Black History and Ads Don't Mix, Activists Say

[Rose Siding]

The green and yellow flier from the Kmart in Aspen Hill proclaimed, "Celebrate Black History" and then advertised "3 for $1 Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix" and "3 for $10 Tone 6-Bar Soap."

The makers of Metamucil and Pepto-Bismol ran a full-page ad in this month's Ebony magazine declaring, "Black History Month is a legacy of pride and achievement leading to a healthier tomorrow." The ad continues, "It's the same ideals you turn to when it comes to your GI Health -- a history of digestive solutions."
...
Activist Jesse L. Jackson said that some of the ads are produced by the same companies that "denied access" to blacks and that they trivialize the historic struggle.

"What pains me is that these ads are feel-good sessions about a black general who did this or someone who sang a song or a political figure who worked on this, and 'Aren't there some wonderful black people?' " he said. "Of course that is true, but they don't deal with issues like . . . why black people work as hard and make less, why black people are stressed out and don't live as long."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48571-2005Feb23.html

[tx_dem41]

1. Its a "true" American holiday, when it becomes commercialized.

Isn't that the way it (sadly) goes?

[TahitiNut]

2. Corporatism - putting the 'holy' back into 'holiday'.

:eyes: