The idea sounded good to the designers after a couple of Pina Coladas.

So wait a minute. If I make a reference to "the old ball and chain," then I'm a racist?

I’ll bet these actually were aimed to be marketed to the youth African American community. Actually is cool in that community to have an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet; as if you have one you are bad.

Appropriately, tomorrow is Juneteenth (June 19th).

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, is the name given to emancipation day by African-Americans in Texas. On that day in 1865 Union Major-General Gordon Granger read General Orders, No.3 to the people of Galveston. It stated

"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere."

Juneteenth is celebrated in 41 states, including Oregon.

I'm sure that without national hoopla over the sneakers kids will buy them up and think they are cool.

Its only racist if you associate shackles with African Americans. Every day inmates at your local jail wear them no matter his or her race. Roman slave, Greek slaves, Egyptian slaves etc. The true racists are those that look at the shoes and their first thought is African Americans as slaves. Stupid fashion and stupid use of the race card.

Dont know if this hurts or helps why the shoes look like this but this is from the Jeremy Scott line of high-concept art shoes for the Adidas Originals and based on my pet monster

http://observer.com/2012/06/jeremy-scott-my-pet-monster-06182012/

Big flip. They're perfect: Shackled to "Fashion" & peer pressure.

Keep your eyes on the balls people. Don't fall for distractions like that.

Also available is a hoodie with a bullseye printed on the back. Wear them together for the ultimate look.

Women have been wearing slave sandals for years. I don't know which ethnic group this offends (Italians?), but the design message is a bit strange. So is the sneaker.

Are they available in pink for the girls?

As a wacky news expert - and this falls into that despite the social ramifications or whatever - I not only dealt with this story for the morning commute, but I can also give you at least one other example from the category.

The category? Bonehead, offensive moves in corporate fashion marketing that get a lot of attention.

Another example? Remember when Abercrombie and Fitch marketed bikinis with padded tops to 8-year-old girls? Their spokesperson compared them to the Wonder Bra and they were sold to girls 8 to 14 years old.

Sometimes I hate the wacky news.

Interesting theory, Jack. But I don't buy it.

In MY opinion, Adidas is selling "Prison Chic".

Having never been to prison myself, I'm told prisoners in transit to court hearings, or outside the walls, are routinely shackled in leg irons to prevent escape.

I do know the beltless, saggy pants with showing boxers so popular in the "hood" stemmed from the ban on belts within prison...and it seems young urban blacks seem to associate with that "prison chic" look.

"Look at me...I'm fresh outta prison, dude. Don't mess with me."

And the BEST thing for Adidas would be an effort to ban these shoes. THEN they can probably double the price.

Those are not shackles. They are cho-pat straps that around your leg just under the knee to stabilize your patella.

Adidas must be going insane but with a large sum of money to spend.

Andy, you asked for it, I found it, and it wasn't that hard. There are a lot of places that sell "slave" or "gladiator" sandals to girls and women, but I thought that a place called "Little Fox Fashions" sounded particularly apt. And yes, they come in pink. With sparkles.

http://www.littlefoxfashions.com/catalog.php?page=4&category=49

I wonder if they chafe if you wear them without socks.

I wonder if the chains get caught on things.

The real slaves are the workers making the shoes.

Emancipation Day joke?

http://www.ketknbc.com/news/lawmakers-introduce-legislation-to-designate-juneteenth-as-a-national-day-of-observance

Why not a shackle around the neck with chains hooked to the belt loops on the pants?
This design would make a fashion statement and be practical at the same time.

I think the idea was to attach your belt-less pants to the straps to prevent them from hindering your fleeing skills...

Whatever helps to keep sneaker on the feet and off the wires overhead is fine by me.