Watch commercials and see America’s diversity culture
A culture is a set of values—and how we express them. While America has many foundational traditions and values, many changes over time. Cultures are in constant flux—and none more than the American culture.
I have long contended that the American people are not racist. While remnants of racism exist on the periphery, America is not a racist culture today — as I have written on many occasions in recent years.
One of the best ways to understand our culture is to study commercials and advertising. They reflect the culture as it exists at the time. The reasons are obvious. Successful advertising depends on meeting the people where they are. Ads are created to elicit a positive reaction. Potential customers need to see themselves in the promotional content.
So, what can we deduce from the array of advertisements we see on the telly, hear on the radio, popping up on social media, and read in newspapers and magazines (for those who still read newspapers and magazines)?
One of the most notable insights we can discover aligns with my belief that America is not a racist nation. If we were a racist White supremacist population, we would not see so many Black individuals in television commercials. In fact, Black characters in television ads outpace their 14 percent share of the American population. No advertiser would do that if 74 percent of the White population (including White Hispanics were being offended or angered.
To understand the dynamic, consider that in the 1950s—when Democrat institutional racism was raging in the South and major cities, and the general population was more racist—you never saw a Black person depicted in general advertising. It was limited to narrowcasting radio and billboards in segregated Black communities—and confined mostly to Black-only products, such as hair relaxers.
What we have seen over the past 75 years is a major cultural change as reflected in commercial advertising. That change is also documented by other means—studies, employment records, and more.
If you look closely, you will also notice another cultural change. Many ads feature Black and White couples—as friends, lovers, and integrated families. This is another major cultural shift from days of yore. And another example of public acceptance.
What we see in terms of Black characters and images in advertising is also true for Hispanics and Asians. In advertisements with groups of people, you will inevitably see an across-the-board diversity.
Yet another cultural change reflected in advertising is the depiction of gay marriages and partnerships. These are most apparent in ads for HIV pharmaceuticals. More importantly, portrayals of gay couples can be found across a broad range of products and services.
Advertising reflects the current general culture, even though institutional or systemic racism and race-baiting among the ruling class still exist. Some of the alleged racism is real, but much is concocted as political narrative to create division for political purposes.
As a society, we must continue to push back against the remnants of the largely marginalized White hate groups, such as the Neo-Nazis and Skinheads. While they still garner attention, their numbers and influence are minimal compared to their cultural ancestors, such as the Ku Klux Klan, the White Citizens’ Councils, the Knights of the White Camellia, the Red Shirts, and other paramilitary terrorist groups that once thrived in the old solid Democrat South.
In addition, we must still address the institutional and systemic racism that keeps Black Americans—and to a lesser degree, Hispanic Americans—segregated and oppressed in our major Democrat-controlled cities. This leaves millions of minority Americans deprived of education, housing, jobs, safe streets, social mobility, and access to America’s opportunity society. It is a pernicious racism rooted in political power and opportunism.
But … we the people are not as racist or homophobic as the political narratives suggest. The diversity in advertising is a very good thing. It provides strong evidence that the American people—of all backgrounds—are much more accepting and much more tolerant than the politicians, the media, and race-baiting so-called civil rights leaders would have us believe.
So, there ‘tis.
Except for his usual dance against Democrats, I liked this story which should get us all thinking. Business runs for profit, not politics. So, all business politics is usually for profit. So, why are they catering to minorities? I don’t think business got woke. Seems they are backing way off that now. So, what’s up?
Gotta love Larry’s love of popular culture trends even as his party attempts to destroy it at every turn. They actively are destroying science, statistics, and medical funding seemingly attempting to toss us back to the dark ages like the Islamic fundamentalists attempt to turn back the clock on progress in their authoritarian regimes. We even are telling our bean-counter, through words and deeds, that delivering bad news means “you’re fired.” Their new Project 2025 version of family values was penned by Micheal Corleone. The worst part about it is the mindlessness of their actions. They use not the scalpel to cut out waste, inefficiencies, and ineffectiveness; but instead they clear cut whatever they can harvest in a scorched Earth attack on anything that moves. Overstatement? Then why do they keep re-hiring folks, re-establishing funding, and other ways to cover their tracks of bad deeds? The latest was to re-establish weather jobs right after hundreds die in Texas because the weather man was not home. Fired.
The author focuses his ire on Democrats linking them to the old South KKK, etc. but never mentions the KKK is all Republican today. What that has to do with advertising is beyond me. Perhaps it’s a segue to his resume pitching his new book. Multiple times he brings up Democrats, the man has a hard on for them, even after all these years, no mellowing. And then there’s the hellhole of the cities, all Democratic, whereas Republican cities are nirvana. Ever been to Jacksonville or Miami? It’s murder out there…..
“To understand the dynamic, consider that in the 1950s—when Democrat institutional racism was raging in the South and major cities, and the general population was more racist—you never saw a Black person depicted in general advertising.” And in the 60’s, they became Republicans while today most Republicans are not racists, however, most racists vote Republican. But I, like the author, digress.
Yes, Larry, entertainment, manufacturers, and business attempt to tap into cultural trends to amplify and capitalize on the results. Capitalize is key. But Larry, you seem to have missed all the pushback. Can you say Disney? How about Bud? That, IMO, makes the trend you identify all that much more mysterious. In the face of potential MAGA backlash, they continue to stress diversity, equality and inclusion. It’s not that it’s right, it’s that there’s money in it.
You see diversity and equality; I see politically correct wokeness. However, we are both wrong: it’s about money, capitalism and follow the money. Blacks have money. Hispanics have money. They make more every year. Liberals have even more money and we support woke, love to see it, and support it with our wallets. And I see much pushback, but to your point —– it will not be stopped because it is the will of the people to accept.
