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[Is This Racist?] Black dude in chain Ad

» 14 March 2011 »

Being This Week in Blackness we get asked–a lot–if we think something is racist. We’ve decided to start posting these questions in order to create dialougue…and so that we start posting things at all…Running a daily podcast takes a lot out of you…

Hi Elon,

Big fan of your video series. Would like to see am I being “sensitive” or is this ad offensive?  Some how I doubt if any persons of color where on this account team.

I looked up the website after  seeing a print ad in this weeks BtoB magazine a trade publications that deals with Business to Business Marketers. Full page ad back cover. Will  see if I can scan the article.

Best,
Eric

Hey Eric,

No. This isn’t racist. I understand the gut reaction of Negro/chain imagery. It’s jarring at times and our “The Fuck?” senses start tingling (Yes. Black people have “The Fuck?” senses. It’s like Spiderman’s “Spidey Sense” but with way more oppression.) The only thing “racial” about this ad is that it had Black dude in it. If he would have ended this video with “I’s FREE! I’s FREE. THANK WHITE JESUS I’S FREE!” it’d be a completely different argument.

Related posts:

  1. Dear Ignorant Racist Guy who decided to email me…
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  3. How to actively Set Black People Back: Soulja Boy, Tell’em.
  4. The Magical Anti-Racist Amulet
  5. “Interracial Couples & Professional Blacks? TV implies too many” Says White dude.

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  • http://twitter.com/chargil Lene

    I did notice the imagery, but I didn’t find it racist either.

  • Anonymous

    Yeah it might remind some of things that are racist, but it is not racist in and of itself.

  • http://coastliveoak.wordpress.com/ Quercki

    It got my attention more than a similar ad with a white dude would have. Then I really liked the “crashing through the glass ceiling” bit.

  • http://twitter.com/twosixteen twosixteen

    Just how I feel in my day job as a graphic designer. It’s a “people” thing.

  • http://bourgiewinetv.com Krista Summitt

    I’m trying to figure out what they’re advertising though?

  • Anonymous

    Exactly!

    And for some reason this guy just reminds me of Obama in a subliminal way. Only he can’t break free of the Republicans…

  • http://molecularshyness.wordpress.com jen*

    Ok – so not necessarily racist. But definitely using imagery and language that conjures slavery – not in the abstract idea, but that actual vision of a chain, white hands, restraining a black man – while someone uses the term “shackled” in reference to a job or something.

    Hello bad taste. And tacky. At the very least. WTH are they advertising?

  • http://profiles.google.com/winstonnt Winstonn Tubbs

    Not racist. The imagery goes along with what the the voices saying “hands tied” and “unleashing creativity” with regards to a job. It’s not even clear if they guy is black. He could be a few other different races. Also, there was a white and black hand holding the guy back.

    I think we are being a lil too sensitive with this video. I think it has great imagery with a general meaning.