Is that racist? Nivea edition

"Look like you give a damn."

If you’re not a member of the black blogosphere, you probably haven’t heard about the slip up from skin care company Nivea. The above picture was featured in the most recent issue of Esquire and internet-using negroes lost their minds. L.C. and I discuss the advertizing ramifications of this ad.

I, Landis, think this ad was run knowing the commotion it was going to cause. L.C. thinks this is yet another one that can be marked in the Ignorance column. These days, it seems Ignorance is winning, doesn’t it?

Landis: How does stuff like this keep happening, these days?

LaurenChristina: because a lot of people truly believe we are post racial
so they don’t connect the dots.

Landis: True. I forgot we have a (half) black president.
Everything is gravy now. (can you taste the sarcasm?)

LaurenChristina: right.
would we be upset if the model was white?

Landis: No, there would be no negative reaction because white people aren’t in a state of racial neurosis, a la that Eating While Black article.
It would be a clean cut white dude holding a scruffy head with flowing locs and no one would be offended.
But, I also think that this was done intentionally.
Not to offend — well, yes to offend — but to get a lot of attention.
I think when black models and actors are chosen, it’s done intentionally.
“We have to get the urban demographic with this.”
And, if you’re targeting black people, you will be thinking of ways to connect.
You have someone in the office that is your resident negrometer (pronounce nee-grah-mit-er).

LaurenChristina: yea but this ad hurts the brand
and hurting the brand means making less money

Landis: No it doesn’t. This ad was to try and penetrate a new group of people.
They aren’t going to LOSE anyone.

LaurenChristina: negative
I absolutely disagree
every major brand that has any African American clients has specific ads that are geared toward us
that is standard
that’s why there are multicultural marketing and advertising agencies
the goal is to get MORE people to buy the product
by putting someone that looks like them in the ad
that’s standard practice
by using a model, slogan or image that is offensive to that target you are alienating a LARGE portion of your client base
therefore decreasing profits
which goes against the basic principle of any corporation
this is a case of poor judgment
plain and simple
i’ve seen many Nivea ads in Essence where it’s a naked black woman covered by the lotion bottle
and the same ad with a white woman
in white mags
rant over

Landis: I know you don’t have a mental history, but can you recall Nivea ads targeted toward black men?

LaurenChristina: no
but i’ve never seen lotion marketed to men

Landis: That’s what my point is.
Nivea is NOW marketing this product to black men.
So, in an attempt to make a quick wave, they will knowingly release this marginally offensive ad because it’s going to get so much run in the black blogosphere and Reverend Slick Back will come out with a statement against it.
While all this is negative press, it’s still press.
And it’s now in the face of black people on the mouth of thought leaders.
They have easily penetrated the group they wanted with one ad.
And their product is known.
I would have no idea about this product were it not for this uproar.
Honestly, I still don’t even know what it is advertising. But, I know Nivea wants me to buy something.
Nivea is #winning.

LaurenChristina: they aren’t though
people keep saying all press is good press
and that’s simply not true.
they are surely in crisis mode right now in their communications department
no brand grows because al sharpton or jesse jackson is calling for people to boycott it.
the psychology of the consumer is such that there are those who will maintain brand loyalty because they like the product
and there are those who will consciously not buy it because of their negative depiction of black men
i think what you’re missing is that brand awareness doesn’t equal dollars and cents.
just because more black men know about it, fewer will actually buy it
the average black man will not see an ad that is implying they are uncivilized and then run out and buy it
do you see what i’m saying.

Landis: I do.
And I am seeing this differently.
I don’t think it’s as much of a sh!t storm as you do.
There are no black men in shackles. There are no bones through noses.
It’s a clean cut dude holding an afro.
I think most black people, men specifically, will look at this ad and not have a second thought.
It’s the hyper sensitive people that will see racial injustice.
Since this ad is going to appear all over the blogosphere and on the news, people will be able to look at it, understand Nivea wants them to buy something, and have a chance to decide if they think they should be offended.
If a person thinks it’s offensive they won’t buy it. If they don’t deem it offensive, they now know about a product that can help them clean up.
Nivea’s apology was soft because they knew it wasn’t extremely offensive.
If they were sincerely concerned their statement would have been filled with a lot more back-stepping.

