Sunday, January 20, 2008
An Open Letter to McDonald's
I've got some issues with this commercial.
But, for now, let's ignore the use of "The Cha Cha Slide" song and just assume the clearance fee for "Whoomp! There It Is" was too exorbitant. Furthermore, can we all agree that the next family to break out the plates and come to the dinner table for McDonald's will be the first? Cool? Cool.
With that out of the way…
15 years ago, we were expected to believe that this father and this mother could produce this daughter.
20 years ago, we were expected to believe that this father and this mother could produce this daughter.
30 years ago, we were expected to believe that this father and this mother could produce this daughter (and this son.)
35 years ago, we were expected to believe that this father and this mother could produce this son.
Getting back to the above commercial, I'll axe y'all what I axed Mrs. Bootleg as this aired during the Chargers/Pats game: "Who is he, the neighbor's kid?"
Really…in 2008, is it asking too much for television and casting agents to try to understand the basic genetic elements of Black people?
Yes! I don't know if it's a sign that I have no life, but the first thing I thought of as I watched this yesterday was that you needed to do a column on it.
ReplyDeleteToo bad Vig didn't do this commercial. Then we would have been treated to a hispanic family & "Macarena".
Oh, leave the kid alone Cam it's a cute commercial. Besides, it's not like we're talking Natalie Wood as "Maria" in Westside Story here.
ReplyDeleteCam, I totall thought the same thing, months ago when I first saw the clip. And my roommate, who I think you may have met, and I had pretty much the same convo as you and the wiz.
ReplyDeleteBecause really, in 2007 (or 2008)why try to dispute the notion that white people think we all look alike?
I think you were being sarcastic, but I think you might be right: it IS the neighbor's kid.
ReplyDeleteHe obviously dances in, eats someone else's food (while mezmerizing the residents of the house with his funky fresh dance moves) then dances out. It's petty theft. Harmless petty theft.
In a world where most biracial celebrities break their ankles running from their ethnicity, it would've blown my mind to see McD's show this kid with a black father/white mother. I'm black, it's 2008 and it would've blown my mind. I can only imagine how that imagery would've played in the less enlightened states in the union.
ReplyDeleteIn a world where most biracial celebrities break their ankles running from their ethnicity, it would've blown my mind to see McD's show this kid with a black father/white mother. I'm black, it's 2008 and it would've blown my mind. I can only imagine how that imagery would've played in the less enlightened states in the union.
ReplyDeleteThere was an ad campaign that featured an interracial relationship white husband/Black wife (obviously) and a few mulattos running around. It was a few years back, maybe it a phone company? Or some electronic device. But I distinctly remember being impressed to see such a relationship in an ad, with offspring.
The funny thing to me is that the commercial really isn't that effective. Advertising 101 sez "push the product". This spot puts the shine on the kid, the music and his moves. Completely overwhelms the product (McDonald's).
ReplyDelete(wait for it)
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Lighten up, everybody.
I'll be here all week.
Not to single you out "Longtime", but I really hate when I hear things like "running from their ethnicity". What does that even mean? And what's the standard code of conduct for each race? Just seems like serial stereotyping to me. Maybe I'm missing something. What celebrities are "running from their ethnicity"?
ReplyDeleteLeeeeeet's not go down that road, Chaz. That's an entirely different discussion/blog post.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, it HAS been over a year since I started this blog and not one post about Tiger Woods? If only he'd find a way to become the center of a racially-charged firestorm. But, what are the chances of that? I know, right?!