Navigating the Path: Who's Getting DEI and Racial Justice Work "Right" in the Running Industry?

By Kiera Smalls, Executive Director of the RIDC

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the Black Footwear Forum in Detroit, an enlightening event organized by FDRA and Pensole Lewis College. A board member extended this invitation to us with the hope that by mingling with influential Black leaders in the footwear industry, I could get insights pivotal to steering our direction in the running industry.

It was a fantastic event, and I am already looking forward to next year. While I absorbed numerous ideas and lessons, one particular conversation replays in my mind.

One attendee acquainted with one of our corporate partners posed a thought-provoking question: “Is that company getting it ‘right’?” Pausing to weigh the magnitude of the question—and the influence our endorsement might carry—I sought clarity, asking which company they perceived was getting it “right.” Even with a robust background in DEI and racial justice, a hesitation reaffirmed a truth we at the RIDC have long recognized: genuine, industry-wide progress is a never-ending ultramarathon with no medals. 

In our foundational years, the board and I have led the RIDC through moments of celebration and introspection. We’ve spotlighted pioneers, policies, and campaigns at companies that echo our unwavering commitment to racial justice. Yet, it’s equally crucial to recognize and rectify inadvertent or deliberate barriers to our efforts.

This dichotomy underscores the essence of the RIDC’s mission to unite the running industry to improve the inclusion, visibility, and access for Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. This journey toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice demands persistence without the promise of immediate recognition.

We celebrate milestones (mile markers) with each stride, acknowledging those forging ahead and supporting those finding their pace. In the words of Nipsey Hussle, the marathon continues. RIDC remains resolute, eyeing that horizon where we, as an industry, can affirm when we are genuinely getting it “right.”

This was originally posted in the October newsletter by the RIDC. Sign up to receive our newsletters.