A HISTORY OF USING our PLATFORM
"IT GOES BACK TO 2014 WHEN OUR TEAM DECIDED TO WEAR THE 'I CAN'T BREATHE' SHIRTS, AT A TIME WHERE IT REALLY WASN'T ACCEPTABLE FOR ATHLETES TO STAND UP AND USE THEIR VOICE AND PLATFORM. THAT WAS THE ONE MOMENT WHERE WE TOOK A STAND AND WE KNEW THERE WOULD BE BACKLASH." -- COACH IVEY
“THEY TOOK THE STANCE AND THEY BROUGHT AWARENESS AND IT INSPIRED US, ACTUALLY. AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. WE'RE LIKE, O.K., WHAT CAN WE DO TO CARRY ON THIS LEGACY OF NOTRE DAME WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SPEAKING ON IMPORTANT ISSUES? HOW YOU LOOK AND WHAT YOU WEAR IS POWERFUL. I MEAN, FROM OUR SHOES TO OUR SHIRT, WE'RE DETERMINED TO BRING AWARENESS TO THIS." -- ANAYA PEOPLES
vocal on social media
In October our team led a community walk to raise awareness of social injustice, uplift the Black community, and focus attention on dismantling systems of oppression.
so what was next?
inspired by the local art downtown + a desire to help serve and give back to the community
notre dame found a local artist named kamika perry, who has lived in the community for over 10 years
"THIS IS OUR HOME AND I ALWAYS WANT TO POUR INTO THIS COMMUNITY. I ALSO KNOW REPRESENTATION MATTERS. SO FOR US TO BE ABLE TO USE HER CREATIVITY, HER TALENT, TO AMPLIFY OUR VOICE TO SEND A MESSAGE OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY ... I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND FOR HER." -- COACH IVEY
“SOMETHING COACH IVEY SAID, THAT I DIDN'T KNOW IF I SHOULD LAUGH OR CRY AT HOW SHE CONVEYED THIS, BUT SHE SAID THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HER TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THE POSITION SHE'S BEEN IN TO RAISE SOMEONE ELSE UP THE WAY SHE WAS RAISED UP. AND SO FOR HER, THIS PROJECT MEANT MORE TO HER BECAUSE OF WHAT IT DID FOR ME. AND I JUST WISH I COULD HAVE JUMPED THROUGH THE SCREEN AND HUGGED HER FOR THAT, BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY TOUCHING.” -- KAMIKA PERRY
COACH IVEY SHARED HER BELIEFS, HER VISION AND PROGRAM VALUES TO KAMIKA. FROM THERE, KAMIKA TOOK THOSE CONCEPTS TO A BLANK CANVAS AND THEN PRESENTED THEM TO THE TEAM OVER ZOOM, WHERE THEY GAVE THEIR FEEDBACK AND DECIDED WHAT THE FINAL PRODUCT WOULD LOOK LIKE
Perry hand-painted 17 pairs of shoes, from morning until night for over two weeks. All 17 began as plain white Under Armour basketball shoes, but with layers of paint, Perry turned them into a matte black. Each shoe was then hand-painted with Perry's own design of a fist in the shape of a beating heart in vibrant shades of red, blue and yellow and then a protest crowd with individual flair.
in kamika's words:
In speaking with the team and coaches, they gave me several words on what social justice meant to them. They expressed feelings that reflected my own: a hopeful future they believe the road social justice will take. It became very important to me to find ways to visually depict these words. A common symbol for social justice has always been the power fist. But what about hope, unity, love, BLM? The heart symbol then came to mind and I thought, “what if the hand is the fist that beats the heart?” Combining these two symbols then became a necessity and from this the idea was born.
in kamika's words:
The heart/fist design is just one part of a two part concept. The social justice message is about demonstrating your values in a way that leaves an impression on the viewer. There is a protest, but it’s a peaceful protest. It was important for each team member to express in their own individual way, what social justice meant to them. Behind each protest is a word specially chosen by each player. This design became the second of the two central themes of the design.
in kamika's words:
The generation that benefits the most from the actions we take in the present, are the ones that come after us. “The hopeful young girl” was another of the concepts presented to the team and coaches. She is wearing a Notre Dame jersey, and hair ties in the shape of a basketball. She gazes towards the future with a hopeful look. Aspiring one day to be a student at this great University.
the line-up
"WHEN THEY PUT THESE SHOES ON AND STEP OUT ONTO THE COURT, THEY ARE EMPOWERED AND BRINGING A MESSAGE OF HOPE, LOVE AND INSPIRATION. AND A BELIEF THAT WE CAN DO BETTER. THAT THEY WILL BE A CATALYST FOR CHANGE." -- COACH IVEY
“THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE SHAPED MY LIFE. I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO PAINT MORE, BUT I REALLY GOT INTO IT BECAUSE MY MOM WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN CANCER LAST YEAR. I THINK EVERY ARTIST LOOKS FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PLATFORM IN WHICH THEY ARE KNOWN FOR. I WAS REALLY HOPING TO HAVE SOMETHING MY PARENTS COULD BE PROUD OF. IF THERE'S ONE THING I AM MOST PROUD OF, IT'S THIS PRODUCT." -- KAMIKA PERRY
gameday:
notre dame vs #6 louisville
sunday, feb. 28 | 3 pm est | espn
PLUS STAY TUNED FOR A SPECIAL VIDEO POST FROM @NDWBB ON SUNDAY MORNING AHEAD OF THE GAME