Running While Black

On Feb. 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery went for a run in a quiet Georgia neighborhood. It would be his last. Ahmaud was murdered by White men who thought he was “suspicious.” It was the culmination of something the Black community already knew to be true – running while Black in the U.S. exposed runners to suspicion, racism, threats, and violence. adidas, with a heritage in running and ties to the community, knew it couldn’t remain silent – and knew it could affect change. The goal: shine a light on Black runners whose stories had the power to highlight the need for accessibility & safety and inspire positive change. We wanted Running While Black to become inspiration that would create more possibilities for runners.