"The reason they have sweatshops is for cheap labor," White said. "They'd rather hire cheap labor than hire the kid in the neighborhood who is buying their shoes. There are people who need jobs here."

Nike has drawn criticism from labor and human rights activists but not from the well-paid athletes who lend their name to the shoes. Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan reportedly earns more from the Nike endorsement than the entire payroll for the factory workers who make the shoes. Jordan has indicated that he doesn't believe the sweat shop problem is any of his concern.

From Detroit Labor News December 11, 1997.