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Artists Around The World React To H&M’s Controversial Ad
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The famous clothing brand H&M has recently published an ad for its new hoodie that reads "Coolest monkey in the jungle." Sounds innocent, but the reason behind all the anger it caused was a black boy modelling for that ad, which was not well received all around the world.
Some people claimed that while the ad was probably an oversight, it was also quite deaf and insensitive. In South Africa it even resulted in burning, trashing and stealing clothes from H&M's stores. Artists around the world, however, reacted in a way they know best - they turned the offensive hoodie into something positive by creating beautiful works of art. Scroll down, vote for the best and add yours!
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okay hate on me if you want... but why does the girl have to be wearing hot pink and a tiara?
It is lovely, but I don't quite understand the 'plants' (?) at his shoulders?
I like this; the darkness is surrounding him, but he does not look afraid.
In my town we call all the children here little monkeys regardless of where their genetic ancestry is from or their complexions. I'm from a biracial family and I'd happily see any of the little monkeys in the family in this hoodie, it wouldn't even cross my mind that someone bought it to be offensive. Would've just assumed the one that bought it knew the monsters. Personally I find it offensive that being black means I can't refer to him as I would any other child. That the world thinks he should be segregated from wearing the same clothing and being called the same loveable nicknames because of his skin colour is a crazy step backward that's being painted as progress.....
Thank you!!! People are so sensitive and badshit ridiculous now. Even the child's own mother said on the news how stupid this whole charade is. It's just plain craziness.
I was actually thinking that some parents do call their children "little monkeys" as an endearment, but can't say anything because I'm white and I would be shit down in a millisecond.
*shot down*
Debbie Andersson. I strongly want to see racism to cease, I get I don't understand things from the perspective somebody who's black. I would not claim otherwise or claim any privelige over any fellow human. One thing I do get to see is that the "crying wolf" approach and the reactions that come with it worsen attitudes and not improve them. Crying wolf has weakened the word "racism", meaning people take it less seriously and it does mean there is this side that now believes that "racism" is just a snowflake term, because they believe people get offended by anything that COULD be interpreted as offensive when it wasn' meant as such. You may not take it from me that it is crying wolf, would you be prepared to listen to the boy's mother who said the same thing. The assumption is "they're ignorant" and this lack of discourse is just going to make things worse, as it has already been. I think racism is fucked up and want it gone but I don't see how the current approach is helping...
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Why does Robert Williamson have so many downvotes? he´s right for crying out loud. But no, here we have a ton of whites going "But -I- have opinions!" "But -IIIIII- have observatet this and that", "But -I!!III!!II!- as a white person can still see what racism is!!!!11!!", "But -IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII- this it´s racist to see the kid as a black kid and not just a kid!!!", we, as whites, do NOT go through the same racism as they do, we do NOT know the same pain, and we are not blind, we do bloody see the kid is dark, it´s obvious, but we have no right to treat anyone bad because of their skincolor, thats the thing...You wouldn´t expect someone who is colorblind to see colors the same way you do, exactly the same does racism work, we do not see the world the same as dark people do, the history is still there, they do not have the same opportunities with buying houses, getting jobs and so on because who whites fucked them over in the past, so tired of whites entitelment...
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In the UK monkey was used as racist abuse. Footballers had bananas thrown at them and monkey chants and noises when they got the ball. Why a white woman is trying to decide what is racist lord only knows. Maybe just shut up and leave blacks to know what abuse they have suffered.
To further add, this story could easily have gone the other way "I am sorry kid, we can't use you are a model for this shoot because you're black, we'll have a white kid do it instead, so that people don't think we're racist". Would this be any better? Or would removing any race from the context entirely be better? I see the outcry being a negative effect on racism, rather than a positive one.
