We’ve Got Sole: Hip Hop, Hoops and the Rise of Sneaker Culture

This exhibit at SF Public Library Main Branch celebrates Black and Brown communities' foundational influence on sneaker culture, tracing how ordinary athletic footwear became cultural symbols of status and style. You'll explore how sneaker culture emerged from 1970s-80s NYC hip hop, streetball legends, and Black NBA athletes, then spread to the Bay Area—with profiles highlighting how these communities elevated kicks into expressions of individuality and cultural identity.