LaurenChristina: i think we should agree to disagree

–the end–

Until next time…

What are your thoughts on this ad? Let the discourse begin.

Can women balance work and love?

For a couple of weeks, the topic of women balancing a love life and a work life has been popping up on Twitter (you should follow LaurenChristina if she lets you @MsLaLa02 and me @Landis91) and it has been the topic of two of my online radio shows. So, I brought it up to L.C. and this is what ensued.

Landis: Do you think it’s difficult to balance work and a love life?

LaurenChristina: right now? no
but that’s because i don’t have a love life really.
i think sometimes it’s a problem in terms of being responsive
or being able to do things last minute
but in general no
was that the topic of ya’ll’s show? (Landis’ note: I love the effective use of the double apostrophe. LC is grammar forward.)

Landis: Yea.

LaurenChristina: what was the consensus?

Landis: No consensus.
Some think it’s hard. Some say it’s easy.
Which proves my point that women choose to choose between love and career.

LaurenChristina: I think it depends on your career
some women are in more high powered careers and there are men who find that a turnoff

Landis: The only men that find that a turn off are punk men that can’t handle an independent woman.

Keep your distance…..

This is a two part blog about boundaries.

I have a strict policy about mixing business with pleasure: I don’t do it. No ifs ands or buts about it. I can do things socially with co-workers, but a co-worker would have to be very special for me to invite them in to my life outside the office.  This is especially true for my life on social networking sites.  I do not believe in allowing co-workers to become facebook friends, follow me on twitter, know where I am every minute of the day via 4square (if I were to use it), etc.  When I leave the office, I don’t want anyone in the office knowing about after hours/weekend LC.

Earlier in my career, I allowed fellow interns to become facebook friends. While there were no major catastrophes, there were instances when I regretted. So I have since decided that in order to avoid similar situations, I will not invite them in to my life beyond what I choose to share at work.  

You can imagine how offputting it was when my boss discovered my twitter alias and then proceeded to share it with other colleagues in a meeting.  Prior to this incident, I clearly expressed, I do not mix business and facebook. Yet she still thought this was ok. Why she thought this was ok is a whole other Oprah Show.  So this morning, in my most poised, professional tone, I sent the message — in no uncertain terms — “Don’t do that shit again”.  She understood, apologized and we moved on, but after it was done, I started to wonder if I chose the right course of action.

In a world where employers often examine your social networking profiles and persona to determine if you’d be a worthy candidate for their organization, I think it’s only fair that I am uber protective of myself. I also don’t want my boss to think she can say whatever the hell she wants to. But I’m curious how others handle similar situations. Is it appropriate to get drinks with your boss on rare ocassions, but then deny her on facebook? Is it to spend most of your days with co-workers, but then not want them to know what you’re doing after work?

Part II coming soon….boundaries with friends.

W.W.J.D.?

This past Wednesday, on Students of the Game, an internet radio show hosted my myself and Michael O’Brien, we address Dr. Laura Slessinger’s use of the n-word. In this discussion, a guest, [we'll call] King Solomon, said he uses the n-word like most other black people, but he would not use it in front of Jesus.

Aside from being a funny statement, and a creative way to show where his moral lines are drawn, this statement got me to thinking about Jesus and the things that he might actually do. If you think about it, J.C. was a man of flesh and bone. And, like I addressed in my previous post, boys will be boys. So, just because his mother was a virgin, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a regular dude like us.

Since the prevailing thought amongst pedants is that the man known as Yeshua was most likely of Semetic decent, I like to picture Jesus like a 6 ft. black man that…

…Uses the N-word

Jesus was a patient dude. But, sometimes, when your patience runs thin, the N-word is all you have to say to properly express your dismay. I picture Judas’ betrayal going something like this:

Judas: I don’t know you man… Go thaaaaat way.
Jesus: That’s how you feel, Judas? Ok. That’s strike one.

Judas: Real recognize real, Jesus. And right now, you’re looking real unfamiliar, Jesus. Where did Jesus go? Who are you, strange man?
Jesus: Really, Judas? For 30 silver coins? That’s what I mean to you? Don’t let it happen again.