As I would not be allowed to have an opinion as a white guy. I will instead impart the opinion of the boy's mother, that people are crying wolf over this. And I think there is sense in her words. There are two main points about the story of the boy who cried wolf, one is that the boy cried panic over something that's not there. And two, the boy cried so much than when it was there, people didn't listen. My observation of the last 10 or so years has been of the latter. When we're jumping down on people for something that *could* be interpreted as racist, instead of encouraging something a lot more positive, more and more people are taking the view when the word "racism" is thrown around that it is snowflakes complaining about nothing. This is what we are seeing more of, even before Trump's presidency. Yes the word can be used as racist abuse. But I think the message that would be a lot more positive would have been "children are little monkeys", this would have removed race from it.
From what i understand in the UK is common to call children monkeys. And his mother was fine with that and if mother is fine with something no one should be Bitching about it. The only wild monkeys were that people who trashed that shop...
yep grew up being called a cheeky monkey, i would call that boy a cheeky monkey if he was my younger sibling. Then again i am white therefore a horrible racist right?
In Asia, we call kids who are active and silly "monkeys".. I don't even know why they are so sensitive.
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So, the only wild monkeys were black people? Well done for reminding people that racism still exists.
well, if you trash a shop you are wild monkey, whatever your black, white and green
I still think it's racist to see him as a black child and not just as a child.
I mean, everyone can see hes black, but does it matter? I think not
That was my first impression too: that I could not see it until they pinpointed it, so they must be the racist ones. However, upon further reflection, I understand the word has a very negative connotation for many black people because the truth remains, just as much as it has been used in a cute way to address children, it has also been applied as a racist remark. I believe it to be a marketing mistake, not a racist one.
It's not "racist" to identify a race. Racism cannot be eradicated by ignoring it. The concept of "colorblindness" to race is just another word for ignorance.
I completely agree with the first half of this statement. But I do believe it is possible to be "colorblind" in an evolved society. I have friends of every race. I don't see Artra as a lovely black woman, she is simply a lovely woman. Mea is not a beautiful Mexican girl, she's just a beautiful girl. Race is something we discuss. We agree there are differences in culture, but these have nothing to do with race.
And yet, children are colorblind. How many stories have we heard about white and black children, growing up together, believing they can pass off as brothers? The rest is social conditioning. Identity is important, but we are not defined by our skin color.
lisa, Ignoring someone's race ignores their identity. Please read: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/culturally-speaking/201112/colorblind-ideology-is-form-racism
Isn't putting so much emphasis on race another form of racism?? Maybe whoever put the child into this hoodie saw past the skin color, and only saw a child.
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As someone said before it's not racist to point out race. If H&M picked any other shirt it would be fine.
H&M should apologise for the fact that the hoodie is green.I am an Alien and i find it offensive.
My child didn't know it was offensive because she'd never heard it used in a racist way. I think that many people didn't see the problem is a step in the right direction. It means it's not very common anymore. Not saying I can't see why people were offended, especially those who grew up with those comments. Just saying not everyone sees it because they weren't exposed to it.
This does seem like making a mountain out of a mole hill, as calling a kid a "monkey" as part of a metaphor is pretty harmless, and I think it only got called out because a black kid was a model. I understand the use as a racist term, but this feels very unintentional. Kids like animals and sometimes like to pretend to be animals, and this kind of feels like saying black kids can't be monkeys because "monkey" has been used as a racist term. It's like... limiting, in a way, by making kids have to avoid what has historically offended adults even though monkeys are not inherently offensive. Like, it's better to persecute actual racist acts rather than try to keep everything so squeaky-clean that offense can't sneak into even the most fragile of people.
I don't understand why it is racist. If a white kid wears that, I'm pretty sure there won't be any drama, but making this a big deal because he is black is racist. If they do, then other companies might think that "Oh no, we don't want the same thing happening so let's not hire a black kid" and then a black kid who might really want the job doesn't even have a chance.
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White people haven't had a history of monkey being used as a racial slur.
If it was used as a racial slur, I'd be inclined to call it racist. This kind of situation cannot go right regardless of what you do. Do we a) Choose the white model over the black model so people don't think we're racist. Or b) no discriminate against the kid and hope people realise kids are cheeky monkeys and not make a race issue of it. Or I guess, c) be completely oblivious because honestly, I just saw a kid and made the connection "children are monkeys" and not "black people are monkeys".
