Why have a lot of skateboard companies in the industry never had a black pro on their roster? Are they racist or just dumb with demographics? Look at the success of DGK and what Stevie has tapped into that has always been there. A whole market for black skaters that most of these white owned skate companies refuse to believe is there. Just like the republicans failed to capture the minority vote in this last election, and it cost them.
Companies who have had more than one black pro at one time or another: DGK, Organika, Sk8 Mafia, Powell (believe it or not), Baker, Blind, Zoo York, Girl, Chocolate, and Santa Cruz.
Companies who have had one black pro at one time or another: Toy Machine, Black Label, Deathwish, Anti-hero, Darkstar, Mystery, Flip, Plan B, Stereo, Think, World Industries, Real, and Element.
Companies who I don't believe have ever had a black pro: Alien Workshop, Habitat, Creature, Slave, L.E., Almost, Enjoi, 5Boro, Birdhouse, Foundation, Heroin, Cliche', Consolidated, Krooked, and Zero.
This is just coming from memory, so I may have forgotten some along the way or made a mistake here and there. But, these black pros have been few and far between for some of these companies. We know which ones are really supporting black skaters and which ones are using them for tokenism. What fucking century do we live in? And, don't tell me its not there because DGK is killing it money wise and everybody knows it. We haven't even looked at Hispanics or Asians, it's even slimmer there. Some of these companies have been around forever, and not once during their history have they had one, if that doesn't say something I don't know what does. Break that shit down percentage wise and it looks even worse: 90%;white pros, 5% black pros, and 5% for hispanics and asians or somewhere along those lines.
Most of the people I know who skate are very open minded, but I don't believe the industry is. So, to those companies that have never had a black, hispanic, or asian pro I would like to say: FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!