‘Black people don’t hang themselves’: The ‘strange fruit’ of Converse, Nike and Tyler Perry
Tasia Fortune did not hang herself.
Family and friends of Kyle Basalinga, Javion Magee, To'Nea Nicole Miller, Juliana Nzita, Demartravion “Trey” Reed, Dennoriss Richardson and Earl Smith don’t believe they hung themselves either. Although officials in Prince George’s County of Maryland are investigating Sunday’s hanging death of a Black man as a suicide, the community isn’t so assured. Nor should they be.
Fortune’s alleged killer was recently arrested, and while there are questions surrounding the suspect, what’s not being questioned anymore is the fact that the 29-year-old Mississippi woman did not hang herself.
America has a long and ugly history when it comes to the hanging deaths – lynchings – of Black people. The history dates back to the days of slavery and extended through the Jim Crow era of segregation. Many would argue the practice is ongoing. The anecdotal evidence is compelling.
According to a letter sent to the heads of the Department of Justice and FBI on behalf of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, “A recent report documented more than 70 modern-day lynchings in the United States between 2000 and 2025. In 2026 alone, there have already been at least 10 reported hangings of Black people. They were as young as 18 years old and lived in different parts of the country, including Mississippi, Michigan, and New York.”
That letter was sent Sept. 8 and predates Sunday’s hanging.
It’s also not lost on us the tone-deafness – at best – of the Converse ad released over the weekend that has been interpreted by many as a person hanging with the backdrop eerily similar to the hood of the Ku Klux Klan. Converse, which is owned by Nike, pulled the ad and released a statement apologizing for the perceived depiction.
“We’re sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong,” said the shoe company in a statement. “This should not have happened and we will do better.”
The apology was clear and direct and for that – and that only – should Converse be applauded. The next clear and direct statement from Converse/Nike needs to be one that will address exactly the steps to atone for the harm and more importantly, how to insure the company “will do better.”
Speaking of doing better …
Tyler Perry, may I have a word?
I know some people are online panning the release of “Why Did I Get Married Again?” but I’m not among that crowd. I enjoyed the film. It was a welcomed comedic reprieve from the seriousness of our current existence. That’s not where I take umbrage.
In looking for an additional reprieve from the heaviness of the day, I turned to another Tyler Perry creation, “Beauty in Black.” The series, in its third season on Netflix, is trashy, distasteful and over the top gratuitous. And I’m here for all of it. Well, not quite all of it.
While watching an episode of the most recent season, one of the characters attempts death by suicide … more to the point, death by hanging. The level of tone-deafness here may be more egregious than that of Converse/Nike. Where Converse/Nike can claim ignorance, Tyler Perry does not have such a luxury. To make it plain, Tyler Perry, you know better.
As thousands of people are sounding the alarm that Black people do not hang themselves, the biggest Black name in cinema is putting out a product that explicitly contradicts that sentiment. It’s almost like it was intentionally planted in the storyline to serve as a shield against the outcries for further investigations of Black people being hung and the cases being closed as suicides.
Yes, unfortunately, death by suicide is a real and serious issue that we must – must – address in the Black community. In fact, with September being National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, this is a perfect time to bring attention to treating mental health and preventing ideations of self harm. It’s the perfect time to remind those struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide that help is available, including by dialing 988.
Tyler Perry, I applaud you from your many and vast contributions to the Black community. You highlight Blacks in entertainment both in front of and behind the camera. Your philanthropic contributions should also be commended. But we all have moments we wish we could get back. Converse/Nike was swift with the right words; hopefully they will be swift with corrective actions. I’m hopeful you too will be swift with both your words and actions. To quote another cherished filmmaker, Spike Lee, “Do the Right Thing.”
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