...and ghost is a racial slur against white people.
Bryn, I realize it wasn't used as a racial slur however it was used as a label. Labeling a black child a monkey isn't a great thing to do to say the least. Using a different model could be a start but H&M could also just use a bunch of kids of different races playing with those shirts on in the different available colors.
Not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Some people seem to have lost the dream. Nowadays there's this culture of outrage teaches us that everything has to be about race. Even 20 years ago there was a song "free the mind and the rest will follow, be color blind, don't be so shallow".
Let's not be color blind. Let's see all colors and respect their histories and culture. It's very close to impossible to not see race so instead we should focus on acceptance.
What's so controversial about this ad?
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Black people were called monkeys to demoralize and oppress them. It's from when people thought we were jungle creatures.
One of the pictures posted in the article says "king of the jungle", it's not doing so well at combating that image.
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Monkey is a racist term for black people
It seems a shame we need to highlight the fact he's ''different'' because he shouldn't wear that hoody but a white boy could. In a truly diverse society, surely we would never point out any difference? I would call any cheeky boy a little monkey. It's an affectionate term for a cheeky child.
Maybe, just maybe, H&M didn’t think it was racist at all. Because they don’t make the relation... because we are making progress away from racial slurs. OR they said “hey kids pick a sweater you want to wear for the photo!” But no, the ONLY reasonable answer is that H&M said mwahaha let’s be racist!!! F*ck me.
LISTEN PEOPLE ..it is those who sees this as racist that are racist...only god knows what brews in your stupid festering brains. The rest of the normal people didn't think anything of it because they saw him as they would any other child and all children are cheeky monkeys.
Y'all need to find actual hobbies and things to do and chill.
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Your comment doesn't make any sense. How are they racist? Black people have been called 'monkeys' as a racial slur and this black kid is labelled as a monkey. They might have meant it in a different context, but it's not hard to see why some are upset. How does that make them racist?
Not sure who is being racist here. The fact that these people could find out some relationship between the hoodie saying 'monkey' and the boy being black is the real disturbing thing here. It is just a cute name to call kids, but they had to associate it with skin color. I'm getting creeps.
Most black people don't call their kids 'monkeys' because we've usually heard it as a racial slur. If we see racism then you should blame every white person who has called us monkeys.
As a white person, I just go with what whatever etnicity it is about and what they say, it does seem a lot of dark skinned people took offence by this, and understandibly so, it also seems like a lot of people don´t understand why people are upset about this, it isn´t the fact that kids of all etnicities and colors aren´t called monkeys, cause yes they are, but when it is put in an add like this is when it becomes unsensitive, a bit more "in your face" so to speak, nothing wrong if someone of dark skin would buy this for their kids, but it´s not the wisest idea to put it on an add yet, for as long as racism is present, advertisers need to be more sensitive with how they show off their products. Wheter you like it or not, sprints on clothes do send a message, why else would there be "Juicy" written on the butt on girls training pants? So to advertise anything with monkey on a dark person, is not wise.
I meants "prints on clothes", lovely typing.
The kids mom was very confused by all the fuss she was just proud of her son for being a good model ,I wonder how she'll react to this
I like the first one lion head-bobbing, all of them are so cute! I hope these put the smile on his face.
uhmmm. i thought it was common to call children, no not black children, but ALL children, monkeys? It's a cute pet name, geeesh
it become racist when stupid people made this racist. Ask the modells parent why they let him wear it if its so racist.. stupid people
Why are people getting butt hurt about that ad?
His own mother said that the racist claims are ridiculous. People who love being outraged on other people's behalf need to get a life.
People have asked why this is such a big deal. But whenever someone tries to explain it (i.e. historically this was used as a derogatory racial slur), his/her comment is reported and blocked. Obviously some people are happy to complain, but can't face hearing the answer to their question. That's just sad and small minded. Don't be afraid to educate yourself.
