The second installment of Volkwagen’s Super Bowl advertising campaign was released Monday,skyrocketing to viral status overnight, and prompting claims it is “racist” in its depiction of the Jamaican culture. We couldn’t disagree more.
Charles Blow, a columnist for The New York Times, said on CNN that the ad was “Blackface with voices.”
The claim that it is racist is racist itself. The criticism ignores the fact that there are also caucasian Jamaicans. A point that some Jamaicans get:
The company said it tested the ad with consumers, including about 100 Jamaicans, and got no negative feedback. In the hours since the issue blew up…the company has gotten “many” positive comments from the public, including Jamaicans. “The response has been: ‘We get it. Accents don’t have a color.’“
On Monday, we pointed out the first video from the media buy, featuring Reggae legend (and Jamaican native) Jimmy Cliff, along with an assortment of last year’s viral video train wrecks. This second ad continues the Reggae theme quite effectively. It’s funny as hell.
Seriously, some people need to stop over-thinking every little thing, and expend a little more energy on REAL issues.
“You know what dis room needs? A smile.”
WATCH (and Get Happy…)
About Stew Steve
Between this story and the piece about Obama contunuing drone strikes, as a Libertarian I’m starting to see glimmers of hope from the Left – if that matters. Amidst the cries of seeking accountability for our criminal foreign policy and now the sensible reactions expressed as it concerns hypersensitivity regarding this ad, I’m starting to get a little vaklempt. I think I have schpilcus in my ganecktazoink. Please. Just give me a moment.
Let’s meet in the middle and celebrate by going out to the middle of nowhere and shoot off a few magazines on some AR-30s while accompanied by a gay Boy Scout Leader. Wadaya say you adorable Lefties?
Nick: You had me at “schpilcus.”
For the sake of common sense and true bipartisanship, we should meet somewhere in the middle of nowhere!
One revision…I will gladly stand (under a bulletproof shield) nearby and celebrate your ‘right’ to fire the AR-30s…and we allow the Boy Scout Leader to cater.
Yeah, I never considered how much better the food and the music would be arounfd the campfire with a gay Boy Scout leader. But I swear to God, if I see a cozy draped over a port – o – toilet I’m outta there……..
Lighten-up.With the maze of crap we have to plow through in this country ever day – like tagging this ad racist -, this ad is refreshing. Be happy!!!