6701: The World According to Google—Part 9.

The World According To Google presents content discovered while searching for other things. The pontificating and posturing presented at this week’s 4As Leadership Conference inspired the latest collection.

Today’s search word: Bullshit.

6700: Cotton Comes To Mad Ave.

The ever-opinionated Sanford Moore commented on Dan Wieden’s speech via AdAge.com…

More obfuscation and mendacity in the form of hiring kids, mentoring and college programs—rather than hiring professionals and promoting those within the ranks. At least Dan Wieden was honest that Mad Ave is filled with “middle-class, white kids making enormous sums of money to target inner-city consumers.” This is not irony, it is racial arrogance of the highest form which makes it permissible to have creatives who only know about inner-city consumers vicariously. These same agencies use this talent to pilfer, to “carpetbag” urban/ethnic assignments to the exclusion of Black ad agencies and Black creative talent.

It is not irony, it is “Whiteploitation” of Black culture, lifestyle and creativity just like it was in the music industry when white artists like Elvis, Pat Boone, Tom Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, ad nauseum copied, stole, “covered” original Black recording artists who were banned from white radio stations. These and numerous other white artists made their careers on the backs of Black creative and performing genius. The same exclusion happened in pro-sports permitting generations of white players to become stars while Blacks of superior talent were banned from competing.

This is not irony, it’s called “Jim Crow” and is the foremost cultural exponent of America’s artistic and creative footprint. Let’s quit the crap and call it for what it is. The Mad Men on Mad Ave have excluded Black talent, appropriated Black culture and reaped the financial, career rewards of this exploitation for generations. But nothing lasts forever…and that’s why the Mad Men are going to face financial and reputational “clawback” for the blatant “picking of Black minds” while leaving Black talent to pick cotton. Indeed, “Cotton” has come to Mad Ave and as the late, great James Brown said, “It’s the Big Payback.” Steal that!

Sanford Moore

6699: News Droppings.

Financial and unnatural disasters in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Chrysler will file for bankruptcy, as the contextual ads literally circle like vultures.

• Starbucks reported 2Q earnings dropped 77 percent. Maybe the company should return to using the breast-baring mermaid logo and let baristas go topless too.

• Dow Chemical reported 1Q profits dropped 97 percent, yet still beat Wall Street’s expectations. Wow, talk about low expectations.

• The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) pulled a downloadable children’s coloring book following complaints from parents. The book featured pictures of the 9-11 terrorist attack. A FEMA official said, “We removed the content from our Web site after reviewing www.FEMA.gov for appropriate material. FEMA for Kids assists children in understanding disasters and we will continue to post appropriate material that supports its mission.” Guess kids can look forward to the upcoming Hurricane Katrina watercolor book.

6698: Ernie Barnes (1939-2009).

From The News & Observer…

Ernie Barnes, painter who played pro football, dies

By Thomasi McDonald and Matt Ehlers - Staff writers

Ernie Barnes, the Durham-born former professional football player and painter best known for the “Sugar Shack” dance scene that appeared on a Marvin Gaye album and in the closing credits of the “Good Times” TV show, died this week in California.

He was 70.

Hailed as a pioneer of the “neo-mannerist” style, Barnes’ use of elongated figures in motion has been widely imitated. Among his career achievements, Barnes was named official artist of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and was honored in 2004 as “America’s Best Painter of Sports” by the American Sports Art Museum.

“Ernie Barnes is one of the premier figurative artists of the late 20th and 21st centuries. His richly detailed paintings and drawings chronicling the lives of people have made a profound contribution to the contemporary history of American art,” Paul Von Blum, a lecturer in African-American studies and art history at the University of California, Los Angeles, said.

Before he was famous, Barnes was a football player at Hillside High School with a passion for art. After graduating from high school, Barnes enrolled at North Carolina College, now N.C. Central University, on a football scholarship.

Drafted into professional football in 1959, Barnes, a lineman, played for the New York Titans, Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.

Although he was always sketching and painting, his art career took off after his retirement from football in the mid-1960s. “Sugar Shack” appeared on the cover of the 1976 Marvin Gaye album “I Want You.” Although Barnes’ art provided him with a good living, he didn’t like the limelight, said his brother, James Barnes.

“Ernie was the type of guy who just wanted to be an artist,” James said. As for fame, “he was too laid-back for all of that.”

Durham provided inspiration for Barnes’ art. “Sugar Shack,” James said, was inspired by scenes from the Durham Armory, where musicians, including James Brown, would make tour stops.

Growing up, daughter Deidre Barnes of Durham said her father wouldn’t let his children have coloring books. He said it would “stifle my creativity,” she said, laughing. He gave his children blank sheets of paper on which to color.

Ernie Barnes was born with a rare blood disorder that eventually contributed to his death, said James. He died Monday night in a Los Angeles hospital, near where he had made his home for decades.

James said Ernie loved flowers. Their mother used to say that he was “marked for flowers” because he had a birthmark that looked like a pansy.

Until the end, James said, his brother enjoyed flowers. He said thousands of flowers were planted in Ernie’s California backyard.

“His yard is lit up right now.”

6697: 4As Leadership Conference Musings.

There’s something happening here
What it is ain’t exactly clear

Initial reports from the 4As 2009 Leadership Conference inspire classic lyrics by Buffalo Springfield. But it’s too early to tell if we’re dealing with buffalo or bull.

The topic of diversity surfaced in at least four areas:

• The Marcus Graham Project and Diversity in Media made a presentation titled, “Under The Influence: The New Reality in the Future of Advertising.” Not sure what it was about, but Kenji Summers might offer details eventually.