I really don't think the ad was trying to be racist. And I'm surprised these same offended people are ok with the "King of the Jungle" hoodie instead. Wouldn't a person imply that he's a "jungle boy" cuz he's black? People who get too offended are seriously the ones feeding the problem (and maybe even causing it). I think we're all God's children and He created us all in different ways so that we have a variety of people on this earth. So it's really a shame it has come to this.
Is something racist when there's no racist intention? It's got to the point where anything can be considered racist. Recently I've seen sliced bread to be considered racist, as are Amazon's shops where you use a smart phone. Just because someone considers something racist doesn't mean it is, it's not clear cut, the same with sexism, it says more about the observer if they see racism where it doesn't exist.
If only hm would have been racist enough to realise this could be seen as racist, sadly it never crossed their mind.so from now on every store should start to hire more racists. That should solve it
I don't think the ad was intended to be racist. Think they just had a hoodie, and they just had a boy. I didn't see it in any other way, quite frankly.
What's sad is that the negative connotations were the first thing people thought of! Do you really believe that the photographer or the company deliberately chose to send that message? I don't! The fact that peoples mind went there is a sad thing, if we weren't insulted by everything that was innocently done or said we might finally move closer to an equal society for all. We'd still have a long way to go, but it would be a step forward!
What if he didn't want to be king?
all those artist stay quiet when in north africa black people are enslaved by muslim arabs,but got to say something and are outraged when a child whos black parents agreed to put their black child in such a shirt , i smell huge hipocrisy....
we wuz kangs n shieet
why can't people just accept each other regardless of colour or race. It's 2018 ffs
Can't he have aspirations other than being King?
A naive white person wouldn't see the offense in calling a black person a monkey. You don't live our experience and choose not to see it from our view point but then tell us how we should feel about our experiences. As a man I wouldn't dare tell a woman anything about her experience how dare you tell me about mine.
WELL SAID, SIR!!
Every monkey'd like to be In my place instead of me Cause I'm the king of bongo The king of bongo bong ♬♪
"In South Africa it even resulted in burning, trashing and stealing clothes from H&M's stores." That'll show 'em! lol .... black people
@Bryn Price, Your suggestion that perhaps H&M, or any other company, could solve any future comparable problem by simply not using a black child is ridiculous. In this country, the subject of race is understandably fraught with a myriad of emotions. Avoiding the subject, or even certain circumstances, won't change a thing.
@Diane Diggs I don't think they could have solved it that way. That could potentially have made it worse. The mother came out saying that people are crying wolf and basically get over themselves, so I think it is plausible to say that if they had refused to use the kid because he's black and she found out, she could kick up a stink over it and it'd be a different argument over why H&M are racist and instead of being something that could be interpreted as racist, but instead, actually racist. It is understandle it is fraught with a myriad of emotions, but just because something can be interpreted as racist does not make it racist or bad, to then act to avoid being seen as "racist" when it means treating somebody differently because of their race, I would think to in itself be racist.
This H&M ad reminds me of a United Colours of Benetton ad from years ago where they depicted a little blonde haired white girl as an angel and a little black girl with her hair fashioned into horns as a devil. Wrong on every level. benneton-5...0c1022.jpg
So, would it have been right if it was the other way round?
They should depict both races equally Jakki. Did that cross your mind?
Before I draw any conclusions from the picture. Did H&M decide to have the black girl's hair like that for the photo? Or was it already the hairstyle of the child? It has the caption "United Colors" which to me at first glance sounds like a positive message of how we should all stand as one, regardless of race or skin colour. It would seem contradictory to them go "btw black people are the devil". I mean, I know it would be quite an ambiguous way of doing it so people cannot accuse them of doing it. But I still believe it important to establish intention over interpretation. Interpretation requires understanding how somebody might interpret something, which you will inevitably find error in, because so many things can be interpreted over in different ways - and yes, somebody with poor intentions may use that to their advantage. At the same time, we need to avoid the danger of assuming the worst in how we interpret something.
There's no good excuse for looting of course, but advertisers need to keep our history in mind when they design these ads. I can understand why people were upset.
Pls explain why they are upset?
