The special black and white Memphis Grizzlies 2018 City Edition uniform is inspired by the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers strike and their "I Am A Man" slogan. The “MEMPHIS” typeface with an underlined wordmark, across the chest is directly inspired by the iconic type of the "I Am A Man" signs.
These special Memphis Grizzlies 2018 City Edition Nike uniform were inspired by the history that shaped a movement and the City of Memphis. The ‘MLK50’ City Edition uniforms are a remembrance of the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and they debut on January 15, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. The match against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Grizzlies also wear these uniform several time, including on April 4, 2018 when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Centerin New Orleans, Louisiana. On the anniversary of King’s assassination.
The black and white uniform color base was chosen to represent the protest signs directly but also remind us of the dignity being fought for and the suits many of the marchers donned.
The panel design uses the wordmark angles and lines to form a tall and bold ‘M’ inspired by the typeface used in the word ‘Man’ on the signs while nodding back to Memphis itself.
Although subtle, the use of Beale Blue accents nods back to location. Steps from Beale Street, adjacent to FedExForum, Clayborn Temple acted as the starting point for a number of the 1968 marches and today is the site for the new ‘I Am A Man’ Plaza opening in April, 2018.