• A hiring and inclusion panel discussion allowed Omnicom Chief Diversity Officer Tiffany R. Warren and others to deliver the standard insights and suggestions. It’s amazing that such basic notions must be repeated again and again. Or maybe not, as cultural cluelessness is rooted in ignorance.

• 4As President and CEO Nancy Hill addressed diversity in her speech, hyping MAIP and Howard University’s Center for Excellence in Advertising. Yet she still acknowledged the persistent “dearth of African Americans in middle and senior ranks.” Hill seems committed to seeking solutions. Will she succeed in finding any before Cyrus Mehri forces the issue? The President and CEO announced the organization will now be known as the 4As. Don’t hold your breath waiting for it to become the 6As—with the addition of AAs (African Americans, for the slow readers among us).

• Industry icon Dan Wieden, perhaps motivated by Eric Holder, bravely challenged the entire assembly to get its act together regarding diversity. Ironically, Wieden is not an official 4As member. Plus, his big idea involved launching youth outreach programs, which is among the most expected and contrived answers. Give Wieden kudos for his openness and honesty. It’s just that the global dilemma demands greater, breakthrough thinking.

Talk and good intentions are always plentiful at exclusive conferences. However, as demonstrated during last week’s Diversity in Advertising Career Day, the ultimate actions don’t support the grandiose visions.

If Hill truly hopes to execute an extreme makeover on the advertising industry’s sorry reputation and propel us through the 21st century, let’s focus on the problem that has remained unresolved since the early 20th century.

P.S. This post was quickly assembled, so forgive any sloppiness or errors. Retractions and revisions will be published if necessary.

6696: More 4As Conference Diversity News.

From AdAge.com…

A hot-button topic takes center stage

By Rupal Parekh

Diversity has been a hot topic at the 4A’s conference this year, and Mr. Wieden’s presentation followed a panel discussion on hiring and inclusion.

Panelists including Omnicom Group’s chief diversity officer, Tiffany Warren, noted that the current recession offered agencies an opportunity to draw on career-changers and they shared their thoughts on best practices in attracting and retaining diverse talent. Among the key takeaways for agencies:

• Re-evaluate the agency’s recruitment process regularly to ensure that hires who have transferable skill sets suited to the continually evolving ad business are identified.
• Mentoring should take place not only across racial boundaries but also across geographic and age boundaries. And don’t stop mentoring employees just because they have left the industry. Remain in touch to nurture them and follow their growth.
• Focusing on talent from the top down is a must. Companies such as Campbell conduct regular reports on the demographics of staff at all levels to track the company’s progress.
• Create groups that allow interns to network and share ideas.
• Be transparent. Focus on keeping and growing diversity-hiring initiatives, but if none are in place, admit it—and change.

6695: Wieden Says Industry Is Screwed Up.

From Adweek.com…

Dan Wieden Makes Impassioned Diversity Pitch at 4A’s
Legendary adman challenges industry to finally face the challenge head on

By Andrew McMains

SAN FRANCISCO Speaking plainly, directly and at times profanely, Wieden + Kennedy’s Dan Wieden today used the platform of the American Association of Advertising Agencies to urge agencies to finally deal with the relative lack of diversity in the industry.

Wieden pointed to an outdoor camp for at-risk youth he helped create in Oregon as a concrete example of what he has done to introduce minorities to the art of filmmaking and the possibility of working in advertising. At the same time, he acknowledged that his agency is still predominantly white, though its percentages of African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians have increased in the past six years.

The issue of diversity “continues to gnaw at me because, like it or not, in this business I essentially hire a bunch of white, middle-class kids, pay them enormous, enormous sums of money to do what? To create messages to the inner-city kids who create the culture the white kids are trying like hell to emulate,” said Wieden, one of the featured speakers on the last day of this year’s 4A’s Leadership Conference. “But if you go into the inner city, odds are these kids aren’t even going to see advertising as a possibility, as an opportunity for them. Now that’s fucked up,” he said.

Wieden added: “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not bringing this up today because I think Wieden + Kennedy is doing this phenomenal goddam job at rectifying the situation. I think we’ve made some progress. But we’ve got miles and miles to go before we sleep.”

African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics today represent nearly 18 percent of Wieden’s Portland, Ore office and about 24 percent of its New York office, up from about 6 percent and 10 percent, respectively, in 2003, Wieden said. To achieve those increases, the independent agency has utilized Howard University’s Center for Excellence, the Minority Advertising Training program and outreach specialists like Partners in Diversity.

“I repeat, though, I’m not bringing that up just to brag. If had any common sense, I would avoid this topic like the plague,” Wieden said. “But I thought, maybe, just maybe it might be more inspirational to hear from someone as screwed up as you are. And you are screwed up, aren’t you? I mean look at this room: how many black faces do you see here?” Roughly a half-dozen of the 150 or so attendees remaining in the audience in the waning hours of the conference could be described as people of color.

Wieden pointed to his camp, Caldera, as a manifestation of his own soul-searching on the issue of diversity. The sleepover camp, which opened in 1996, offers arts and environmental activities to adolescents in the hope that they will “find their voice,” Wieden said.

By way of illustration, Wieden showed a 10-minute film that a teenage girl created about the experience, which blended music with images of campers waking up, drumming in groups, dancing and singing in front of a campfire. The film ended with the song, “Amazing Grace” and the screen copy message: “I love you all. The end.”

