Racism In Advertising Isn’t New But When Does It Get Old?
Black History Year
PushBlack
4.6 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 17 August 2025
⏱️ 3 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The power of the Black dollar is undeniable. When we love something, we put our money behind it. But what about when products are so offensive and disrespectful that they cannot be swept under the rug?
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Why are businesses like HelloVet choosing Apple products and services? |
| 0:04.8 | So we started the business two years ago. |
| 0:07.2 | We had a few people who were used to PCs and this was their first foray into Macs. |
| 0:12.5 | But it's been super smooth getting everyone onto those devices and everyone seems really, really happy. |
| 0:18.0 | Find out how Mac can help you run and grow your business at Apple.com forward slash hellovette. |
| 0:28.0 | The power of the black dollar is undeniable. |
| 0:35.4 | When we love something, we put our money behind it. |
| 0:38.6 | But what about when products are so offensive and disrespectful that they cannot be swept under the rug? |
| 0:45.3 | I'm Len from Push Black, and this is two-minute black history. |
| 0:49.3 | What You Didn't Learn in school. In 1914, Ferry Soap |
| 0:55.0 | in |
| 1:08.0 | people as a way to get clean by implying that dark skin was dirty and had to be washed off. |
| 1:14.9 | Ads like that aren't regulated to the past, however. |
| 1:18.5 | In 2017, Dub sparked accusations of racism when their ad featured a black woman removing her shirt to reveal a white woman underneath. |
| 1:29.3 | This wasn't the first time dove faced backlash for their ads either. |
| 1:33.3 | Lulu Lemon came under fire for refusing to showcase non-white models in their ads. |
| 1:40.3 | This came after their founder and largest stakeholder bashed diversity and representation, |
| 1:46.0 | proudly declaring in 2013 that his clothing isn't meant for, quote, certain people. |
| 1:52.0 | In 2018, H&M put on their website an adorable little black boy in a green hoodie that said, |
| 1:59.0 | Coolest Monkey in the jungle. |
| 2:01.6 | Black folks were rightfully upset over the racial implications of labeling a black child as a monkey, |
| 2:07.6 | and the company apologized removing the image from their sight. |
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