Winnie Harlow Fronts PUMA Kyron Awakening Sneakers, Talks Social Justice
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Jamaican Canadian top model Winnie Harlow heads out into the world as a new PUMA ambassador, wearing PUMA’s new Kyron sneakers. According to the PUMA website, the Kyron Awakening sneakers are created for pack leaders who destroy doubts and devour trends. The sneaker’s silhouette is a mashup of PUMA archive and high fashion elements.
“First to cop is the fiercest of them all,” writes PUMA, and Winnie Harlow certainly qualifies.
In announcing her new role on Instagram, Harlow shared her thoughts.
I am excited to finally announce that I’m the newest @Puma global ambassador!!! Situations over the past few weeks have highlighted the injustice, inequality and police brutality faced by black people both in America and around the world so it was really important for me to partner with a brand that gives me the opportunity to champion people and organizations working to make meaningful change.
I have always been inspired by the amazing @sybrinafulton and my first act alongside @puma will be to work closely with @thetrayvonmartinfoundation where we are making a product donation for their summer STEM camp.
In times like these, it’s important to remember grassroots organizations that are working to create change at the local level and I am excited to begin this journey with my @puma family.
We’ve been working on several projects over the last few months, that I’m excited for you all to see in the coming weeks.
PUMA made an undisclosed amount donation to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a community based nonprofit that combats the harms of incarceration by paying bail for low-income individuals who cannot afford it.
The Minnesota Freedom Fund is in hot water this morning, having raised $30 million according to the latest estimate and spent only $200,000 to bail out front-line protesters.
We share news of the situation, not to injure the Minnesota Freedom Fund, but to help AOC readers understand the real-world landscape emerging. American activists are not interested in good intentions from white people. If you don’t have the infrastructure to move quickly with millions of dollars moving into your organization, then move the money to similar organizations who ARE bailing out protesters.
One user wrote, "Let me get this straight...[million] dollars in donations for bails but $200k has only been used. I might not be a mathematician but something isn’t adding up. We need a breakdown of where the other monies will be going." Another user opined, "This white run organization allegedly collected [millions], and only used $200k to actually bail out protesters. Those of us in the real Black grassroots have been getting folks out of jail on our own. This is why we have to stop the coopt #NoAntiBlackRacism."
MFF's Twitter account has since tweeted, "Appreciate all those calling for transparency. We see y’all. Our values and mission have not changed since 2016. Be on the lookout for things coming on our end. Be well."
A user responded, "How are you “working on” it this late in the game? It’s been two weeks since this has started, you couldn’t mobilize any more funds, or commit excess/unused funds to other organizations? Or is that not a priority for your majority white board?"