“Why not have that agency of yours adopt one of these things—one of this groups that is focused on diversity—and get messy with it?” Wieden said. “We need to get these kids that have no idea what we do in the commercial arts and the fine arts—we need to open these doors wide and get them in.”

Wieden concluded by saying that “there are many, many undiscovered voices out there-voices that against all odds can rise up and enrich this culture and perhaps one day change the very nature of the marketplace for the better.”

Wieden’s address on diversity was unexpected-the conference agenda said he would talk about the “new realities of global brands”-but far from the only words uttered on the topic during the two-day general session. On Tuesday, 4A’s CEO Nancy Hill and chairman Tom Carroll spoke about the importance of addressing the relative paucity of minorities at agencies and 4A’s svp of talent development David Prince led a panel discussion on hiring and inclusion.

After the conference, Carroll credited Hill with advancing the dialogue on diversity and said “a year from now, we’re going to show tangible” progress. “We’re not going to talk about it. We’re going to just show it. And if we haven’t done fuck-all in 12 months, then shame on us.”

This year’s Leadership Conference attracted about 300 attendees, down from an estimated 375 last year. Next year, the conference will be combined with the 4A’s media conference in a nod to the increasingly strong ties between creative development and media strategy. Having a single conference for creative and media agency leaders will also be more efficient, according to Hill.

6694: MultiCultClassics Money Maker #1.

Has anyone already thought of this? If not, we got dibs on the copyright.

6693: 100 Days Of Kicking Ass.

Hundreds of news items in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• President Barack Obama is celebrating his 100th day in office. Jackie Chan is celebrating his 100th movie. The duo should produce a Rush Hour sequel to commemorate the milestones.

• Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lewis Lazare reported ad agency Leo Burnett could lose 300 jobs if client Philip Morris makes good on rumored spending cuts. Cigarettes will kill you every time.

• An irate Sears shopper in New York is suing the retailer for $300 million after store managers failed to make good on a price guarantee, refusing to match a competitor’s lower price on a TV set. Sounds like the perfect premise for a reality TV show.

6692: The World According to Google—Part 8.

The World According To Google presents content discovered while searching for other things.

Today’s search words: Sexual Harassment.

6691: Taking A Dump.

Dumping out the news in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• To get more bailout money, General Motors agreed to dump its Pontiac brand and 21,000 workers. Um, keeping the automaker in business while losing 21,000 American jobs seems contradictory. So much for the rally caps.

• Handset maker Nokia announced plans to dump 450 workers. There’s probably an iPhone app for that.

6690: 100 Days Of Polling.

From The New York Times…

Obama Is Nudging Views on Race, a Survey Finds

By Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Marjorie Connelly

Barack Obama’s presidency seems to be altering the public perception of race relations in the United States. Two-thirds of Americans now say race relations are generally good, and the percentage of blacks who say so has doubled since last July, according to the latest New York Times/ CBS News poll.

Despite that, half of blacks still say whites have a better chance of getting ahead in American society, the poll found. Black Americans remain among the president’s staunchest supporters; 70 percent of black respondents now say the country is headed in the right direction, compared with 34 percent of whites.

The poll found broad support for Mr. Obama’s approach on a variety of issues, including one of the most contentious: whether Congress should investigate the harsh interrogation tactics authorized by George W. Bush. Sixty-two percent of Americans share Mr. Obama’s view that hearings are unnecessary.

Americans seem to have high hopes for the president; 72 percent said they were optimistic about the next four years. By and large, Americans expect him to make significant progress in health care, energy and immigration policy, issues central to his ambitious domestic agenda.

But the optimism is tempered by a feeling of resignation about two of the most difficult challenges he faces: reviving the economy and ending United States military involvement in Iraq. Most Americans say Mr. Obama has begun to make progress on both fronts, but many do not expect either the recession or the war to be over by the end of his term.

It is not unusual for new presidents to enjoy substantial public support at this point in their tenure. But Mr. Obama’s 68 percent job approval rating is higher than that of any recent president at the 100-day mark. Mr. Bush had the approval of 56 percent of the public at this juncture.

But while Americans clearly have faith in Mr. Obama, the poll revealed something of a disconnect between what the public thinks the president has already accomplished and what it expects him to achieve.

Fewer than half of those surveyed, 48 percent, said Mr. Obama had begun to make progress on one of his major campaign promises, changing the way business is conducted in Washington. And just 39 percent said he had begun to make progress on another major promise, cutting taxes for middle-class Americans, even though the stimulus bill he signed into law does include a middle class tax cut.

Mr. Obama will mark his 100th day in office on Wednesday with a trip to St. Louis and a prime time news conference, where aides say he will make the case that he has made “a down payment” on fixing the nation’s biggest problems. The poll found that Americans seem to share that view, suggesting the White House has been effective at casting Mr. Obama as an agent of change, while persuading the public that change will take time.

“With all Obama wants to do and all he’s got going, it’s going to take more than four years,” said Larry Gibbons, 58, a retired restaurant manager and a Republican in Phoenix who voted for Mr. Obama’s opponent, John McCain. Speaking in a follow-up interview to the poll, he said, “Obama is attacking everything at once and I do approve of that.”

Throughout Mr. Obama’s candidacy and his young presidency, race has been a subtle thread woven through his message of change. Yet the president shies away from talking about it. In response to a question at his last news conference, Mr. Obama conceded that his election had created ‘’justifiable pride on the part of the country,” then quickly shifted gears, adding, “That lasted about a day.”

