Is this Nivea ad really racist?
- Thread starter Milchjon
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Byakuya769
Member
Slavik81 said:
You get a buzz cut?
Fade?
Or did you go with the caesar?
How often are you going to the barber shop? Weekly or bi-weekly?
MWS Natural
Member
I don't understand why people can't see this.besada said:
Why doesn't the ad with the white guy say "uncivilized" next to his un-groomed head??
Dreams-Visions
Member
the whole thing is questionable.
maybe if the guy wasn't also dressed like Carlton Banks and only had a short cut, it would have been more reasonable. As it stands, it suggests that you don't "give a damn" about your appearance if you're not dressed like a prep kid. And furthermore, that you're not really civilized (in the fashion sense).
To that end, it completely shits on urban fashion. That's what's not cool about it. You don't win over urban customers by shitting on urban fashion trends and styles. And of course, shitting on the afro--a style and image central to black culture since...forever--is...near-sighted at best.
Surely they could use more diversity on their marketing team. But what else is new?
maybe if the guy wasn't also dressed like Carlton Banks and only had a short cut, it would have been more reasonable. As it stands, it suggests that you don't "give a damn" about your appearance if you're not dressed like a prep kid. And furthermore, that you're not really civilized (in the fashion sense).
To that end, it completely shits on urban fashion. That's what's not cool about it. You don't win over urban customers by shitting on urban fashion trends and styles. And of course, shitting on the afro--a style and image central to black culture since...forever--is...near-sighted at best.
Surely they could use more diversity on their marketing team. But what else is new?
Crumpet Trumpet
Banned
I understand complaints about people being too PC I suppose, but the outrage is justified here IMO. Implying that natural black hair is uncivilized is pretty racist.
Ok, unintentional I'm sure, but that's a little racist. Where did he say that his hair wasn't styled or that his personal grooming was lacking? He simply said that his hair was long. Your post perfectly illustrates the unintentional racism behind people thinking that black men with long hair is uncivilized.
I disagree. White men are allowed to wear their hair a lot longer than black men and still be considered professional. In fact, white men wearing their hair longer than an inch is considered suave. For a lot of people, black men have to keep their hair buzz-cut short to the point of being practically bald to be considered a "professional" length.
Byakuya769
Member
Milchjon said:
Yep. Pretty sure that this ad is geared towards civilized people.
The Incarnation
Member
For Christ's sake, for a people who are constantly called savages etc, etc by white racists and then saying re-civilse yourself in a ad such as this is foolish at best.
Only someone completely naive or under 25 could not grasp what the issue might be.
Only someone completely naive or under 25 could not grasp what the issue might be.
FutureZombie
Banned
Just once I'd like to see someone not cower to the PC police and instead say "It's not racist. Grow the fuck up. We are not retracting our (ad/ statement/ joke)".
Obviously this will never happen with a company, but individuals need to stand up against this lunacy. That ad is not racist.
Calling something like this racist demeans real racism. This is some boy cried wolf stuff. You can only feign outrage at this for so long until you've begun to desensitize people and eventually actual racism will be ignored due to sensationalism burnout.
Obviously this will never happen with a company, but individuals need to stand up against this lunacy. That ad is not racist.
Calling something like this racist demeans real racism. This is some boy cried wolf stuff. You can only feign outrage at this for so long until you've begun to desensitize people and eventually actual racism will be ignored due to sensationalism burnout.
theignoramus
Member
the ad isnt alluding to professionalism. otherwise it would say so and not make the broader allusion to "civilized" appearance.Slavik81 said:
MWS Natural
Member
I can read, just questioning why they didn't keep the same copy for both.Slavik81 said:
theignoramus
Member
thank fuck black folks have people like you to tell us what's acceptable commentary and what isnt.FutureZombie said:
FutureZombie
Banned
theignoramus said:
Thanks for assuming I'm only talking to one group of people. Actually, you're wrong and I'm speaking to everyone.
The Incarnation
Member
theignoramus said:
Nevermind, we're only 3/5th human, we can't be re-civilsed anyway.
lightless_shado
Banned
Fun fact: If black people leave their hair unkempt, it does not look like an afro. An Afro is the result of actually taking the time to comb the hair.
