During February, Arizona State University and the Sun Devil Campus Stores have honored Black History Month by offering exclusive jerseys worn by the Arizona State men’s and women’s basketball teams. The jerseys debuted in 2022, part of the Honoring Black Excellence movement, an initiative started by ASU brand partner, Adidas, to celebrate achievements of Black individuals and Black culture as a whole (adidas.com/us/ honoring_black_excellence).
These jerseys feature vibrant and distinctive designs inspired by Jamaican-born Marcus Garvey, who helped lead a movement that sought to unify and connect people of African descent worldwide and eliminate barriers. Garvey traveled to the U.S. with a mission to empower Black Americans with education about their African heritage and combat negative attitudes toward African culture. Garvey developed the term “Cream of the Planet” with cream symbolizing the abundance of natural resources Africa provides. The Black Excellence jerseys utilize a primary cream color in reflection of Garvey’s teachings.
The Arizona State University Black Excellence jerseys are decorated in mountains capes and Arizona’s natural colors that represent the unique geography of Arizona and the university’s roots in the desert. A floral pattern of Saguaro Cactus blossoms, the Arizona state flower, alludes to honoring Black leaders by giving them their flowers.
The men’s basketball team sported the jersey Feb. 3, in their matchup against University of California. The women’s team is wore the jersey Feb. 16, against University of Washington. The Sun Devil community can now don the same jerseys by visiting select ASU Campus stores or the Sun Devil Campus stores website atbkstr.com/arizonastatestore/home.