But Americans do feel differently about race and race relations with Mr. Obama in the White House, according to poll respondents who spoke in follow-up interviews. Some, like Jacqueline Luster, 60, a retired bank employee in Macedonia, Ohio, say that the times are changing, and that Mr. Obama seems to be speeding that change.

“With him as president, people seem to be working together toward the same goals, and that has helped race relations,” said Ms. Luster, who is black and a Democrat. “Before there was more of a separation, blacks working for black goals and whites for white goals. Obama has helped change the perception of blacks in a positive way, but it’s also the times.”

Another Democrat, Lisa Fleming, 49, who is white, said that even in the small Illinois town, Potomac, where she lived, she noticed “people of different races being kinder to each other” since Mr. Obama’s election. In Kansas City, a white Republican homemaker, Mary Robertson, 78, said Mr. Obama’s ‘’openness and acceptance have helped others be more open and accepting.”

The nationwide telephone survey was conducted Wednesday through Sunday with 973 adults. For purposes of analysis, blacks were oversampled in this poll, for a total of 212, and then weighted back to their proper proportion in the poll, based on the census. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points for all people, and plus or minus seven points for blacks.

After nearly 100 days of watching Mr. Obama conduct the affairs of state, more than two-thirds of Americans say he is not a typical politician, though most say he is set apart more by his style and his personal qualities than his policies.

For instance, the poll found that the public appears divided over whether the Obama administration has broken with the Bush administration in its overall foreign policy. Forty-three percent of respondents said there had been some change in foreign policy since Mr. Obama took office, the poll found, while 44 percent said there had been no change. Thirteen percent did not have an opinion.

Yet the public does give Mr. Obama credit for improving the image of the United States with the rest of the world. And it found support for Mr. Obama’s overtures to Iran and Cuba; a majority, 53 percent, said they favored establishing diplomatic relations with Iran, while two-thirds favored Mr. Obama’s plans to thaw relations with Cuba.

Megan Thee-Brenan, Marina Stefan and Dalia Sussman contributed reporting.

6689: Just Another Day With Diversity.

Agency Spy reported on the Diversity In Advertising Career Day held last week in New York. Clumsy writing aside, the story and accompanying comments thread revealed the typical bullshit—plus, a few head-scratcher moments.

Bartle Bogel Hegarty allegedly set up a table with a sign requesting candidates simply drop off résumés. Not surprising.

The representative of one agency actually refused to accept résumés. Others failed to offer business cards or contact details. These shops are obviously unfamiliar with the job fair concept.

Some agencies admitted they weren’t hiring, and directed candidates to apply or register via their websites. Nice. And be sure to clearly indicate your race, ethnicity and gender on the online forms.

Another comment observed “maybe even more than half” of the attendees weren’t minorities. Hey, if Robert Downey, Jr. could pull it off in Tropic Thunder…

The official sponsors consisted of numerous notable organizations, including the 4As. What were the people in charge thinking? We all know the industry is hardly in a hiring mode right now. So why didn’t anyone shift the focus and turn the day into an informational seminar, portfolio review or potluck picnic?

Yes, the industry has consistently demonstrated it’s incapable of generating effective solutions for diversity. But the inability to coordinate the most basic get-together is sad.

Hype for the Diversity In Advertising Career Day stated the event would let agencies “showcase their company’s commitment to diversity.” Mission accomplished.

6688: I’m Gonna Git Free Chicken, Sucka.

This KFC offer kinda makes one recall the classic Chris Rock scene from I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.

6687: Hot Job Fair.

Forget Diversity Job Fairs. This actual job listing presents a Dancer Job Fair. The economy is stimulating an increase in exotic applicants. But there are mixed reviews regarding the financial rewards.

Dancer JOB FAIR (Chicago)

Reply to: job-rjcty-1140888101@craigslist.org
Date: 2009-04-26, 11:13AM CDT

For one week only Club 390 — Chicagoland’s Premiere Gentlemen’s Club is holding open auditions for dancers!

Club 390 is hiring gorgeous, stunning and attractive girls to become part of the Club 390 team!

We’re looking for HOT new talent! If you have an upbeat, out-going and friendly personality with a passion for being center stage & in the spotlight and have super sexy moves, we are looking for YOU!
At Club 390 you will have unlimited opportunities to earn as much money as you want! We offer flexible scheduling with part-time & full-time availability, insurance for those who qualify; a fun, high-energy workplace and an upscale clientele.
If you’re over 18 and want to make $200-$500 a day — make plans on attending our open auditions starting tonight (Sunday) at 7:30 PM.

THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL LADIES, INCLUDING COLLEGE GIRLS, WHO WANT TO MAKE A TON OF CASH!

No need to call, just come in and see us at Club 390, 390 East Joe Orr Rd. in Chicago Heights, IL. 708-758-2582. www.club390.com Ask for a manager when you arrive!

6686: The World According to Google—Part 7.

The World According To Google presents content discovered while searching for other things.

Today’s search words: Bea Arthur.

6685: Erotic And Obscene.

Saturday afternoon with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Despite all the drama surrounding the Craigslist Killer, the creator of Craigslist said there are no plans to remove the “erotic” section from the site. The alleged murderer reportedly met his victim through the listing service. “Sometimes a bad guy of some sort tries to pull a fast one on our site,” said the Craigslist creator. “We don’t want it there, it’s wrong, and that’s why we have the help of the general community and the law enforcement community getting rid of things like that.” Right, let’s count on citizens like Eliot Spitzer and Larry Craig to police the site.