Judas: ::Jadakiss-esque Mwuuuuaaaaahh!::
Jesus: N*gga……….. for real? After all, I’ve done for you? This is how you do me, n*gga? I see you. Pop, you see this ni*gga? I TOLD YOU he was a snitch.

The Newness

There’s a song by one of my fave male vocalists that goes something like this:

Hey girl how you doing
Do you feel like talking?
Or do you need me to call you back
You from round what way and when’s your birthday
Or what’s your zodiac sign (I’m an Aries)
Well I’m a Virgo so my sign’s compatible
What you do for fun cause I don’t drink or club
I just like to chill with somebody like you

[Chorus]
Everything is cool when love is all brand new
Cause you’re learning me and I’m learning you (it’s cool)
Cause you’re learning me and I’m learning you

(I would have posted the video, but it doesn’t seem to exist)

And thus begins the dilemma: How much of the real should be revealed in the early stages?

I’ve never been good at putting on airs. Anyone who knows me will tell you I have an extremely expressive face. I can (and do) bite my tongue, but no dice with the face. So when getting to know a man, if there’s something I don’t like, he will find out instantly– even if I don’t mean for it to happen that way.  This coupled with my natural awkwardness makes it hard for me to play the game.  

Case in point…

I went on a date with a nuclear physicist recently. (A Black one at that!) We met a while ago, but he’s spent most of the summer traveling, so we weren’t able to connect until recently. I accepted the date because he is good on paper (30, employed, intelligent, no kids, not married, non-smoker, goes to my church, getting a Phd, etc.) Physically not so much, but I don’t have a specific physical type,  so I decided to go.  Plus it was close to the end of the month and mama needed a good meal  

Everything went well until the end when he called his mama. While I was standing there.

I tried to give him some space to have his conversation in private, but he kept moving closer to me. He wasn’t giving her the rundown on me — though I assume he did on the way home — but it was a slight turnoff.  I envisioned a future of him calling his mama to check in during an argument — or worse yet, a moment of intimacy.  I fully support a man that maintains a good, strong relationship with his mama, but there are some limits.

I didn’t let it register on my face that I thought twice about it. Or at least not intentionally. He walked me to the car and we hugged. He made some joke about me touching his “spot”. All I could think to myself was sir, you can’t seriously have just had a conversation with your mama and in the same breath be talking to me about your spot. Those two things just don’t go together.

It got more awkward when I said that I was meeting my bestest in DC, but needed to go home and change first. He offered to follow me home. I politely declined, but he was like a dog with a bone and wouldn’t let it go. Finally, a bit more firm this time, I said no thanks and jumped in my car. ( I didn’t know him from a can of paint. It’s one thing to see the make/model and license plate of my car. But sir, I will not invite you anywhere near my apartment on the first date. He must not watch Criminal Minds)

I sent him a text saying thanks for a great evening and he shared the same sentiment but knew that I probably wouldn’t talk to him again. Between his mama and his forwardness about his spot, I was kind of put off and I think he could tell. Whenever I pass his number in my phone book — which I’ve saved to avoid the “Who is This? dance that will inevitably happen IF he contacts me again — I giggle to myself and think that this was just a case of too much too soon.

What do you think? Am I being too picky?

I should couch this with some additional information: The night before our date, he texted me around 11:30 (I remember because it was in the middle of me watching my DVR’d episode of Bethenny Getting Married? which i only watch after I’ve watched my DVR’d episode of the Ultimate Merger which both come on at 10 pm) and asked if I wanted to come over. Not only was it forward of him to text me during booty call hours, he tells me that his back hurts. Which implied he wanted it to be rubbed. Which after our date I learned was his “spot”.) SIR!!!!! I politely declined and said that I would see him the next day.

OK  SO NOW……What do you think? Am I being too picky?

Boys will be boys

Last night, the world was privy to the incunabulum of what is bound to be the storied career of one Timothy Richard Tebow. Those that watched the game got to see the youngster complete 8 of his 13 passes for 105 yard and tack on a rushing touchdown. But, through his highlishts, he still reverted back to his low, long and loopy throwing motion.

