General Discussion

It is ironic that a black entrepreneur would use slaves to fatten his pockets, but he did.

Faced with making his popular athletic footwear, he had a choice. He could make a high quality shoe in the US like New Balance and Oregon based Carson Footwear, or he could manufacture them inexpensively as possible and spend the difference on high profile endorsements and advertising. Phil Knight went with the second option. He approached Sports stars with financial offers they couldn't refuse

Seeking factories in third world countries in the Asian labor market, Knight subcontracted the hiring to sweat shop owners. As a result, people desperate for even a minimum wage took jobs that included intimidation, sexual assault, and physical violence to get those shoes on the next boat to Oregon. In most poverty stricken areas the children have to pitch in for the family's survival. A 15 year old girl with calloused hands and burn scars would fail the family if she quit the Nike factory. She would feel shamed. So they stayed as slave labor.

The workers burned the factory in Vietnam down a few years ago and many were fined for not meeting minimum wage standards... In Indonesia!

I Despise that Swoop and screw Phil Knight.