• General Motors picked up more bailout money; plus the automaker plans to dump the Pontiac brand. U.S. taxpayers’ investment in GM now totals $15.4 billion. That exceeds the amount of money U.S. taxpayers have spent on GM cars by about, oh, $15.4 billion.

6684: Hotties At HotJobs.

This contextual ad actually kinda makes sense. Creative Directors are always seeking their next gig—and their next trophy girlfriend.

6683: Islam And Hip-Hop In Harlem.

From The New York Times…

In Harlem, Reaching Out to Muslims Through Hip-Hop

By Souad Mekhennet

There is nothing typical about Jorge Pabon. He may be a hip-hop D.J. and dancer from the mean streets of Spanish Harlem, but he keeps the lyrics clean and women dancers at arm’s length.

As a teenager he emerged on the scene as PopMaster Fabel. But today he prefers to be called Shukriy, “the thankful one” — the name he took 20 years ago when he converted to Islam.

Now he is part of an “Islam and Hip-Hop” movement in the United States that is reaching out to Muslim young people via the hip-hop beat.

At a recent “Islam and Hip-Hop” concert in Harlem, young men in wide trousers and women in head scarves made waves in the air, trying to simulate Shukriy’s robotic movements. They did not touch each other unless they were a married couple.

Shukriy, 43, has come under fire from conservative Muslims who accuse him of sinning by dancing on stage with women or acting as D.J. for a mixed audience. Some argue that even listening to music is a taboo in Islam.

He dismisses such critics as the “haram police,” using the Arabic word for sin or taboo.

“I think it is absurd that some of the ultra-orthodox Muslims don’t see the chance of using hip-hop to extend the religion,” he said. “Hip-hop is the voice of the youth.”

He added: “I think, if you don’t like to see these things, then don’t come to the show. Allah will judge me.”

Rami Nashashibi, executive director of the Intercity Muslim Action Network, a nonprofit community organization in Chicago, said hip-hop of the kind practiced by Shukriy was becoming a global phenomenon among young Muslims, despite the critics.

“Hip-hop has become a space where young Muslims can express themselves and not feel like an alien, but feel respected,” said Mr. Nashashibi, who has taught courses on hip-hop and Islam at the University of Chicago. People like Shukriy “are the reason Muslims have been so respected within hip-hop.”

He added: “He was part of the hip-hop movement from the beginning. He is a very proud Muslim and a proud Puerto Rican.”

Read the full story here.

6682: Lowering Profits, Prices And Expectations.

• Ford Motor Company posted 1Q losses at $1.4 billion, yet insisted it was better than expected and the company won’t need federal bailout money. This sounds like the NBA coach whose team loses by triple figures yet still compliments his players’ scrappiness.

• Chicago grocery chain Jewel-Osco announced plans to lower prices by up to 20 percent, hoping to lure cash-conscious customers and battle discounters like Walmart. This sounds like the chain admits it’s been overcharging customers by up to 20 percent for all these years.

• BET owner Viacom announced plans to launch a new channel—to be called Centric—targeting middle-aged Blacks. Viacom executives said Centric is designed to complement BET. Which means it will probably feature reruns of Girlfriends and old school music videos.

6681: C.H.A.N.G.E. Has Come To America.

From The Chicago Sun-Times…

C.H.A.N.G.E. is her key to economic survival
Money Smart Week | Teen wins $5,000 scholarship for economic survival tips

By Francine Knowles

Chicago has a new financial ambassador -- 13-year-old Jackson Beard, an eighth-grader at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School.

She was named the winner of the annual Money Smart Week essay contest for writing about current economic challenges and what families can do to meet them. Beard used the acronym C.H.A.N.G.E. to offer six suggestions, and her effort landed her a $5,000 scholarship from HSBC North America and the role of ambassador, responsible for making public appearances.

“As the Money Smart Kid, hopefully I can help promote financial literacy,” said Beard.

“I’m hoping that I can get kids interested in learning about financial matters and personal financial matters. I hope that at least one person decides to think about it as a result of me.”

The event was part of Money Smart Week activities held throughout the metropolitan area this week to help children and adults raise their financial IQs.

Beard said in her essay that American families “can weather these hard times” by cutting energy costs, among other things.

She said she tries to walk the talk.

“If I know I’m not going to be in a room, I turn off the lights,” she said. “I turn off the power switch. I run appliances at night. I do everything that my parents do. I’m very supportive of [energy conservation].”

On the small-business front, she said she’s a fan of books and shops at neighborhood bookstores instead of going to another area of Chicago. She also patronizes small boutiques and eats at mom-and-pop restaurants, she said.

“Prosperous business districts provide jobs and increase property values,” she wrote in her essay. They should be supported because they “are the backbone of the American economy; their survival is key to our economic recovery.”

In the midst of recession, Beard has cut back on personal spending.

“I’ve become way more conscious of what I actually need and what I just want,” she said. “Me and my friends, we sometimes go to Starbucks. I’d get the largest drinks. Now I just go for the smallest or the medium-sized ones. That’s just one example. I’ve cut back on a lot of things that I was buying.”

Beard said she has taken financial classes at Northwestern and participated in Money Smart Week events over the last few years to become more financially savvy. She said her parents have also taught her valuable financial lessons, including this one:

“When you’re thinking about finances, you have to think about your future self. You have to think of who you’re going to be in 10, 20, 30 years, and you have to base your decisions around that.”

