Nike's Colin Kaepernick ad isn't the first time the brand's commercials have made a social statement. See some of the most memorable campaigns in its history.

Getty/Justin Sullivan

Nike's new campaign features former NFL player Colin Kaepernick.

• Nike's new ad campaign celebrating the 30th anniversary of "Just Do It," which features former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, has been at the center of controversy this week.
• Kaepernick was the first NFL player to kneel during the national anthem before games in protest against racial inequality and police brutality. Some have accused him of disrespecting the American flag and military.
• This week, some have threatened to boycott Nike and destroyed its products in images posted to social media.
• This isn't the first time Nike has made a social statement in an ad.

Nike's new campaign celebrating the 30th anniversary of "Just Do It," which features former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, has been at the center of controversy this week.

On Monday, Kaepernick shared an image of his face on Twitter with the words "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." Nike retweeted the image, which reportedly kicks off a new multiyear deal between the former NFL player and the sportswear company.

On Wednesday, Nike released the full version of the commercial, which is narrated by Kaepernick and features a range of athletes including inspirational amateurs, Serena Williams, and LeBron James.

Kaepernick was the first NFL player to kneel during the national anthem before games as part of a protest against racial inequality and police brutality. Some have accused Kaepernick and players who followed in his footsteps as disrespecting the American flag and the military, and quickly began threatening to boycott the brand in response to the ad, with some even going so far as burning their Nike shoes.

Nike has a long history of using its ads to make a social statement. The "Just Do It" campaign, created by the Wieden+Kennedy agency, launched in 1988. The first commercial in the campaign featured 80-year-old Bay Area icon Walter Stack, who ran approximately 62,000 miles in his lifetime.

See some of the other important ads from Nike's history: