OK Converse.

I see you. I've actually been meaning to post this for a minute. Wearing my chucks as we speak. Zing. It's good to see a big brand start reaching into the bucket of ethnicity. Cause no one could've delivered like Dr J.

Ummm, was that Rick Ross??? Errrr.....

VIA ideadrunk

The Industry of Advertising, thinks about Muslim Perception in America.

"The controversy over the proposed site of the Park51 Islamic Center two blocks from Ground Zero has exposed fault lines in American society. The project has inspired a fervent national debate about religious freedom and tolerance and protecting the sanctity of a site where thousands perished in the World Trade Center attacks.

According to a Time magazine poll conducted last month, 61 percent of 1,000 adults surveyed opposed the project, while 26 percent supported it. Just 23 percent said it would be a symbol of religious tolerance, while 44 percent said it would be an insult to those who died on 9/11. Additionally, 46 percent of those polled believed Islam was more likely than other faiths to encourage violence against non-believers, although only 37 percent said they knew a Muslim American.

Adweek editors Eleftheria Parpis and Brian Morrissey challenged over 30 agencies to apply their communications skills to address the issue. Five did so.

The brief: change the perceptions of ordinary Americans toward Islam and Muslims, and encourage dialog between those who oppose and support the building of the community center. Participants were free to choose whatever media they felt would be most effective in communicating their ideas. Here are the agencies' visions and the summaries of their strategic thinking, in their own words."

The results are underwhelming.

I wonder who this BK spot is aimed at?

I dont know about you guys, but the fact that Sir Mix-a-lot was referenced, makes me want Burger King...riiight nooooow.

...**crickets**...


VIA kissmyblacads

My Butt is Big (Part 2).

Nike hits the spot sometimes...you know? They speak truths. OK...they do it alot. This, is not the first time the creatives at W+K have touched on the subject that drives a large portion of america crazy (thier asses, thighs and "broad" shoulders). But, this imagery is a bit more appealing. It's real, not just some cropped off body part. And it is very XXL Magazine, lol. The copy is eh.....alright.

"My Butt is Big

and round like the letter C

and ten thousand lunges

have made it rounder

but not smaller

and that’s just fine

it’s a space heater

for my side of the bed

it’s my ambassador

to those who walk behind me

it’s a border collie

that herds skinny women

away from the best deals

at clothing sales

my butt is big

and that’s just fine

and those who might scorn it

are invited to kiss it

Just do it"

This ad is causing quiet a comment craze on the facebook. Mostly from minorities. generally speaking, they think it is nice to be recognized for there thicky thick bodies ("I'd hit that"). Everyone is not a model. But just because you aren't, doesn't mean you can't look good. Good work Nike. Way to be all inclusive.

VIA therapup

Creepy Rapping Mice.

For some reason...this creeps me out. Lack of sense aside. And the bit of silly sterotyping involved (cause when did hip hop become "the cool way" of selling cars). This creeps me out the more I look at it.

"Yo, you left this at the party last Night."

New anti-drug spots aimed at African American teens have made it to the day of light. Above features the returning of a brain to a teen who just f*cked up his parents car (my teenage nightmare) allegedly while high. Because he..."those weed smoking teens stay leaving thier brains places." Click this link to see the other 2...one totes the message that fashion sense is somehow connected to drug use, and the other that not getting "twisted" with your friends will get oyu out of your bill.

Oh, yeah...and kudos to slipping in slang like "Yo" and "We Straight." It really brings home the ethnicity.

Agency: Vigelante

VIA adfreak

McDonalds is okay with gay people in France.

"Come as you are."

To McDonalds? Either I haven't sat in a McDonald's to eat in awhile (and it's become a hotbed for coming out of the closet) or the French are particularly and extremely bigotry. I didn't know that McDonald's had to tell people that they are accepting of gays. I mean...Ronald has been single and happy for like four decades now. What going on over thier in France? Do their Happy meals come with Little toy swatikas? Do they only serve white milkshakes?

I mean....damn, France.

VIA bestweekever

A History of African American Targeted Advertising.

Craig at KMBA does it again (there's a reason why his blog was featured in Jet/Ebony Mag). Once in college I tried to take on the task on writing a paper that attempted to divulge how African Americans were "portrayed by the media" and "communicated to" over the years. It was like 13 pages and covered way too much, from black watermelon eating and pancake making caricatures of the negro persona to black face to advertising to hip hop videos. And due to its sheer volume and variety of topics (and lack of pages), I viewed it unsuccessful at the end. What I needed was a thesis paper. But I was in the College of Communications, so I sure as hell wasn't writing a thesis paper for fun. I got a B+ on the paper, but I never quiet accomplished what I was aiming to do. This, is a a side note. The point of this blog post is to set you on track to Craig's blog to read about Minority Targeted Advertising through the years. Read it all the way through and click all the links. You won't regret it. 

Can you dig it?

VIA KMBA and multicultclassics

Now, you know what....

I can't help but to completely agree with Craig from KMBA on this one. Talk about ignorance. I mean...what connection is to be made exactly? All Im getting from this campaign is "black people = cheap liquor." 

But I must admit, Jameson for 19.99...fo sheezzy, son. That's what's up. 

Wait what?

