Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) NBA star Kevin Durant is paying homage to his native Prince George’s County with colorful $180 sneakers called the “KD8 P.G. County.” The problem is that referring to the county with the abbreviation “P.G” has long been considered offensive.
County Executive Rushern Baker said when Parris Nelson Glendening was county executive from 1982 to 1994 he started calling the county Prince George’s rather than P.G.
“It was a time when people said Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, so it wasn’t MoCo County, and it was almost like the county was less than,” County Executive Rushern Baker explained.
Baker said now if you refer to the county as “P.G.” residents will correct you.
Despite their name, Baker said he likes the sneakers and thinks residents will too. “And it’s good to see that Kevin’s proud of his hometown because we’re proud of him,” Baker said.
The name the sneakers is sparking a conversation that can be used to teach people why the residents say “Prince George’s County” and not “P.G.” according to Baker.
He added that he’s already seen kids wearing the sneakers, and he expects them to sell out.
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