One of my personal favorite skateboarders Na-Kel Smith has recently shared his detailed experiences with racism within the skateboarding industry. A team rider for Supreme and Fucking Awesome took his words to an Instagram Live alongside with friends Kevin White and Mikey Alfred. Na-Kel Smith discussed how in many situations, his white co workers have taken advantage of their privilege.
In the Instagram live video which lasted about the 35-minutes Smith explicitly calls out late Thrasher editor-in-chief Jake Phelps. Phelps was said to use N-word on various occasions while around Smith. The talented and stylistic skater mentions that many of his white teammates would either ask for approval to use the term or would say it regardless during van trips. Smith refuses to provide a concrete list of names. Smith says that “some of your favorite skate companies don’t give a f*ck about the Black man.”
Video is down below.
-Sheldon