365 Black.

Have you guys heard about 365 Black? McDonald new attempt to celebrate the being of African Americans. I am just discovering it with the help of SteelCloset. Cas, one of there writers there talks about a "lack of tact." Well...to put it simply, I'm offended. I am well aware that McDonalds has a minority agency (if not multiple) that does some hardcore minority focused work. I gave them a pass for the ridiculousness that was the R&B Themed 10 Piece Nugget spot. I actually laughed with them. I looked the other way for the double fist pump. I said to myself, "If they think this is the way to Market to Minorities...good luck to them." But this 365 Black initiative rocks the boat a little too much in my opinion. Is that really Keith Sweat talking about sharing his love of Chicken McNuggets? Is the love of Chicken McNuggets what you mean when you say, We Are Deeply Rooted In the Community? Who cares if Laurie Anne Gibson, a dancer from a reality know best for sayin "BOOM-BOOM-CAT" and being fired by Diddy, worked at McDonalds?   

"WHAT IS 365BLACK?

At McDonald's®, we believe that African-American culture and achievement should be celebrated 365 days a year — not just during Black History Month. That's the idea behind 365Black.com. It's a place where you can learn more about education, employment, career advancement and entrepreneurship opportunities, and meet real people whose lives have been touched by McDonald's. Plus, you can also have a chance to win exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. So make sure you visit often — you just might get inspired."

The ad above is a spoof. But this idea in general is a gross one and it upsets all of my sensibilities. And I have alot of those things. And no, my sensibilities are not rooted deeply in the community of Chicken McNugget lovin. 

"Nobody freaks the culture the way Black people in America do...."

- Craig Brimm, 

over at KMBA speaks on the relevance of Black Advertising Agencies today.

Speak on those things my brotha (in my best church lady voice).

My internet has a Dyshiki. Yours is racist.

I was going to ignore Black Bird...the web browser made specifically for the African American Internet using community. I first read about it on kissmyblackads and I ignored it. That is until I found out that Blackbird was not compatible with Mac. 

*cricket*

So I did some research....and in it's most basic form, Blackbird is a customized version of Firefox 3 for Windows and Vista. It's all black (I can already hear the African drums in the distance?). Creators, 40A Inc (still have no clue who or what they are) claim that the browser will: " broaden the Internet experience for African Americans." 

You are probably thinking right now "that's nice, 'broadening'..yeah that should be good.". They continue:

"...when using Blackbird's built-in search box, results will skew towards African-American news sources and blogs, again, in an effort to highlight those resources for the community. A search for "Barack Obama" in Safari's search box, for example, will bring results like BarackObama.com, Wikipedia, and Chicago Tribune. But the same query in Blackbird's box will return results from AOL Black Voices and blogs.bet.com."

And that's exactly where they lost me. Why do I need a special web browser wrapped in Africa prints? The product already exists, but someone decided to create a "Separate but Equal" version to sell to a definitively marginalized target audience. It's playing on the emotions and culture of an entire people. Where as BET was a pioneer in a sea of hypocrisy and monotony, this is oh-so-subtle-night. Ideally, information should not have a color, race or creed. But when it does...peddling an "Afrocentric" product only reinforces a stereotype. We are saying that people of color and those of European decent cannot enjoy the same content. 

Remembering my experience when I first moved to Chicago, I cracked a joke on being able to find black Barbers with a bit more ease online using Blackbird. But in all actuality, I think this is a horrible marketing ploy that will ultimately only increase the digital divide. 

This is an epic fail in my book. And come on....Vista?....black people DO USE macs (I blame Pharelle for this).

gay ads.

Line: The other side of traveling.

It may imply that all gay people look forward to when traveling is sex (which is kind of a stereo type), but hey...it's still funny. And the agency is German, so you have to give them a break because they really do try over there (sometimes) . On the other hand, there must be a gay market that does in fact want to travel and know of all the gay friendly spots. I originally thought that they were just showing us the other side of Mt. Rushmore, but if they're just replacing our founding father's heads with shapely males asses...there is probably some truth to that as well. 

Agency: Scholz & Friends, Hamburg, Germany

VIA: ibelieveinadvertising

Minority McNugget Ad.

I know it's suppose to be a spoof of sorts, but what do you think they were hoping to accomplish with this R&B singing McNugget lover spot....? Just a question.

Racial Ads (PDA ads).

Ok, I was trying not to post this, since interracial dating seems to still be a BIG THING, but this spot makes me nauseous and uncomfortable. 
Making Out Is Legal

I made it all the way through once....but now I can't even look at it. I just listen to girl who clearly hails from a HBC, breaking her parent's heart. What would her Sorors think? But seriously....the PDA is grossing me out. It doesn't matter what color you are...if you are making out like this in public and you have graduated from high school, you need to be arrested. Forget about declaring yourself, lets try declaring your maturity. 

Just for chuckles...Chris Rock sheds some light on the subject.

Agency: AGENCY Mammoth Creative Inc.

VIA kissmyblackads

minority advertising.

one of the things they tell you in ad school, is not to get caught up in "segmented" agencies when looking for a real job. You know...the phrama, the minority, the B2B...yada, yada, yada. But sometimes, I think minority based ads really hit the spot. It's about more than simply putting the minority in an ad and tacking on some urban slang. You really have to draw on a real cultural connection. And they did that in the spot below. Mary J. Blidge, in every part of here life....that's a cultural heart string. This ad was made by someone who understands the culture. Check the expressions on each of the Marys....it's on point.

And for the record....it is smart, relevant minority targeted advertising like this spot, that makes me cringe when I am forced to watch hispanic puppets sing for 30  secpnds. And you know what else.....putting a pack of gum in Chris Brown's premature dancing hands, isnt cutting it either. 

That's called...stepping up your game.

Agency: Sanders/Wingo

VIA kissmyblackads