HER WINNING ENTRY
During these difficult economic times, every family needs to C.H.A.N.G.E. in order to adapt to the current situation. If American families can C.H.A.N.G.E. in the following ways, we can weather these hard times:

C—Cutting energy costs is one of the simplest ways to save money. Families like mine can run appliances overnight when energy rates are lower. Programmable thermostats can reduce heating and cooling costs.

H—Help small businesses by supporting entrepreneurs in your community like my family does. Prosperous business districts provide jobs and increase property values. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy; their survival is key to our economic recovery.

A—Analyzing daily expenses can allow families to take an honest look at how they spend their money and help distinguish needs from wants. If families spend wisely on what they need and save for what they want, Americans can manage money more effectively.

N—Negotiate! Car prices are not the only expenses that are negotiable. Families might be surprised to discover how willing some businesses are to bargain in order to make a sale or keep existing customers.

G—Go green and save money, too! My family uses compact fluorescent light bulbs and turns off appliances that are not in use. Switching from paper to cloth napkins cuts an expense. Walking instead of driving saves money.

E—Educate yourself! Take the time to learn about saving, credit and retirement planning. Go back to school and make yourself even more valuable in the marketplace. Attending crafts and home repair classes can help cut back on household expenses.

6680: The World According to Google—Part 6.

The World According To Google presents content discovered while searching for other things.

Today’s search word: Ageism.

6679: Shake, Rattle And Roll.

Shaking up the news in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• “There’s an app for that” no longer applies to baby shaking. The “Baby Shaker” iPhone app—which presented a loud, crying baby that could only be quieted by shaking the iPhone—was pulled by Apple after outraged parenting groups complained. Blog critics are weighing in too. The PC Guy is ROFLMAO somewhere.

• General Motors is laying off 20 percent of its marketing and communications staff. Can’t imagine the automaker’s advertising will suffer, as its campaigns are consistently lame and awful. Is there an app to shake up this company?

6678: Weird Chocolate News.

There’s a mini-controversy brewing at BNET over coverage of GlobalHue’s alleged mishandling of the Bermuda Tourism account. GlobalHue apparently took offense to BNET editor Jim Edwards calling the agency’s media expenditures “weird.” Actually, the real weirdness involves the contextual ad depicted above. A story spotlighting a Black (or multicultural) agency and the predominately Black islands is posted alongside a banner for chocolates—for Valentine’s Day! Now that’s weird.

6677: Chocolate Stimulates Economy…?

Sweet and sour news in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Hershey’s reported 1Q earnings rose 20 percent, spurred by Easter chocolates sales. It’s always nice to profit from the commercialization of a spiritual holiday.

• UPS reported 1Q profits dropped 55 percent. Looks like Brown can’t get in the Black. The company should have introduced Easter boxes.

• Jobless claims rose to 640,000. Is it too early to get people started on making chocolate Easter bunnies for 2010?

6676: Head Of The Unemployed Class.

From The Chicago Sun-Times, figures show unemployment for Black college students is disproportionately higher than other groups. Gee, you mean all those diversity job fairs and Madison Avenue youth outreach programs aren’t working?

Unemployment for black college graduates at 7.2 percent, nearly twice as high as whites

By Francine Knowles

Unemployment among African-American college graduates is 7.2 percent, nearly twice as high as their white counterparts and significantly higher than among Hispanics and Asians with four-year degrees.

That’s according to U.S. Labor Department data compiled by the Economic Policy Institute that also showed the jobless rate among Hispanic and Asian college graduates also exceeds that of whites. The rate for Hispanic graduates was 5 percent. It was the same for Asian Americans. For whites it was 3.8 percent.

Several factors could account for the disparity, said Algernon Austin, director of the institute’s program on race, ethnicity and the economy.

“The black population is somewhat younger,” he said. “The situation of the last hired, first fired dynamic could be at play.”

The concentration of blacks in regions and cities with higher unemployment rates is also likely a factor, along with discrimination, he added.

Even in good economic times, “there are disparities among college grads by race at all educational levels,” he said. “The disparities are even greater among individuals who just have a high school diploma or equivalency and even greater among high school dropouts. It looks pretty clear that there’s discrimination in the labor market.”

6675: Profiling Black Drivers. In NASCAR.

From The New York Daily News…

NASCAR teams up with BET for new ‘Changing Lanes’ show

By Richard Huff, Daily News TV Editor

Black Entertainment Television, a network keyed to African-Americans, will air a show next season with NASCAR, a sport that has tried for years to improve diversity within its ranks.

“Changing Lanes,” a docu-reality series expected to launch in 2010, will spotlight drivers in NASCAR’s “Drive for Diversity” program.

“I wanted to see more opportunities created in NASCAR for people of color, especially on the competition side,” said Max Siegel, a former record executive turned stock car insider.

Siegel, who had been president of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., took the idea to Jay Abraham, who runs NASCAR Media, the sport’s production arm, and together they shopped it to networks. BET will announce the show today as part of its new programming presentation.

“We’re going immediately into creative meetings,” Siegel said. “We’ll come up with a pretty quick production schedule.”

BET has bought 10 episodes of the hour-long show.

NASCAR has a number of on-and-off-track diversity programs, including the “Drive for Diversity,” which backs female and minority drivers in feeder series for the sport’s top level. Some of those drivers will participate in the reality show, said Siegel.

“Every week, there’s a lot of competition, on-track performance, a lot of back story, and getting to know the participants,” Siegel said. “We want the audience to get to know what it takes to participate at this level.”

