On View
Musical Crossroads Gallery
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
Manufactured by
Converse, American, founded 1908
Owned by
MC Lyte, American, born 1970
Subject of
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., founded 1922
Date
2005-2010
Medium
satin, rubber, canvas, metal, and nylon shoelaces with plastic aglets
Dimensions
H x W x D (left shoe (a)): 3 3/4 × 3 1/2 × 10 1/2 in. (9.5 × 8.9 × 26.7 cm)
H x W x D (right shoe (b)): 3 3/4 × 3 1/2 × 10 1/2 in. (9.5 × 8.9 × 26.7 cm)
Description
A pair of gold and blue satin Converse sneakers customized for Sigma Gamma Rho sorority member MC Lyte. The shoes have white rubber toe caps, white rubber with black rubber stripes around the bottom sides, and a black rubber rectangle with the words "ALL STAR" printed in white at the center back heel. The vamp and tongue are faced in gold satin fabric with blue stitching. Text is embroidered in blue on the outside heel of each shoe, with the left shoe reading "MC LYTE" and the right shoe reading "est. 1922" in reference to the sorority's founding year. A stripe of blue satin is attached at the center back heel with gold embroidered text of the Greek alphabet letters for Sigma Gamma Rho. A white fabric tag with black embroidery reading "ALL STAR" is attached to the top of each tongue. The shoes are laced with white nylon shoelaces with clear plastic aglets. The outer soles are of black rubber with nonslip groove designs. The lining of the shoes is made of blue canvas with repeating text in gold reading "1922". The insoles are made from rubber faced in white canvas with "CONVERSE" printed in black ink near the heel. Size 8 and materials are printed onto the reverse of each tongue.
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Type
sneakers
Topic
Associations and institutions
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Hip-hop (Music)
Rappers (Musicians)
Sororities
Women
Women's organizations
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of MC Lyte
Object number
2011.118.3ab
Restrictions & Rights
© Nike
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd50fed86a8-9b7f-4bd6-8b7e-0783d490ee5a

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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