After the experience of the last few days, I’ve been reevaluating what I want this blog to be. Although it’s direction is still a little unclear, I do know that I want it to be a place of positivity. I realized that it is not very positive to feature ads that make me feel marginalized. It’s not uplifting , plus it gives a little extra press- even if it’s bad- to products I’m not interested in promoting. However, I did say I would post the ad I hate more then ever, and I’m not one to go back on my word. Furthermore, I think that this ad emphasizes what I meant in the What I said post.

It’s difficult for me to explain how oppressed this picture makes me feel, so instead I’ll paraphrase my partner when he saw this ad

” how can anyone feel good about who they are when this kind of thing is fed to them”

With this sentiment I completely agree.

So this will be the last post on ads that I hate. I’ve decided to shift the focus onto Ads that Rock. They may be fewer and perhaps further between, but it means that I’ll spend a little more time looking for things that inspires me and not discourage me. And hopefully you too.

I am wondering how others feel about this advert though. Please post a comment and let me know.

This post isn’t really about hair. It more just an chance to vent really. I pass this advert three times on my way to work. It’s actually a longer poster then this pic, but that’s the only woman of color in the whole thing. This ad makes me very frustrated. No it’s notot just you – she really is shoved to the back and made smaller then the rest of the models. And the poor girl looks so sheepish. This is in addition to how skinny the girls are in it. They truly look like they need a big plate of spaghetti. I can’t wait for this campaign to be over.

From black hair mag

I’ve decided to start another new feature. Ads that appear in our world that I think send the wrong message or marginalize women of color.

I’m sure you’ve seen this one before.

One of the hair memories I hold while sitting in a hair salon is reading the black hair magazines.  I’ll be honest- I’ve  never bought one of these mags, and only ever looked at them while waiting a the salon. But the advertising in them sticks out in my mind. There are a lot of ads to hate within those pages.  There are two ads that i hate the most and this is one of them.   (There is another that I hate even more but I’m still looking for it.  I’ll post it when I find it.)

I don’t understand how ads like this even make it into the pages of a magazine.  Don’ t the editors have a responsibility to the reader as well?

I like the before picture better.  And  I always have.  How about you?