This proves one major thing. Although he circumcises Philippino children in the off-season, can leap tall lineman in a single bound, and can doesn’t do pushups, he pushed the ground down, he is still, and always will be a man.

That means he struggles with everyday things just like we do. And, when the proverbial poop hits the ceiling fan, we will revert back to what is innate in us.

Let me lay out some of the things that men will always struggle with.

Huh?

Landis.
Yes?
How many homeruns does Barry Bonds have?
762.

Landis.
Yes?
What are you most afraid of in life?
Huh?

When a man is confronted with a question that he cannot readily answer, he is always going to throw a filler at you to buy some time. This filler will most often be “huh?”

“Huh?” does not mean that a man is lying to you, nor does it mean that he is trying to think of a lie to tell you. It just means that he is not fully ready to answer this question at the present moment.

He COULD be trying to think of a lie, but don’t assume, because we all know what assuming does, right? Yup. It makes an ass out off you and makes me wish I had lied to you for not trusting me.

Too grown to have a crush?

It’s not the manliest thing in the world for a grown dude to have a celebrity crush, but if women can get away with it, then– perhaps that’s not my best argument.

Here are some of the women that have my hopeful heart.

O.G. crush
Reality show crush
ESPN crush

But, I figure I’m a 20something dude trying to find a real girl to chill with, why would I crush on a woman I’ll never meet? That was my mentality, until this woman walked her way onto my TV and into my life.

Seema Sadekar, ameteur golfer, and caste member of Golf Channel’s reality show “Big Break” has got me struggling with this question:

How much is too much when it comes to a grown person’s celebrity crush?

Would you date you?

The struggle is back. Well, the struggle never stopped. It was just me. Bear with me as I learn how to write again.

The other night, I’m at the bar with a few dudes, and we run into a few women who know a few of my dudes. So, that turns into a group chill session with some pretty cool women-ladies.

I do my politic thing and make the rounds conversing with everyone, but my conversation continually gravitates toward one particular female. From our initial conversation about both being that annoying optimist, to having the same preference in sports drink flavors, we had a crazy amount of things in common.

Now, every woman I meet isn’t viewed as a potential date or girlfriend (should it be?), but I do look at the qualities in the ladies I meet and try to judge how I would like those characteristics in someone that I date.

This particular chica had me thinking about what I would prefer in a wifey, someone who shares a lot in common with me, or the anti-Landis.

Check out Joe Buddens’ take on dating yourself in female form (or something like that) and then continue reading after the jump.

It’s been one of those times….

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything on this blog. And ironically enough, it’s been because I’ve been struggling. with life. with work. with love. with myself. But, as I’m coming out of this period, I wanted to share one particular struggle. It’s one that has become a common occurrence since before I can remember. It has an unpleasant familiarity that I wish was a distant memory. 

At the end of April a friend of my family was killed. He was a childhood friend of my brother and our moms have become close friends over the last 20 plus years.  He was a father, a brother, a son, a fiancee, and a friend to many. His death was both shocking and painful for those who knew him. But what hurts the most, for me at least, is not that he’s gone or that he left two young daughters — one of whom will never know him except through stories and pictures. I struggle with the way he died.

His killers showed blatant disregard for human life when they attacked and left him for dead.  It wasn’t a robbery or an accident, they shot him and walked away. 

I know, it happens everyday. I know, others have suffered the same loss. I know, he won’t be the last. But I still struggle.

I struggle because they didn’t know anything about him. They don’t know that he was  loved by many and adored by his family. They don’t know that he was caring, giving, and wouldn’t hurt a fly. And what’s worse is they don’t give a damn.  

I don’t have a pretty, flowery ending for this post. It’s just something I’ve been thinking about. and struggling.

Pssssst… lemme get them digits, girl…

As a single man in the north east, I cross paths with loads of attractive women. Women that I would like to talk to and possibly get to know and, as my girl Sigel says, buy a few meals for. However, since I am friends with lots of attractive women (as my first post covers), I always hear the horror stories of when gentleman try their hand and talking to them in a public setting. It never… never… NEVER ends in favor of the suitor.

The only time a guy even comes close to talking to these women is when they are at a bar and a guy buys them a drink or three.

What does it take for a guy to get the attention of a good woman these days?