INDIANAPOLIS — A new All-Star Converse design that pays tribute to a piece of Indianapolis history is soon to hit stores.
The latest footwear is part of Converse's recently announced "Breaking Down Barriers" collection. The shoe-line, according to Nike, is about celebrating the most important moments of progress from the past that basketball helped teach — on and off the court.
The new sneaker design honors the trailblazing 1954-55 Crispus Attucks High School basketball team, led by a young Oscar Robertson. They were the first all-Black team to win a state basketball title in Indiana.
The team faced profound prejudice in Indianapolis and across the state, as it wasn't even allowed to compete in the tournament until 1942 due to segregation.
“We are honored to have Converse showcase the Crispus Attucks 1955 state championship team,” Chris Hawkins, Crispus Attucks athletic director, said. “Those players not only broke barriers then, but their achievements continue to encourage and inspire our players today. These newly designed shoes offer a beautiful, tangible reminder that if you work hard, you can achieve success."
The Converse features the championship team's colors and materials representative of their varsity letterman's jacket on the original basketball sneaker, the Chuck 70, and the classic Converse Pro Leather.
Purchasing details and pricing are said to be released soon, according to Indianapolis Public Schools.
