Racewire Blog

Jonathan Adams

Germans Are Convinced Blackface Sells

H/T Black Women in Europe Blog

Do you remember the UNICEF ads that ran in Germany? For some reason, a German ad agency thought it would be clever to cover white children’s faces with mud to bring attention to a need for education in Africa.

UN2.jpg

Seems like Germans are convinced that racism is the most provocative way to sell products.

Check out this clip (click on “TV-Spot”)

Black Women in Europe writes

The slogan goes “damit Sie braungebrannt aus dem Urlaub kommen und nicht Schwarz vor Ärger” (”so that you return from holidays with a tan and not black from anger”).

Note: “black from anger” ist a German saying that’s being used by (white) Germans to this day.

Please find out more about the campaign, the people responsible and how we could use your help and solidarity, here:

blog.derbraunemob.info/2008/07/31/germany-new-case-of-blackface-advertising

Posted at 11:43 AM, Aug 04, 2008 in Global Issues | Permalink | View Comments


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Comments

I know that Black Germans don't like the use of Blackface in advertising or for any other purpose for that matter. I'm not sure why the "mainstream' hasn't figured that out yet.

Posted by: Adrianne | August 5, 2008 8:22 AM