Black Jordans: Six Pairs and Where They Came From
Black Jordans are Air Jordan kicks with a mostly black upper, and these are our pick of 6 pairs, each tied to a dated Nike or news page: the Air Jordan 1 (AJ1) ‘Black & White’, the Aleali May AJ1, the AJ3 ‘Black Cement’, the KAWS AJ4 ‘Black’, the AJ6 ‘DMP’ and the AJ11 ‘Space Jam’. They run from the 1985 debut of the AJ1 to a pair scheduled for November 2024, with every date taken from a linked source.
- 1985: the year Nike’s SNKRS page says Michael Jordan took the court in the original AJ1.
- $220: the retail price Nike’s SNKRS page listed for the AJ3, available from 23 November 2024.
- $200: the retail price Nike’s SNKRS page listed for the AJ6 ‘DMP’, with entries scheduled for 18 April 2020.
- 10 December 2016: the launch date Nike News gave for the AJ11 retro tied to the 20th anniversary of Space Jam.
What counts as a black Jordan?
A black Jordan is any Air Jordan pair whose upper is mostly black, whether it is leather, suede or corduroy. The line they all come from began with the AJ1, which, according to Wikipedia’s entry on the Air Jordan line, was released to the public on April 1, 1985.
We picked six pairs from different points in that story: two AJ1s, a Tinker Hatfield design, an artist collaboration, a championship tribute and a film pair. The table gives the short version, and each pair has its own section after it.
Pair Date covered here Retail price listed Source AJ1 ‘Black & White’ Page captured 21 July 2019 $160 Nike SNKRS Aleali May AJ1 28 October 2017 Not stated in our sources Nike News, 6 October 2017 AJ3 ‘Black Cement’ Available from 23 November 2024 $220 Nike SNKRS KAWS AJ4 ‘Black’ Lottery registration 27 November 2017 Not stated in our sources Hypebeast, quoting KAWS AJ6 ‘DMP’ Entries scheduled 18 April 2020 (page of 10 April 2020) $200 Nike SNKRS AJ11 ‘Space Jam’ 10 December 2016 Not stated in our sources Nike News, November 2016 Every date and price in this article comes from a Nike page, a news report or Wikipedia, and each pair’s section names that source in the sentence that uses it and links it there. Facts that could not be confirmed from a page like that are not included. If you collect by color, our red Jordans and blue Jordans lists and our guide to starting a Jordan collection are the next stops.
Why is the AJ1 ‘Black & White’ the easy first pair?
The AJ1 ‘Black & White’ is the easy first pair because it is the plainest on the list, and Nike’s SNKRS page for the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG, captured in July 2019, describes premium black leather with white branding and a single hit of red on the tongue tag.
The same page calls it a new colorway fit for everyday wear, and we agree that the two-tone look goes with almost anything. Nike’s page also says Michael Jordan took the court in 1985 in the original AJ1, which is where the silhouette starts. Nike’s SNKRS page, captured on 21 July 2019, listed the pair at $160.
If you want ideas for wearing it, our guide to wearing Jordans and flexing them right covers styling, and our Black and White Jordan 1 ’85 article covers another pair in the same colors.
What is the Aleali May AJ1?
The Aleali May AJ1 is a Jordan Brand collaboration built on the AJ1, which Nike News said on 6 October 2017 was her favorite of the brand’s silhouettes. The note says she channeled her Los Angeles roots into the design.
Nike’s description lists high-end materials and lots of texture, including black corduroy, which Aleali May said she chose because it reminds her of the house slippers from local LA markets that her dad and uncle used to wear. Silver satin on the forefoot and heel, orange accents on the tongue and a chenille gray Swoosh add dimension.
Nike News gave 28 October 2017 as the global release date, in men’s and youth sizes at select retailers. Our Aleali May Jordan 14 page covers a later collaboration with her.
What makes the AJ3 ‘Black Cement’ stand out?
The AJ3 ‘Black Cement’ stands out for its firsts: Nike’s SNKRS page for the pair lists the first Jordan with the Jumpman on it, the first elephant print anyone saw on a sneaker and the first Jordan designed by Tinker Hatfield.
According to Nike’s SNKRS page, the original released in 1988, and the 2024 edition is, in Nike’s words, “as close to the feel, fit and shape of the original that released in ’88.” Smooth leather forms the backdrop for the elephant print overlays, with a Fire Red Jumpman on the tongue.
Nike’s SNKRS page, captured on 14 November 2024, listed the pair at $220, available from 23 November. Our Jordan 3 Black Cement article covers the pair in more detail.
Which KAWS AJ4 is the black one?
The black KAWS AJ4 is the all-black version of the Air Jordan 4 x KAWS, which Hypebeast reported was initially called the friends and family pair. It followed the grey pair, which came first.
In a Nike News post archived on 6 April 2017, Nike called the Air Jordan IV x KAWS the first ever collaborative product between Jordan Brand and KAWS, with a grey suede upper and a glow-in-the-dark outsole. Nike said the capsule would launch on March 28 in Greater China and March 31 for the rest of the world.
The black pair went to a lottery. Hypebeast, quoting KAWS’s own post of 24 November 2017, reported that buyers could register at KAWSONE.com on Monday, November 27 at 12PM EST, with results by November 28, limited to the United States and its territories and one pair per customer.
What is the AJ6 ‘DMP’?
The AJ6 ‘DMP’ is the black suede AJ6 with gold trim from the Defining Moments Pack, which Nike’s SNKRS page for the pair says included the AJ6 and AJ11 and was first released in 2006.
Nike’s page described the gilded AJ6 as representing Jordan’s first ring in ’91, with a blacked-out suede upper and gold accents on the heel, tongue and midsole lines. The same Nike page said the pack first came out 14 years earlier, which puts the return in 2020 (2006 + 14).
Nike’s SNKRS page, captured on 10 April 2020, listed the pair at $200 with entries scheduled to start on 18 April 2020. For the 2006 original, Wikipedia’s Air Jordan entry says the two-pair package retailed at $295. Market prices move and are shown for reference, not as a promise.
How does the AJ11 ‘Space Jam’ connect to the film?
The AJ11 ‘Space Jam’ connects to the 1996 film because Nike News listed the AJ11 retro as one of two original pairs of Air Jordans worn in it, next to the AJ9 retro, when Jordan Brand marked the film’s 20th anniversary.
The same Nike News post gave December 10 as the AJ11 launch date and December 3 for the AJ9 retro in the set, a week earlier (10 – 3 = 7 days). The film’s 20th anniversary falls in 2016 (1996 + 20), which dates that release. The post also describes the film’s match-up in which the Tune Squad defied the odds to beat the Monstars.
Nike said the anniversary apparel paid homage to the classic black and concord colorway. For later releases of the pair, see our Jordan 11 Space Jam article.
Why does this page show retail prices only?
Resale prices move from day to day, so the page lists only retail prices taken from Nike pages or Wikipedia, each with its date. Where a source did not state a price, the table says so instead of guessing.