So if the child is not black you can put it in this shirt without being racist?
Some are upset because they've been called monkey, in a racially hateful way, suggesting that people of African decent are inferior, monkey-like. The looting took place in south africa, right? Apartheid was not very long ago.
monkey used to be a derogatory term to refer to black people
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For everyone who does not understand: We get it! Where you live, children all called monkeys. Great! But hey, at the same time the word "monkey" has a history. And yes it was and it is used often to humiliate people of color. I was taught to be careful with this word, as it is hurtful towards many people. Well, it seems this is not a common sense everywhere....
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We wuz kangz
but seriously this is so fucking stupid .
In my town we call all the children here little monkeys regardless of where their genetic ancestry is from or their complexions. I'm from a biracial family and I'd happily see any of the little monkeys in the family in this hoodie, it wouldn't even cross my mind that someone bought it to be offensive. Would've just assumed the one that bought it knew the monsters. Personally I find it offensive that being black means I can't refer to him as I would any other child. That the world thinks he should be segregated from wearing the same clothing and being called the same loveable nicknames because of his skin colour is a crazy step backward that's being painted as progress.....
Thank you!!! People are so sensitive and badshit ridiculous now. Even the child's own mother said on the news how stupid this whole charade is. It's just plain craziness.
I was actually thinking that some parents do call their children "little monkeys" as an endearment, but can't say anything because I'm white and I would be shit down in a millisecond.
*shot down*
Debbie Andersson. I strongly want to see racism to cease, I get I don't understand things from the perspective somebody who's black. I would not claim otherwise or claim any privelige over any fellow human. One thing I do get to see is that the "crying wolf" approach and the reactions that come with it worsen attitudes and not improve them. Crying wolf has weakened the word "racism", meaning people take it less seriously and it does mean there is this side that now believes that "racism" is just a snowflake term, because they believe people get offended by anything that COULD be interpreted as offensive when it wasn' meant as such. You may not take it from me that it is crying wolf, would you be prepared to listen to the boy's mother who said the same thing. The assumption is "they're ignorant" and this lack of discourse is just going to make things worse, as it has already been. I think racism is fucked up and want it gone but I don't see how the current approach is helping...
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Why does Robert Williamson have so many downvotes? he´s right for crying out loud. But no, here we have a ton of whites going "But -I- have opinions!" "But -IIIIII- have observatet this and that", "But -I!!III!!II!- as a white person can still see what racism is!!!!11!!", "But -IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII- this it´s racist to see the kid as a black kid and not just a kid!!!", we, as whites, do NOT go through the same racism as they do, we do NOT know the same pain, and we are not blind, we do bloody see the kid is dark, it´s obvious, but we have no right to treat anyone bad because of their skincolor, thats the thing...You wouldn´t expect someone who is colorblind to see colors the same way you do, exactly the same does racism work, we do not see the world the same as dark people do, the history is still there, they do not have the same opportunities with buying houses, getting jobs and so on because who whites fucked them over in the past, so tired of whites entitelment...
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In the UK monkey was used as racist abuse. Footballers had bananas thrown at them and monkey chants and noises when they got the ball. Why a white woman is trying to decide what is racist lord only knows. Maybe just shut up and leave blacks to know what abuse they have suffered.
To further add, this story could easily have gone the other way "I am sorry kid, we can't use you are a model for this shoot because you're black, we'll have a white kid do it instead, so that people don't think we're racist". Would this be any better? Or would removing any race from the context entirely be better? I see the outcry being a negative effect on racism, rather than a positive one.
As I would not be allowed to have an opinion as a white guy. I will instead impart the opinion of the boy's mother, that people are crying wolf over this. And I think there is sense in her words. There are two main points about the story of the boy who cried wolf, one is that the boy cried panic over something that's not there. And two, the boy cried so much than when it was there, people didn't listen. My observation of the last 10 or so years has been of the latter. When we're jumping down on people for something that *could* be interpreted as racist, instead of encouraging something a lot more positive, more and more people are taking the view when the word "racism" is thrown around that it is snowflakes complaining about nothing. This is what we are seeing more of, even before Trump's presidency. Yes the word can be used as racist abuse. But I think the message that would be a lot more positive would have been "children are little monkeys", this would have removed race from it.
