Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Essay Twenty-Eight

MultiCultClassics Minutes — just like CBS’ 60 Minutes, except without all the integrity, reputation, quality and loyal audience.

• The Professional Sports Watch: NY Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield is the latest athlete to face off with punks in the stands. While Sheffield ultimately managed to compose himself on the field, he plans to aggressively fight any fine or suspension. Why does it seem like most of these brawls are initiated by White guys?

• The Rosa Parks vs. OutKast Watch: The civil rights icon and rap duo settled the defamation and trademark infringement lawsuit that started in 1999. As part of the agreement, OutKast and Sony BMG Music Entertainment will develop projects “to enlighten today’s youth about the significant role Rosa Parks played in making America a better place for all races.” Can’t wait to see that video.

• The Fudge Watch: The clock is ticking on Y&R Chairman-CEO Ann Fudge, as the search for her replacement is officially public knowledge now. Anonymous sources insist Fudge bombed like a B-52, citing a host of alleged shortcomings. But let’s spin the event in a positive light. Fudge only failed to accomplish what a long line of White folks — who probably had more support and bigger salaries — failed to accomplish too.

• The Hip Hop in Advertising Watch: Activist groups in the U.K. blasted Reebok for a commercial starring 50 Cent that glorifies guns and violence. The Boondocks comic strip characters blasted Mickey D’s for a commercial that glorifies obscene acts with Double Cheeseburgers. This is why they invented TiVo.

• The Michael Jackson Watch: Actually, I stopped watching after Thriller.

1 comment:

HighJive said...

Yo, mrmexico.

First, my opinions are highly subjective — and I’d never consider these opinions to be truth (if such a thing even exists).

To clarify my point about messages not being conversations among the audiences, I meant to state that the source of the communication makes a dramatic difference. For example, Bill Cosby or Chris Rock criticizing low-income Blacks produces a different reaction than the same comments coming from Rush Limbaugh or Bill O’Reilly. Many minorities react negatively to ads because the messages are deemed to be coming from White corporations versus community members. It’s not right or wrong — it just is.

Anyway, thanks again for reading and writing.