And for further irony, the "uncivilized" head looks a lot like Cornel West.
And for further irony, the "uncivilized" head looks a lot like Cornel West.
MWS Natural
Member
I should have said why didn't they run similar copy.Copernicus said:
Looking poorly != being uncivilized
Byakuya769
Member
So no one is going to tell me about their hair cuts and how often they need to get haircuts for work?
D
Deleted member 22576
Unconfirmed Member
Ok, in this day and in age, In our incredibly rich society, looking poorly is about as close to uncivilized as anyone the ad is targeted at is going to get.MWS Natural said:
MWS Natural said:
The civilized copy, to me, has more connection to the city in the background than it does the afro. City dwellers love to say people outside of the city are uncivilized with beards long hair unkept, etc. They are selling products for those things.
Just like the sin city copy has a desert in the backdrop ..you know where sin city is.
lightless_shado said:
This.
I've seen a lot of posters in this thread indirectly compare the afro to a hippy with a long, shaggy unkempt hair and say it's the same thing.
Clearly they don't know a thing about the afro (and that'spart of the problem). Growing, primping and maintaining a perfectly round, even-bodied 'fro is serious business that requires delicate precision and finesse. The perfect afro is a symbol of pride and hard work.
A more accurate example of a black male with long, unkempt hair is French professional tennis player, Gael Monfils:
PdotMichael
Banned
Come on, it's all about metrosexuality and yeah,as metrosexual man you don't wear an afro or long hear or a long beard.
PigSpeakers
Member
I wonder if all the people who complained about the ad were white.
Maleficence
Member
I love those PSP ads personally, only taken completely out of context can it even slightly be considered racist. Otherwise I love the imagery and think they look quite classy.
travisbickle
Member
In the multi-billion dollar cosmetic and grooming products industry "looking poorly" is a fate worse than death.MWS Natural said:
As for the GAFers talking about "looking natural" being deemed as negative in an advert selling cosmetic products! You may as well tell advertisers to write a disclaimer on all adverts saying "you know what you don't have to buy our product to look attractive, actually some people may consider you more attractive if you don't use our product."
Flying_Phoenix
Banned
I can understand why one could find it offensive. I mean the afro is part of African-American culture and add that in with the "Get Civilized" and well yeah...
That being said, I highly doubt that Nivea intended this. It seems that they were advertising for a clean shave look and some people seemed to misunderstood that.
The worst part of them is that you have hardcore Sony fans defending them as they claim they are "real art" or some shit.
Even with the other two ads I can still see them as racist.
That's like something a bunch of 13 year olds would think is funny. Its not even offensive just stupid.
This! As a person with an afro its very VERY hard to make it not look unkempt.
That being said, I highly doubt that Nivea intended this. It seems that they were advertising for a clean shave look and some people seemed to misunderstood that.
Drkirby said:
The worst part of them is that you have hardcore Sony fans defending them as they claim they are "real art" or some shit.
Even with the other two ads I can still see them as racist.
Slayven said:
That's like something a bunch of 13 year olds would think is funny. Its not even offensive just stupid.
lightless_shado said:
This! As a person with an afro its very VERY hard to make it not look unkempt.
Ether_Snake
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royalan said:This.
I've seen a lot of posters in this thread indirectly compare the afro to a hippy with a long, shaggy unkempt hair and say it's the same thing.
Clearly they don't know a thing about the afro (and that'spart of the problem). Growing, primping and maintaining a perfectly round, even-bodied 'fro is serious business that requires delicate precision and finesse. The perfect afro is a symbol of pride and hard work.
A more accurate example of a black male with long, unkempt hair is French professional tennis player, Gael Monfils:
False!
Unkempt black man hair grows into this:
Dreams-Visions
Member
Urban or not, black people wouldn't find this ad palatable.Milchjon said:
If the ad isn't for black people of any kind, then it's probably even more troubling.
shut the fuck up and open a history book. or try living a minority experience (oh wait, you can't).ReaperXL07 said:
(apologies, I'm not in the mood to accept and negotiate around your fucking ignorance)
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