James Whitner Is Clear On Why He’s Here

The Whitaker Group’s high-end banner, A Ma Maniére – which translates from French to “My Way” – opened in 2014. In addition to carrying the silk scarves by Casablanca, sweatpants from Acne Studios and other luxury items Whitner himself has begun seeking as he’s matured, the brand has served as a platform to spotlight matters disproportionately affecting the Black community. In Washington D.C., where the boutique also houses an upscale hotel, A Ma Maniére has tapped in with local organizations to address child homelessness; A Ma Maniére EATS launched in the Houston store, and a relationship developed with a nearby food bank. “It ain’t gotta be about the dollar, it’s about doing the work,” Whitner expresses when asked about the communities The Whitaker Group serves. “It’s about getting maximum impact.”
 
In addition to ensuring residents of Raleigh, N.C., Tampa and other historically overlooked and underserved cities have access to the freshest gear, Whitner and team are addressing the knowledge and technology gaps they experience.

Months before Floyd was murdered on May 25th, 2020, Whitner and team were collaborating on diversity work with footwear teams at the Swoosh. The shared vision?: “more people focused on opportunities for Black and Brown faces,” Whitner expressed. Jordan Brand, Nike and Converse have pledged money and platforms to a handful of initiatives and organizations tackling disparities in opportunities for the Black community, but, as Whitner acknowledged, the gap spans generations and industries. “Air Max 98…so we’re not going to fix it in five. But we’re building a foundation to make sure in 50, we’re in a completely different place than we are now.” On the topic of the Black community’s historical marginalization, he called on non-Black allies’ role in the fight: “There’s 500 million people in the U.S…there’s only 13% of Black folks in the U.S. So if we’re going to see meaningful change…it’s going to have to come from people who aren’t Black, right?”
 
There’s no telling how things will look in 2071, but Whitner intends to continue helping to build a culture of accountability. “If there had to be an action with every Instagram post,” he posits, “we’d probably be in a different place, right?” He argues we’ve collectively allowed people to get away with just being “cool,” sharing that someone can’t really be “an ‘influencer’ unless you really influence someone to do something meaningful.” While active across social media platforms, Whitner constantly shines the spotlight on other people, events, stories and work. “This ain’t got nothing to do with me,” he proclaims. “This…[is] a lot bigger than me.”
 
 
Before our conversation on Zoom ended, Whitner referenced lyrics from JAY-Z’s song, “Family Feud,” twice: “I’m clear on why I’m here, how about you?”