You're not answering my question.

As an American, for the most part, I can not opt out of our capitalist system. I can either choose to wear nikes (or insert any shoe cheaper than 300 dollars), or I can invest 350 in some shoes that were made in Italy. (which folks have assumed provides a better working environment).

And if I am interested in black jobs, black economic power, you are suggesting that I do what?

let's dissect your post

>Is looking fly important when what
>makes you "look fly" makes
>others have to live in
>horrible conditions?

Living in horrible conditions has nothing to do with Nike Factories. You could make an argument for colonialism, but when you look at what the rest of the country is doing, in comparison factory work might be better.

check the stats for malaysia
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/my.html#Econ

Labor force - by occupation: manufacturing 27%, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 16%, local trade and tourism 17%, services 15%, government 10%, construction 9% (1999 est.)

27% is a big chunk. But obviously 73% of the population opted out of "slavery". (which you are really using wrong.)

Check out
>http://www.nikewages.org if you don't know
>what conditions these are. Really
>though. Forget a shirt when
>lives are treated like shit
>to make em.

They choose it. Most of their countrymen opt out of that equation. I don't mean to sound heartless, but it's still their choice, it is their government, it is their way of life. Ultimately you are implying a Vietnam scenario, we must save them from themselves. It's cultural imperialism.

>Besides, where did we get your
>definition for "fly"? Did we
>decide it for ourselves, or
>did we get it from
>seeing others, or seeing it
>in advertisements for corporations and
>companies who care about "fly"
>when it makes em cash?

Are you going to play head games now? I am familiar with the theory that we do not have any original thoughts. Where is your definition of justice coming from? How much of this do you know from personal experience, and how much of it is propaganda/advertising from a competing interest? Ultimately you can't get away from the same affliction that all of us have. So in essence it's a non argument, because it cuts both ways. There is no independent arbiter of what is right and wrong.

>As for black-owned business getting a
>piece of the pie, forget
>a pie,

I can't forget the pie, my people have to eat. Black folks starving is a lot closer to home than the mistreatment of Asians in their own country. The view is not myopic, I just have different concerns and priorities than you do.

if the employees
>of the factory can't even
>eat.
>I'm sure most blacks are against
>slavery and that's what the
>people in third world countries
>who make these clothes are
>dang near subjected to.

No. This is slavery

http://www.religioustolerance.org/sla_sud.htm
http://members.aol.com/casmasalc/
http://www.cincypost.com/news/haiti060300.html
http://www.caller.com/2000/august/13/today/local_ne/1823.html
http://www.anti-slavery.org/global/index.html

>I'm sure with all our surplus
>here in America, there gots
>to be options to sweatshop-made
>clothing.

I think that's a good idea, but for different reasons than you.

peace
k. orr

http://breddanansi.tumblr.com/