From what i understand in the UK is common to call children monkeys. And his mother was fine with that and if mother is fine with something no one should be Bitching about it. The only wild monkeys were that people who trashed that shop...
yep grew up being called a cheeky monkey, i would call that boy a cheeky monkey if he was my younger sibling. Then again i am white therefore a horrible racist right?
In Asia, we call kids who are active and silly "monkeys".. I don't even know why they are so sensitive.
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So, the only wild monkeys were black people? Well done for reminding people that racism still exists.
well, if you trash a shop you are wild monkey, whatever your black, white and green
I still think it's racist to see him as a black child and not just as a child.
I mean, everyone can see hes black, but does it matter? I think not
That was my first impression too: that I could not see it until they pinpointed it, so they must be the racist ones. However, upon further reflection, I understand the word has a very negative connotation for many black people because the truth remains, just as much as it has been used in a cute way to address children, it has also been applied as a racist remark. I believe it to be a marketing mistake, not a racist one.
It's not "racist" to identify a race. Racism cannot be eradicated by ignoring it. The concept of "colorblindness" to race is just another word for ignorance.
I completely agree with the first half of this statement. But I do believe it is possible to be "colorblind" in an evolved society. I have friends of every race. I don't see Artra as a lovely black woman, she is simply a lovely woman. Mea is not a beautiful Mexican girl, she's just a beautiful girl. Race is something we discuss. We agree there are differences in culture, but these have nothing to do with race.
And yet, children are colorblind. How many stories have we heard about white and black children, growing up together, believing they can pass off as brothers? The rest is social conditioning. Identity is important, but we are not defined by our skin color.
lisa, Ignoring someone's race ignores their identity. Please read: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/culturally-speaking/201112/colorblind-ideology-is-form-racism
Isn't putting so much emphasis on race another form of racism?? Maybe whoever put the child into this hoodie saw past the skin color, and only saw a child.
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As someone said before it's not racist to point out race. If H&M picked any other shirt it would be fine.
H&M should apologise for the fact that the hoodie is green.I am an Alien and i find it offensive.
My child didn't know it was offensive because she'd never heard it used in a racist way. I think that many people didn't see the problem is a step in the right direction. It means it's not very common anymore. Not saying I can't see why people were offended, especially those who grew up with those comments. Just saying not everyone sees it because they weren't exposed to it.
This does seem like making a mountain out of a mole hill, as calling a kid a "monkey" as part of a metaphor is pretty harmless, and I think it only got called out because a black kid was a model. I understand the use as a racist term, but this feels very unintentional. Kids like animals and sometimes like to pretend to be animals, and this kind of feels like saying black kids can't be monkeys because "monkey" has been used as a racist term. It's like... limiting, in a way, by making kids have to avoid what has historically offended adults even though monkeys are not inherently offensive. Like, it's better to persecute actual racist acts rather than try to keep everything so squeaky-clean that offense can't sneak into even the most fragile of people.
I don't understand why it is racist. If a white kid wears that, I'm pretty sure there won't be any drama, but making this a big deal because he is black is racist. If they do, then other companies might think that "Oh no, we don't want the same thing happening so let's not hire a black kid" and then a black kid who might really want the job doesn't even have a chance.
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White people haven't had a history of monkey being used as a racial slur.
If it was used as a racial slur, I'd be inclined to call it racist. This kind of situation cannot go right regardless of what you do. Do we a) Choose the white model over the black model so people don't think we're racist. Or b) no discriminate against the kid and hope people realise kids are cheeky monkeys and not make a race issue of it. Or I guess, c) be completely oblivious because honestly, I just saw a kid and made the connection "children are monkeys" and not "black people are monkeys".
...and ghost is a racial slur against white people.