“Changing Lanes” is far from the first reality series to delve into the sport, however.

FX aired “NASCAR Drivers 360,” a show that followed drivers on and off the track. ABC tried a celebrity series pairing stars with drivers in a race competition. And TLC aired “NASCAR Wives.”

None, however, has focused exclusively on drivers who are women or of color.

“We want to tell a true story that is racing authentic,” he said.

Few of these sports-related reality shows have become mainstream hits, however.

“For people who don’t know racing,” Siegel said, “it has drama built into it. There’s a lot of speed. There’s a lot of complexity in racing. Those are the key touch points to make an entertainment product successful.”

Does that mean villains and heroes? Well, not exactly.

“I don’t know that you necessarily need any villains,” he said. “What people need are good story lines. Look at [”Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”]. We want to do things that, obviously, cast NASCAR in the exciting and fun light that it is. We won’t script it in a way where we’re creating villains and rivalries.”

Siegel said NASCAR officials have gone a long way in diversifying the sport, noting that there’s been an impact off the track, but he acknowledged that until there’s a top female driver or one of color, NASCAR will continue to be criticized.

“I do think fans will catch on when we do have a star that people can connect with,” Siegel said, hoping to have a hand in that with “Changing Lanes.” “It will have an impact.”

6674: McLipstick On A Pig.

Mickey D’s brags about the authentic sausage served to customers. So why doesn’t the bag depict a real pig?

6673: Earth (Wind & Fire) Day.

On Earth Day, Let’s Groove in a Boogie Wonderland until September.

6672: Stereotypical Characters Welcome.

USA Network continues to run the Character Project, an “ongoing artistic initiative committed to celebrating America’s characters—the interesting, dazzling, and distinctive people, from all walks of life, who make this country extraordinary.”

OK, but did you have to depict the Black woman in the upper right corner singing and dancing? And the Latino dude in the center is wearing a sombrero?!!

6671: Show Me The Monsoon, Rainmaker.

This actual job listing is funny. An advertising agency is seeking a New Business Development specialist with “a knowledge of the ad-agency business.” Plus, the candidate must “present competently; and close.” Oh, and you won’t get paid unless you deliver, as it’s a commission-only position. Click on the agency website link below and decide if it’s even possible to sell this place to potential clients.

New Business Specialist

Description:
The Russell Agency is looking for a New Business Development specialist. The position requires strong and proven sales experience, a knowledge of the ad-agency business, a desire to help clients solve their marketing challenges, and the drive to succeed.

Basically, we need the right person who can speak knowledgeably about advertising; effectively position the agency with prospects; set appointments; present competently; and close.

Compensation is commission-only and income potential is limited only by your ability and your determination. This person will play an integral part in helping move the agency to the next level.

View our website:
www.russell-agency.com

6670: Oprah’s Burger List.

A photo of Mickey D’s new Angus Third Pounder appears alongside Dr. Oz and Oprah’s secrets for looking slimmer. Um, guess the secret’s out…?

6669: Taking Race To The Supreme Court.

From USA TODAY…

The Supreme Court tackles race

By Joan Biskupic, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — In his first major speech as attorney general, Eric Holder tried to spur a conversation on race by bluntly describing America as “essentially a nation of cowards” and saying people “simply do not talk enough with each other about race.”

Two months later, the issue of race is squarely before the Supreme Court, which begins hearing this week four cases that could dramatically alter the landscape of civil rights law. The cases also could provide a revealing look at how the administration of the nation’s first African-American president will address racial matters before the Supreme Court, led by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts.

The disputes come to the high court just months after the election of Barack Obama as president and the confirmation of Holder as the nation’s first black attorney general. They also arise at a time when a majority of the nine justices have signaled they want to end government policies that favor racial minorities to remedy past bias or enhance diversity.

The cases encompass fundamental issues — voting rights, employment, housing and education — and will test the court’s stance on civil rights more comprehensively than at any time in the past decade. Their outcomes will determine, for example, the Justice Department’s authority to screen state election policies that might hurt minority candidates.

The justices also will examine the validity of tests that don’t seem to discriminate against minorities, including written exams or strength requirements, but that end up disproportionately disqualifying minorities from jobs or promotions.

During the presidential campaign, Obama did not make race a central theme but was willing to confront the divisive topic, as he did in a March 2008 speech in Philadelphia after racially incendiary comments from his former pastor threatened to derail the campaign.

The new president is partly a reflection of the legacy of voting rights laws that help to ensure participation by minorities in the electoral process. And yet, his victory is fueling arguments before the Supreme Court that some voting rights protections aren’t necessary anymore.

His “historic election … stands as a remarkable testament to the tremendous progress this country has made in terms of racial equality and voting,” says the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation.

The foundation has signed one of six “friend of the court” briefs siding with a Texas utility district’s challenge to Congress’ 2006 renewal of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The landmark law sought to end discrimination at the polls, in part by giving the U.S. Justice Department the power to oversee election laws in parts of the country with a history of bias.

Civil rights advocates, among the groups signing 18 such briefs on the other side, are battling any potential decrease in enforcement of federal civil rights laws, from those that protect voting rights to those that shield minorities from even indirect discrimination in the workplace.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” says John Payton, president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, arguing the 2008 election that vaulted Obama to the presidency also included situations in which some black voters faced intimidation at the polls.

Read the full story here.

6668: Fair Housing Ads Fairly Awful…?

