11/28/2009 07:30:28 AM EST

Racist ads?

posted by Akselh

In the youngturks episode aired 3rd of november Ana and Cenk are discussing racist ads at about 2 hours in. I know I'm a bit late with this, but it really caught my attention. Are we more provoked by racism against black than against whites?

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They start up by showing an ad for a product that makes the skin paler. The ad insinuates that paler girls are more beatiful. Ana and Cenk, both thinks this ad is outrageous. And even though they mention that lot of white people try to be more tan they dont seem quite as outraged by it. But isn't that just the same? Here, in Norway being pale is not looked upon as being beautiful at all by the majority of people. And a lot of girls use makeup like crazy to look more naturally tan, even though its soooo damn obvious that they use makeup and are not naturally tan. I understand whats wrong with the ad, but I did not find it to be anything new. I mean, I see ads like that all the time promoting creams and powder to make white people look more tan.

But what I really found interesting was the reaction to the next ad. So basically, the next shows a soggy italian dude who gets thrown in the washing machine by his girlfriend, and out pops a handsome, ripped black guy, and the slogan is something like "colored is better". I thought it was amazing how they didn't think of it the other way around. What if there was a soggy black guy getting thrown in the machine and the handsome guy was white and following that the slogan would be "white is better"? Would that be funny? Don't get me wrong, I am white myself and didn't get offended at all by the colored is better slogan or the ad in general. However, I think it would rub me the wrong way to say the least if it was the other way around.

So I am really curious to what people think. Are we oversympathizing with black people? Is it okay to joke around with white people based on the color of their skin, but not black people? Is it in fact racist that we single them out as being more fragile in any way? Please leave comments, I really want to hear everyones opinion on this matter. I apologize if my english is a bit off since I'm not from an english speaking country. It is also my first blog ever so if there is something I need to improve or add I would be grateful to constructive critisism:)

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Racist ads? | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
This isnt Norway (none / 0)

America is historically racist against African Americans .. No we are not "oversympathizing"  with blacks.

We have to be ever vigilant. The racists have come out of the woodwork especially now that we have a black president.

Ana was spot on

A conservative believes nothing should be done for the first time

by C D on 11/28/2009 10:41:59 AM EST

LOL (none / 0)
LOL i LMAO when you said woodwork.I mean,I can just imagine them creeping out you know.

by sesshoumaru2st on 11/28/2009 12:15:22 PM EST

[ Parent ]
most people dont live in america (none / 0)
First off, both off these ads are not american. And second, most blacks, and people in general do not live in america. I get that its more complicated in America, but this has nothing to do with just the USA at all, its a global thing

by Akselh on 11/28/2009 06:31:00 PM EST

[ Parent ]
first off (none / 0)
I live in America  I care what happens in America

Secondly  there are more people living in a suburb of Chicago than there are in Norway

I could care less what happens there

:)

A conservative believes nothing should be done for the first time

by C D on 11/28/2009 07:13:15 PM EST

[ Parent ]
missing the point (none / 0)

Its a whole world outside of USA you know. My blog was not refering to Norway, neither was it reffering to the USA. And if you only care about what happens in America, I dont understand why you comment on things that has absolutely nothing to do with America alone. I wasn't even remotely close to insinuating that I was talking about America.

:)

by Akselh on 11/29/2009 02:05:41 AM EST

[ Parent ]
ugh... (none / 1)
I agree with you on everything you said, I also agree to a point with CD,  but I stop when he makes the claim that we should view it all from the perspective of history.

Yes America has a history of racism, Yes there are alot of racists out there, both black and white.   TO say one should be monitored more than the other is ignorant of reality.

We should judge racist things equally,  that commercial of the italian guy getting replaced by a black guy and the statment of "colored is better" IS racist, Racism is defined as the belief that one persons Race is better than another.

To say that the commercial ISNT racist goes against the very definition.

We need to judge these things from the same yardstick,  If the commercial was of a black man in the states getting put in a washing machine, and some black lady pouring bleach in it, and out pops a Hot white guy,  you would see People boycotting and throwing all sorts of shitstorms.   Especially if it had a undertag of "Get rid of Dirt, white is better"   or something like that.

People on this forum and IN real life have a double standard when it comes to racism, they believe that because blacks had such a hard time throughout the years they are owed slack.  My philosophy is judge all by the same yardstick.  To say that history gives them the right to be racist against whites is Retarded...

So im glad you called this out, but your going to get bombed with people.   THis forum has alot of people who have double standards set in their blood, they wont see your point of view for anything, and I pretty much gave up trying to argue logic with them.

by Ectheleon on 11/29/2009 04:05:05 AM EST

Racist ads? | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
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