Bryn, I realize it wasn't used as a racial slur however it was used as a label. Labeling a black child a monkey isn't a great thing to do to say the least. Using a different model could be a start but H&M could also just use a bunch of kids of different races playing with those shirts on in the different available colors.
Not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Some people seem to have lost the dream. Nowadays there's this culture of outrage teaches us that everything has to be about race. Even 20 years ago there was a song "free the mind and the rest will follow, be color blind, don't be so shallow".
Let's not be color blind. Let's see all colors and respect their histories and culture. It's very close to impossible to not see race so instead we should focus on acceptance.
What's so controversial about this ad?
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Black people were called monkeys to demoralize and oppress them. It's from when people thought we were jungle creatures.
One of the pictures posted in the article says "king of the jungle", it's not doing so well at combating that image.
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Monkey is a racist term for black people
It seems a shame we need to highlight the fact he's ''different'' because he shouldn't wear that hoody but a white boy could. In a truly diverse society, surely we would never point out any difference? I would call any cheeky boy a little monkey. It's an affectionate term for a cheeky child.
Maybe, just maybe, H&M didn’t think it was racist at all. Because they don’t make the relation... because we are making progress away from racial slurs. OR they said “hey kids pick a sweater you want to wear for the photo!” But no, the ONLY reasonable answer is that H&M said mwahaha let’s be racist!!! F*ck me.
LISTEN PEOPLE ..it is those who sees this as racist that are racist...only god knows what brews in your stupid festering brains. The rest of the normal people didn't think anything of it because they saw him as they would any other child and all children are cheeky monkeys.
Y'all need to find actual hobbies and things to do and chill.
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Your comment doesn't make any sense. How are they racist? Black people have been called 'monkeys' as a racial slur and this black kid is labelled as a monkey. They might have meant it in a different context, but it's not hard to see why some are upset. How does that make them racist?
Not sure who is being racist here. The fact that these people could find out some relationship between the hoodie saying 'monkey' and the boy being black is the real disturbing thing here. It is just a cute name to call kids, but they had to associate it with skin color. I'm getting creeps.
Most black people don't call their kids 'monkeys' because we've usually heard it as a racial slur. If we see racism then you should blame every white person who has called us monkeys.
As a white person, I just go with what whatever etnicity it is about and what they say, it does seem a lot of dark skinned people took offence by this, and understandibly so, it also seems like a lot of people don´t understand why people are upset about this, it isn´t the fact that kids of all etnicities and colors aren´t called monkeys, cause yes they are, but when it is put in an add like this is when it becomes unsensitive, a bit more "in your face" so to speak, nothing wrong if someone of dark skin would buy this for their kids, but it´s not the wisest idea to put it on an add yet, for as long as racism is present, advertisers need to be more sensitive with how they show off their products. Wheter you like it or not, sprints on clothes do send a message, why else would there be "Juicy" written on the butt on girls training pants? So to advertise anything with monkey on a dark person, is not wise.
I meants "prints on clothes", lovely typing.
The kids mom was very confused by all the fuss she was just proud of her son for being a good model ,I wonder how she'll react to this
I like the first one lion head-bobbing, all of them are so cute! I hope these put the smile on his face.
uhmmm. i thought it was common to call children, no not black children, but ALL children, monkeys? It's a cute pet name, geeesh
it become racist when stupid people made this racist. Ask the modells parent why they let him wear it if its so racist.. stupid people
Why are people getting butt hurt about that ad?
His own mother said that the racist claims are ridiculous. People who love being outraged on other people's behalf need to get a life.
People have asked why this is such a big deal. But whenever someone tries to explain it (i.e. historically this was used as a derogatory racial slur), his/her comment is reported and blocked. Obviously some people are happy to complain, but can't face hearing the answer to their question. That's just sad and small minded. Don't be afraid to educate yourself.
I really don't think the ad was trying to be racist. And I'm surprised these same offended people are ok with the "King of the Jungle" hoodie instead. Wouldn't a person imply that he's a "jungle boy" cuz he's black? People who get too offended are seriously the ones feeding the problem (and maybe even causing it). I think we're all God's children and He created us all in different ways so that we have a variety of people on this earth. So it's really a shame it has come to this.