I can add to your point: when we were in our younger days, say 30-40 years ago; didn’t it seem that most urban blacks spoke “urban” and sounded “ghetto” to the white suburban or urban ear. Hell, in the 60’s and 70’s, we even emulated the lingo as being “cool.” About the time of the St. Louis riots, I noticed the TV interviews sounded different; the man in the street did not sound like the street. Sounded like us; assimilation in language seemed to take effect over 100 years after freedom. Wow, I must be wrong….. It took a while, but I blame television. Yet, in my past, my immigrant forebears took less than half that time to assimilate. I blame racism. But I agree with the author, business seems to continue to embrace dei, woke, and pc, because it’s good business. I add assimilation as fairly complete, albeit a long time coming.
Secondly, we see the same wokeness in entertainment media. Disney has “The Wonder Years” about a young black gent in Alabama living in The Wonder Years. They also have Asian, gay, and all sorts of stories not about white people only. Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. made two years. I wanted more! Big Shot with Stamos, replete with DEI, made two seasons as well. I thought the ragged right would rail on this shit, but not so much. That’s just amazing. They don’t seem to notice unless someone they like calls it out. I mean Star Trek; Strange New Worlds is a throwback to the original where social issues and woke flavor most of the plots. In ST-SNW check out the opening: it’s a freaking rainbow sky trail with a woke voice-over to boot. “where no “they” has gone before” sort of woke. And not a peep. On it’s third season it opened when the right was physically attacking Target’s DEI store displays, I figured it was dead meat. Instead, there are so many woke shows from streamers that woke is becoming boring: every day, unnoticeable, and just the way it is. Just as manly Marines harassing each other for team-building bonding is a good thing. It’s a multi-faceted, diverse, complex world after all.
Liked Larry’s story, sans the self-promoting Democrat bashing, think he can expand it to language and the arts, and feel sad that his Felon King feels the need to tear in all down in a scorched Earth fashion.
I noticed something. Certain readers get PBP early but others late in the day? Why? To avoid confrontations that are deserved? It’s unfair. Dictatorial. Mean.
It’s because Dunger has a problem keeping up
Hammon: keep up? You can’t even spell my name correctly much less have a clue on topic.
Larry, I objectively and respectfully disagree. Racism seems to be as hot a topic as ever there was one. I suppose you chose to overlook the obvious racism ICE has institutionalized in its profiling policy carried out in every inhumane sweep and detainment action illegal on U.S. soil and summary deportation to wherever Trump is sending deportees at the moment. You can’t seriously believe every sweep nets ICE actual illegal immigrants who are proven criminals. After all statistics on who ICE is detaining and unmercifully treating have been by majority persons wrongly assumed to be in this country illegally. Those few who are dangerous do not warrant the expense of rounding up brown people. Those of us who enjoy the sport of fishing yet don’t want fish for supper. We practice the art of “catch and release”. It’s proven beneficial for the fisheries and fishermen alike. However, fish are animals and fishing is sport. The Department of Homeland Security has gone into the practice of ICE fishing and think of it as sport.
Now, it’s never sporting when human beings, no matter their racial or citizenship status, receive treatment unacceptable by any standard in America.
So, you believe racism is not an issue in America.
Consider out President’s attitude and rational behind pouring billions of tax dollars into an inhuman and morally corrupt policy carried out on individuals ICE profiles on the basis of skin color alone.
Any objective critical thinking intelligent person would see and call ICE’s policy racist. Larry, what don’t you understand about the inequality shown to nonwhite persons when the U.S. Constitution has been so easily swept aside in cases involving nonwhite people.
You commentaries do not mirror your contention that you are and never have been racist. If you are taken at your word and you believe you are not a racist American, then there is no logic to an extrapolation to American as a whole. White supremacy is rapidly taking over in the guise of Christian Nationalism and supplanting Protestantism in white churches across the nation.
How well read are you. Like your thinking that Trump has done good things for America and the average citizen is uninformed to say the least and is patently false. Pushing a false assertion on racism is pure conspiracy theory propaganda selling.
Trump is an unrepentant racist. And don’t tell me that the nonwhite people in his administration prove otherwise. He is an equal opportunity user of people he sees maybe useful to him in the moment. When his transaction is through do is his relationship with anyone, regardless of race or other identity.
America is as racist as it ever has been since before the Civil War. Some among us may contend they are not racist. The opposite is the fact. By nature humans are partial to others like them, color of skin identifies at first glance who is more like me than someone not my color.
You can’t debate away nature. White people who recognize the color bias resident in their psyche and have the radical liberal desire to be equality sensitized, must decide to make choices contrary to their natural reflex.
The notion of a person of any race can possibly become “color blind” is unlikely. This is understood through multiracial study and poling large samples of the US population. When questioned most wanted to give the politically correct answer. Survey respondents were advised against answers they thought were wanted by the team. Honesty proved to be difficult for white respondents. Nonwhite participants found truth easier than what was assumed socially acceptable.
Larry, your out of sync perception of reality on the subject of racism in America being virtually nonexistent confirms to your wish that it was a fact. Truth is, that, sadly for our country of immigrants, what is seen in Trump and his behavior is indicative of a symptom of what our culture has produced. He is not the cause of the breakdown in cultural norms and standards today. He is an opportunist and a transaction centered short duration relationship illiterate individual. Life for him is all about him and what’s in it that benefits him. It’s a sad indictment of our culture if the best person for the job of POTUS happens to be that person who embodies the most negative personality symptoms the culture can produce.
Those who voted him into office fairly well knew what kind of personality Trump is. Which reveals the state of desperation the country is in. Made all the worse by enabling Trump yo be his worst.