Intel came under fire for an offensive ad (See Times Online article from August). Angry consumers protested racist imagery showing African-American men bowing in front of a white man. See what they mean?
This caused NGOs to launch atacks on YouTube - and the cancellation of the advertisement. The video clip was pulled but the campaign remains: See how NGOs protested.
Their response? Nancy Bhagat Vice president, director of Integrated Marketing at the chip maker writes of the ad in her bog, here: “We have used the visual of sprinters in the past successfully. Unfortunately, our execution did not deliver our intended message and in fact proved to be insensitive and insulting. Upon recognizing this, we attempted to pull the ad from all publications but, unfortunately, we failed on one last media placement.”
3 responses so far ↓
Tom // Apr 8th 2008 at 1:50 pm
Hmmmmmm….
Lewis // Aug 5th 2008 at 2:53 am
Let’s all be grown-ups here! The men in athletic uniforms are clearly taking up a sprinter’s starting position and not “bowing” to the man in the middle. If you have issue with this advertisement, clearly you need more significant things in your life to occupy your mind. Being hypersensitive to everything means your concerns are discounted as whinny rhetoric and your point is lost. If you have a cause, approach it like an adult if you want to be taken seriously.
Angela // Nov 26th 2009 at 10:14 am
WOW…I just came across this ad looking for something. If this doesn’t psychologically symbolize white supremacy and further confirm that black people are at the bottom of the cultural totem pole, I don’t know what does. I am totally offended at this ad but am not anymore surprised than I am at Lewis’ comment. White people have a logical way of thinking. They often use it to justify the racist actions they do, directly or indirectly. (Hence, Lewis defending the “fact” that they are getting ready to race and not bowing). On the other hand, us black folk are an emotional people, meaning we feel, THINK and reflect on our actions. This ad, and images similar to it, psychologically effect the minds of black children. Too bad I will have to raise my future children to expect that there will be ads like these, articles, pictures, tv shows; etc. that discredit the strength of our people. White people will NEVER have to do that to their kids, and they will NEVER have to explain that to their children.
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