Is something racist when there's no racist intention? It's got to the point where anything can be considered racist. Recently I've seen sliced bread to be considered racist, as are Amazon's shops where you use a smart phone. Just because someone considers something racist doesn't mean it is, it's not clear cut, the same with sexism, it says more about the observer if they see racism where it doesn't exist.
If only hm would have been racist enough to realise this could be seen as racist, sadly it never crossed their mind.so from now on every store should start to hire more racists. That should solve it
I don't think the ad was intended to be racist. Think they just had a hoodie, and they just had a boy. I didn't see it in any other way, quite frankly.
What's sad is that the negative connotations were the first thing people thought of! Do you really believe that the photographer or the company deliberately chose to send that message? I don't! The fact that peoples mind went there is a sad thing, if we weren't insulted by everything that was innocently done or said we might finally move closer to an equal society for all. We'd still have a long way to go, but it would be a step forward!
What if he didn't want to be king?
all those artist stay quiet when in north africa black people are enslaved by muslim arabs,but got to say something and are outraged when a child whos black parents agreed to put their black child in such a shirt , i smell huge hipocrisy....
we wuz kangs n shieet
why can't people just accept each other regardless of colour or race. It's 2018 ffs
Can't he have aspirations other than being King?
A naive white person wouldn't see the offense in calling a black person a monkey. You don't live our experience and choose not to see it from our view point but then tell us how we should feel about our experiences. As a man I wouldn't dare tell a woman anything about her experience how dare you tell me about mine.
WELL SAID, SIR!!
Every monkey'd like to be In my place instead of me Cause I'm the king of bongo The king of bongo bong ♬♪
"In South Africa it even resulted in burning, trashing and stealing clothes from H&M's stores." That'll show 'em! lol .... black people
@Bryn Price, Your suggestion that perhaps H&M, or any other company, could solve any future comparable problem by simply not using a black child is ridiculous. In this country, the subject of race is understandably fraught with a myriad of emotions. Avoiding the subject, or even certain circumstances, won't change a thing.
@Diane Diggs I don't think they could have solved it that way. That could potentially have made it worse. The mother came out saying that people are crying wolf and basically get over themselves, so I think it is plausible to say that if they had refused to use the kid because he's black and she found out, she could kick up a stink over it and it'd be a different argument over why H&M are racist and instead of being something that could be interpreted as racist, but instead, actually racist. It is understandle it is fraught with a myriad of emotions, but just because something can be interpreted as racist does not make it racist or bad, to then act to avoid being seen as "racist" when it means treating somebody differently because of their race, I would think to in itself be racist.
This H&M ad reminds me of a United Colours of Benetton ad from years ago where they depicted a little blonde haired white girl as an angel and a little black girl with her hair fashioned into horns as a devil. Wrong on every level. benneton-5...0c1022.jpg
So, would it have been right if it was the other way round?
They should depict both races equally Jakki. Did that cross your mind?
Before I draw any conclusions from the picture. Did H&M decide to have the black girl's hair like that for the photo? Or was it already the hairstyle of the child? It has the caption "United Colors" which to me at first glance sounds like a positive message of how we should all stand as one, regardless of race or skin colour. It would seem contradictory to them go "btw black people are the devil". I mean, I know it would be quite an ambiguous way of doing it so people cannot accuse them of doing it. But I still believe it important to establish intention over interpretation. Interpretation requires understanding how somebody might interpret something, which you will inevitably find error in, because so many things can be interpreted over in different ways - and yes, somebody with poor intentions may use that to their advantage. At the same time, we need to avoid the danger of assuming the worst in how we interpret something.
There's no good excuse for looting of course, but advertisers need to keep our history in mind when they design these ads. I can understand why people were upset.
Pls explain why they are upset?
So if the child is not black you can put it in this shirt without being racist?
Some are upset because they've been called monkey, in a racially hateful way, suggesting that people of African decent are inferior, monkey-like. The looting took place in south africa, right? Apartheid was not very long ago.