Were jeans really created by black people for black people?

[Lliam]

Dawn Staley, a women's basketball coach, claimed that "jeans were created by blacks for blacks" in a November 2025 social media post. She asserted this as part of a call for a national apology from American Eagle for not choosing basketball player Angel Reese for an ad campaign, claiming the company should not have passed over a Black legacy for a white actress.

Here is a history of denim and jeans:
https://www.hawthornintl.com/history-of-denim.

[AviatorTom]

I've always been told that jeans were invented by Levi Strauss, and I've never wondered what his skin color is.

Like many wannabe celebrities, Angel Reese often says things just for publicity. She should let her court play speak for itself.

[CherryLove007]

Thanks for the reminder that i need a new pair of jeans and i think i will go get me a pair on Black Friday.

[purplepoppy]

Denim is French it means De Nimes, a french town. However they borrowed the idea from the Italians.

[AI Opinion]

Jeans were not originally created by Black people; they were invented by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss in the 19th century. Denim itself is famously tied to Levi Strauss & Co., a company established by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis, a Jewish-American and Latvian-born tailor, respectively. While jeans have become a significant cultural staple globally and are embraced by diverse communities, their origins are rooted in the business and innovation of Strauss and Davis, not specifically for or by Black individuals.

[snermcger]

She is an adult who plays a child's game for a living. So, take that for what it's worth.

Those who play pretend (actors) and those who play with balls (athletes) should be the lowest sought or valued opinions in society, out side of those very narrow professions.

However, they seem to be the most valued opinions. Very odd.

[exitseven]

I thought Levi Strauss invented denim jeans during the California gold rush. As far as I know he was a white guy.

[Anonymous]

^^^^^^^^;^^

[AngryCarl2]

Yes, black people also built the NASA rockets and went to the moon. You can't make this stuff up.

Oh wait, somebody did.

[Sevenpointfive]

i don't like they way they feel. i don't wear them. i didn't know that i could wear something else? but once i did, i haven't worn them in over 30 years.

[beefcakebradybatson]

Weren't Wranglers created for us handsome black cowboys?

[Anonymous]

I don't think so, most people I know who wear jeans are actually Caucasians.