Nike’s Yardrunners Collection Celebrates the Storied History of HBCUs and Black Excellence

By Laura BlancoFashion, Podcast

On the 196th episode of “Listen In With KNN” sports talk radio/podcast show presented by FOX Sports Radio 1340AM/96.9 FM, executive producer and host Kelsey Nicole Nelson was joined by Arinze Emeagwali, North America brand marketing lifestyle manager for Nike. Emeagwali helped to spearhead Nike’s Yardrunners campaign, which honors and pays tribute to the country’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Emeagwali graduated from Howard University with his Bachelor of Arts in communication management. Howard is one of the more notable HBCUs in America with a long rich history of academic excellence and a distinguished alumni list. Madame Vice President Kamala Harris graduated from Howard in 1986 and is the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history along with being the first African American and Asian American vice president.

Reflecting on his time at Howard, Emeagwali expressed his gratefulness for the institution. “Howard changed my life … I left Howard University understanding the importance of community, putting people on, and having a purpose,” said Emeagwali.

The Class of 2021 Nike Yardrunners collection features classic kicks and apparel from 16 different HBCUs that typically do not get the recognition or flowers they deserve. Nike’s Yardrunners campaign is part of Nike’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Nike is focused on deepening its relationships with HBCUs, working together with HBCUs that share a long legacy in developing the next generation of global changemakers. Currently, there are 107 HBCUs with 228,000 students enrolled across the nation.

“Because there [are] 107, you can imagine how overwhelming it is to try to reach everybody. So first and foremost, through Yardrunnrers, we try to tell stories of 16 different HBCUs…we really wanted to center this campaign around giving everybody else their flowers that deserve it,” said Emeagwali. A very special touch to this campaign is that it features students and alumni from the schools in the creation process. “That’s one of our favorite parts. Once they realize it’s not a scam, the joy on their faces [is] amazing,” said Emeagwali.

Individuals included in this year’s 2.0 Yardrunners campaign include: 

  • Alphonse Nicholson – North Carolina Central – Band
  • A’Zia Reed – Kentucky State University – Basketball
  • Brehanna Daniels – Norfolk State University – Basketball/Nascar
  • Chester Hutcherson – Tuskegee University – Football
  • Clint Gray – Tennessee State University – Football
  • Derrick Moore – Tennessee State University – Football
  • Dominique Pierre – Delaware State University – Equestrian
  • Grant Bennett -Morehouse College – Baseball
  • Jennifer Gray – Alabama A&M University – Cheer
  • Kahdre Walker – Bethune Cookman University – Drum Major
  • Lynae Bogues – Spelman College – Dance
  • Martin Oliver – Central State University – Basketball
  • Mulbe Marcellus Dillard – Florida A&M University – Golf
  • Solomon Mangham – Howard University – Basketball
  • Taliyah Townsend – North Carolina A&T State University- Track & Field
  • Tara Turner – Clark Atlanta University – Tennis

Emeagwali spoke about how some of the students were in awe when they first found out they’d be part of the campaign and felt that they had to give money to participate. “I remember talking to Martin who’s from Central State and he was like ‘Ok, how much do I have to pay y’all to be part of it?’ and we’re like ‘No, Martin we’re gonna pay you. We want you to be a part of it,” said Emeagwali. A key component of the project is to keep the talent and resources within the Black community and those who went to HBCUs. The students who participated got compensated to participate in this campaign.

Yardrunners is a content series dedicated to highlighting the achievements of students and graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). #Yardrunners was created to recognize the contributions of HBCUs by celebrating the influence of individuals who are devoted to progressing the evolution of culture and change, underscoring their commitment to their HBCU. 

Nike also debuted the new HBCU Fan Gear which brings to life the storied institutions and their trailblazing alumni. The collection features apparel from the following 16 institutions:

  • Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
  • Bethune Cookman University
  • Central State University
  • Clark Atlanta University
  • Delaware State
  • Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
  • Howard University
  • Kentucky State University
  • Morehouse College
  • Norfolk State University
  • North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
  • North Carolina Central University
  • Savannah State University
  • Spelman College
  • Tennessee State University

Emeagwali said that the Yardrunners collection is also about “diversity in our culture.” An example of this was one of the students, Dominique Pierre from Delaware State, who is part of equestrian. 

The Yardrunners collection is not limited to students and alumni who went to these schools. Emeagwali said, “HBCU history isn’t Black history, it’s American history, it’s American culture, it’s global culture. It’s something that we all should learn about because these amazing people from these amazing places go on to impact the globe.”

We all have a responsibility to learn about HBCU history, why they were created, and how we can support them and their greatness. Therefore, we can all wear this apparel with the intention of educating others and magnifying their importance. 

The Yardrunners collection was designed around people who break boundaries and take the experiences from their HBCU to change the world. “A Yardrunner is a person who refuses to get put in a box…a person that has a love for their HBCU and wants to go out into the world and take what they learned from their HBCUs to really deem and be successful in whatever measurement that is,” said Emeagwali. 

Emeagwali wants to continue to use his platform at Nike to amplify the voices of Black people and educate the public on HBCUs. “We also wanna use this moment to educate our community on the different types of people and the amazing things happening from all these different, amazing alumni from different HBCUs,” replied Emeagwali.

Yardrunners 1.0 launched in October 2020 and this year’s edition (2.0) returned just in time for homecoming season at HBCUs. This past week in the DMV, Howard and Morgan State University celebrated their university homecomings. Nelson asked Emeagwali what he was most proud of in this campaign and he replied that 2.0 makes him most proud because it proves that the campaign is not just a one-off or something that people were only interested in for a short period of time. 

Emeagwali and his team have hopes to continue the initiative and make it even larger than what it is now. “It’s a conservative effort to make it bigger and better each year and also to build a network of Black people and Black allies to connect with each other and build their own relationships,” said Emeagwali. 

“We just wanna be able to use our platform to continue to tell Black stories, to tell HBCU stories, to challenge the status quo of what people think they know of HBCUs and our community way, and really do it in an organic and authentic way,” said Emeagwali.

As Nike looks ahead, the brand has earmarked $10 million in the form of scholarships and academic partnerships to increase interns and direct hires from HBCUs and Hispanic-serving institutions, as a larger 2025 target. 

To hear more about Yardrunners and the amazing work being done, check out the episode below! You can shop the collection on nike.com and in the Nike Soho (N.Y.), Georgetown (D.C.), and Lenox (Ga.) store locations.

 

Laura Blanco