and then make insensitive remarks about another race. Have the same standard for all.
CitizenWhy | Mar 14, 2012, 02:35 PM EDT
Interesting how Irish central sometimes uses Irish/British grammatical usage, sometimes American, especially in regard to collective nouns, with the Irish/British using the plural for such nouns, Americans using the singular. In the headlines (email/text) for this article both usages show up.
Rachelgaffney | Mar 14, 2012, 02:21 PM EDT
As a native Irish woman , I am not at all offended. People are so sensitive now, it's just not even funny anymore. There are more important things to worry about than this.
bob40wil | Mar 14, 2012, 02:19 PM EDT
kinvara: It will never happen, that's actual news.
bob40wil | Mar 14, 2012, 02:18 PM EDT
Oh please, give me a break, next the Turkish taffy makers will be appologizing to the Armenians.
CitizenWhy | Mar 14, 2012, 02:15 PM EDT
To most Americans Black and Tan is simply a drink. They know very little of Irish history. Give Nike the benefit of the doubt. P.S. My mother's house was burned down three times by the British in the War of Independence.
Paradigm | Mar 14, 2012, 02:14 PM EDT
It creepy when Nike apologises for something that has lost nothing in over 80 years telling and re-telling - political propaganda! I haven't noticed the PIRA apologise for incinerating the innocent civilians at the La Mon Hotel or for a host of other murders of civilians, workmen etc over the last 40 years. A challenge to Irish Central - publish all the killings since 1970 under the headings soldiers, police, IRA activists, civilians and the source of the murders especially of the civilians.
PhlutiePhan | Mar 14, 2012, 02:12 PM EDT
My recently deceased Irish mother did research for a family tree. She traced the name Brice from my third grade educated grandmother whose father had come across the pond. Turns out that there was no Brice and that his name was Breslin. He had changed it and was spirited out of the country after killing a "Black-and-Tan". I do not believe that the actions by Nike were accidental after reading reports of Jodi Kantor's book. Hope to see you at the parade on Saturday in New York.
kinvara7 | Mar 14, 2012, 01:11 PM EDT
The Irish Examiner has reported today that "initial test oil flows at the well in the Barryroe licensing block, broke the 1,800 barrels of oil per day barrier set by the exploration company as being "commercial", but a longer test period will be required to determine if this rate of flow can be maintained. The Irish Examiner understands that flows of 2,000 bopd or gas equivalent to make commercial sense have been achieved in the initial period of the test on the appraisal well, and if this is maintained, then the first oil from could arrive on-shore by 2014." Perhaps this will be reported by Irish Central.
Shmrck5S | Mar 14, 2012, 09:53 AM EDT
I believe a black and tan is Guinness/Bass (Irish/British). A Guinness/Harp is called a half and half in my neck of the woods.