I Am Going to Say Something Controversial

H&M was accused of racism over and advert showing a black kid wearing a hoodie with the slogan 'coolest monkey in the jungle'.

There is racism, I agree, but not on H&M side, but in the sick minds making an association between the word 'monkey' and the fact the kid is black, instead of just seeing a kid wearing a hoodie.

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yeronlyman · 51-55, M

Mr C, I agree. It’s overreaction.

Where is the evidence that H&M ever intended this to be racist. They apologised to appease the hysteria...

I showed the picture to my young kids (12) and they said nice jersey and that’s it... oh they said daddy thats a jersey for boys, not for girls lol...

so perhaps it’s sexist too... 😬

Cierzo · M

@yeronlyman Haha, funny kids. They have more common sense than many adults.

JustNik · 51-55, F

Reminds me of when I was a kid and my sister said monsters came into the house through my closet at night. If you are looking for monsters in the shadows, you are sure to find them. All that’s here is a kid who probably has a savings account and a really adorable hoodie.

Cierzo · M

@JustNik Very well put. If you are looking for monsters you will find them.

SW-User

Naa, equating African-Americans with monkeys is classic racism.

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CopperCicada · M

@Cierzo I largely agree with you.

Symbols are like any other currency. Pass a counterfeit bill-- are you a counterfeiter? No. Are you gonna get into some hot water?-- most certainly.

I personally think we repent for too many thought crimes. Calling out racism in a country founded on indigenous genocide, slavery and immigration is pretty boring. Calling out H&M is one of those things that makes us feel good without doing anything about real racism. Like people being shot unarmed in the streets. Or the fact that there are places in America where the life expectancy is that of Haiti.

That said, it boggles my mind that nobody at H&M would get that his would be a trigger. Srsly? Or not figure out how to save it without throwing themselves on a grenade.

Cierzo · M

@CopperCicada I don't know how big H&M is in America. Here in Europe equating black people with monkeys is not common, I have only seen brainless racist soccer fans doing it.
I agree it was a big mistake on the publicist side.

CopperCicada · M

@Cierzo For the sake of argument, why can't we just call out stuff and people respond without it being a thing? I mean, I have had people call me out. I've learned to not call people gypsies or berbers. And so on.

SW-User

This topic reminds me off one summer where Australia was playing against West Indies one day international cricket which is sponsored by KFC, there was propaganda with a TV commercial which the scene is the West Indies spectator crowd passing a bucket of KFC chicken.
There was the same issue with “racism” just because it showed West Indie folk eating fried chicken? Who doesn’t love KFC? Our media here is like a sit com almost with this cry baby finger pointing bull crap.
FFS everyone in that AD was eating a piece of chicken. The only thing that’s “racist” about this is the media hype kicking up a stink about it all.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaIhf41ctkM]

Cierzo · M

@SW-User Some people need their daily dose of offence, and they will do anything to get it.

SW-User

Yes, even think some people like you don't associate that word 'monkey' with black people. I like to think that maybe they picked the wrong model to advertise the hoodie or that it wasn't their intentions but the US calling a black person a monkey is racist...so that's why a lot of people were upset

Cierzo · M

@SW-User I know that racial slur exists, maybe thr publicist did not, or they did not notice. The fact is that without knowing their intentions, they have been flooded with accusations of racism, not thinking that H&M does not have any need for a negative controversy.

Groot19 · 41-45, F

Its another properganda ... couldn’t or didn’t the parents of the kid know about it before the apparel was discussed?

Cierzo · M

@Groot19 I am quite sure the publicists who created the advert never thought of the fuss it would bring, and their intention was not to be controversial.

Groot19 · 41-45, F

@Cierzo fair enough but given the events in recent past- common sense should say :- thats a black kid in tjat hoodie and you jolly well know isht will hit the ceiling! I read P Diddy has goven 1mil USD to this child, end of the day it turned out well for this kid coz of H & M

SW-User

Too many SJWs.

Cierzo · M

@SW-User Too many people in search of a reason to feel offended.

FearfulHarmonyReborn

Kek

FrogManSometimesLooksBothWays · M

God Save the Queen!

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