Lets talk about: Sneakerheads- collectors??

Every time Nike releases a new overpriced pair of Jordan's sneakers Malls and outlets across America prepare themselves for the worst. And every time we all hear reports the next day of a shooting, a fight, or some type public disturbance. This along with the association with urban culture sneakerheads tend to have a bad rep. Sneakerheads have a stigma of being low class people shallow people who have their priorities in the wrong place. When Nike rereleased their vintage Concords Air Jordans, there were a lot of trending topics on twitter like #butoyugotthemconcordsthough. My timeline was full of tweets like "your light bill isn't paid #butyougotthenewconcordsthough," and "yourhaven'tpaidyourchildsupportbutyougotthemconcordsthough."
People even compare paraphernalia such as these pricey sneakers and flashy clothes to modern day American slavery, with certain materialistic things such as cars, clothing, sneakers geared towards people of urban culture being the chains and the corporations who profit off of these sales as the slaveholders.

Though I find this metaphor somewhat accurate, I deem it necessary to play devil's advocate. So I pose the question what's the difference between a person who enjoys collecting sneakers and one who enjoys collecting stamps,or porcelain dolls, beer caps, glass eggs? What makes one a low class shameful obsession and the other a series of art? Don't get me wrong. In no way do I believe that every person who stands in line for hours ready to spend $200 just to sit their fresh pair of sneakers on display. However, I do know there are people who actually appreciate the beauty of a shoe standing in those lines. So whenever you hear the release of the next Nike shoe remember that not everyone fits the stigma associated with the sneakerheads.