After watching the newest Nike commercial the other day, my first reaction was to be inspired and motivated. Nike has always been my top choice for athletic wear (for no other reason than that I like the fit and look of their clothing), so I was proud to be wearing Nike apparel. However, as I learned more about the controversial voice of Colin Kaepernick behind the commercial, I realized that something as simple as sporting my Nike Pros at the gym was now a political act.

I understand the temptation of companies like Nike to incorporate politics into their advertisement. In trying to appeal to as many people as possible, it may seem in their best interests to lean towards a certain political party. However, it is important for large companies like these to consider the consequences of political advertising, especially when they sponsor a wide range of athletes from Little Leagues to the NFL. Using a figure as controversial as Colin Kaepernick, a former NFL player who took a knee multiple times during the national anthem in order to protest social injustice and police brutality, taints not only the general public's view of the company but the players who are sponsored by the company. Now, instead of enjoying the commercial for what it is, it has deeper political roots that further divide the two parties.

Personally, I would like to take the commercial in the way that I originally saw it. I want to feel inspired by Shaquem Griffin, the Seattle Seahawks player with one hand who "doesn't just watch football", but "play[s] it". I want to feel empowered as I watch Lebron James "be bigger than basketball" and use his influence to create a school, giving Ohio children a better upbringing than his own. I want to watch Serena Williams, "a girl from Compton", as she "become[s] the greatest athlete ever", as she has been a role model to me in my own tennis career. And most of all, I hope to be able to tell my future children not to "ask if their dreams are crazy", but to "ask if they're crazy enough."

I don't think that Nike was correct in their decision to include Kaepernick in their commercial, but I don't intend on allowing that to ruin the brand for me. I hope that continuing to wear the Nike products that I've always loved and what I feel my best in, regardless of the political stigma that the company has gotten in the national community. And, if you are like me and on the fence about the latest commercial, I urge you to do the same.