I almost never watch live television, so I did not see this misadventure, reported by the Daily Mail:
NBC has become the centre of a race storm after airing an ad featuring a monkey performing gymnastics, right after showing the performance of Gabby Douglas, the first African-American to win Olympic gold. The network has since apologised for the advert's poor timing, explaining: 'No offense was intended.'
The controversy ignited as sportscaster Bob Costas wrapped his analysis of her incredible routine during the all-around competition last night. Costas said: 'There are some African American girls out there who tonight are saying to themselves: "Hey, I’d like to try that too." More from London in a moment.'
The broadcast then went to a commercial break, showing an advertisement featuring a monkey wearing a gymnastics uniform and performing a rings gymnastics event.
If it wasn't for the outrage of others, I would have never made that connection. Makes me feel like the individuals who complained are the only ones really guilty of racism by interpreting a coincidence as a subliminal jab.
ReplyDeleteor by interpreting an ape as somehow connected to black people.
DeleteThat's what I meant, yes.
DeleteMaybe if you grow up seeing that imagery used to portray your race, you notice it. If you have never really heard of it or believe, why would you notice? It was more often used in a much earlier time, but certain types of people like to keep those kinds of advertisements and such around.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think that in this day and age things like this are just a coincidence and a situation like Robb stated above. But, I know to some it isn't.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the South Park episode where the chef is mad about the racist flag and the kids change it by changing the white figures hanging a black figure to several races hanging a black man. The kids didn't see the flag as white men hanging a black man, just men hanging a man and didn't get the racist overtones only the adults.