From The Chicago Tribune…

Group pitches diversity as the new patriotism

By Kathleen Parker

WASHINGTON — Racial and ethnic diversity is the key to happiness, success in the global marketplace and, not least, an interesting life.

So we are told in a batch of new “fair housing” radio ads that are the sort of treacly propaganda that causes sober drivers to run off the road.

The ads were produced by the National Fair Housing Alliance, a private, non-profit group whose stated purpose is to make sure the Fair Housing Act is properly implemented. The act bans housing discrimination and imposes stiff penalties for those who get caught.

Lately, the fine intent of eliminating discrimination seems to have morphed into diversity advocacy.

Before I proceed, let me say that I prefer a world in which not everyone is the same. I like that my neighbors include a gay couple and a single mother, and that several languages are spoken on my street.

But happy diversity is an organic process that results when like-minded citizens congregate around shared values and interests. Often those interests and values have evolved from racial and ethnic identities, but not necessarily. Sometimes neighbors of diverse backgrounds share affection for old houses, or window boxes or pet-friendliness.

That not all people have access to all the same housing opportunities is called life in a free-market society. But the fair housing folks want life to be more fair and the ads are warming us up for some really fun social engineering.

The wormiest of three ads posted online features a mother and daughter just home from visiting mom’s workplace. Daughter is breathless with wonder at how diverse Mom’s workplace is, but wants to know why everyone in their neighborhood “looks just like us?” Dum-de-dum-dum.

A cheerful, third-party voice explains that “diversity shouldn’t be left behind at work each day. In our neighborhoods, we can create a greater appreciation and respect for cultural differences and prepare our children for the global life that lies ahead. After all, your family doesn’t live in a 9-to-5 world. Why should diversity?”

Another ad called “Parallel Lives” features a boring white guy and an exciting Latino. White Guy is dull because “my neighborhood always stayed the same.” Latino is vivacious and engaging because his diverse neighborhood “always got more interesting!”

In a flourish of diversity solidarity, dull White Guy and fascinating Latino say in unison: “I want my kids to live a richer life.”

Doesn’t everyone? But is diversity the key to prosperity and happiness? Or, is diversity what naturally occurs when people from different backgrounds are drawn to a nation where prosperity can be earned and the pursuit of happiness is a founding principle?

In fact, Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam found that diversity actually hampers civic engagement: The greater the diversity, the less people engaged in charity and community projects. In the most diverse communities, people trust each other half as much as they do in the most homogenous settings.

Putnam, a pro-diversity fellow, didn’t particularly like his findings and has insisted that the data suggest challenges rather than excuses to avoid diversification. Hear, hear. But wouldn’t those challenges best be met by individuals discovering the rewards of diversity rather than by receiving the superior wisdom of bureaucrats through chirpy public service messaging?

No one’s suggesting that the government or the alliance intends to direct where people live, but coercion usually nips the heels of propaganda. More than a hint of inorganic engineering seeps between the lines of a December 2008 report by the National Commission on Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

Based on hearings across the country, the commission found high levels of residential segregation, which “result in significant disparities between minority and non-minority households, in access to good jobs, quality education, homeownership attainment and asset accumulation.”

And what is the solution to such disparities?

Commissioners have recommended creation of an independent enforcement agency to “advance fair housing, not just to avoid discriminating.” (Emphasis mine.) They also want to “break down residential segregation and provide households isolated in segregated areas the opportunity to find integrative alternatives.”

What exactly this means isn’t clear, but it doesn’t sound like a prescription for self-determination or free markets. And “Love Thy Neighbor” is beginning to sound like an “or else” proposition—not so much an expression of Christian charity, but a patriotic duty.

Washington Post Writers Group

6667: Burgers, Boogers And Bombing Business.

Wondering aloud with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Mickey D’s is unveiling its Angus Third Pounder sandwich, which will retail for $4. The executive vice president of a Chicago-based restaurant research firm said, “They delayed introducing it because of the economic environment, but they’re recognizing that all of the chains have a high-quality burger.” Is that an admission that Mickey D’s didn’t previously have a high-quality burger?

• Domino’s is introducing new products. And no, the items do not contain boogers. Right?

• General Motors proceeded to dump 1,600 workers on Monday, moving closer to its goal of shedding 3,400 salaried employees. GM North America President Troy Clarke said, “In these unprecedented times, GM is reinventing every aspect of our business, including our organizational size and structure, to create a lean and agile company.” Is that an admission to having been fat and clumsy?

6666: The World According to Google—Part 5.

The World According To Google presents content discovered while searching for other things. And to commemorate the Diversity In Advertising Career Day—taking place on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 in New York City—MultiCultClassics offers a special exhibition.

Today’s search words: Diversity Job Fair.

6665: The New N-Word…?

From Newsweek…

Generation Me

A new book says we’re in a narcissism epidemic. Why you’re not so special.

By Raina Kelley

Growing up, my literary heroines were those who, like me, struggled to be good: Jo from “Little Women,” Harriet the spy, Laura Ingalls and Pippi Longstocking. A strong-willed (and loud) child, I craved examples of unruly knuckleheads tethered to a loving family that encouraged us to be our best selves despite our natural inclinations. Precocious but naive, I thought of myself as an ugly duckling—misunderstood in my youth but destined for a beauty and stature completely impossible for my loved ones to comprehend. I shudder to think what a monster I would have become in the modern child-rearing era. Gorged on a diet of grade inflation, constant praise and materialistic entitlement, I probably would have succumbed to a life of heedless self- indulgence.

Perhaps, one day, we will say that the recession saved us from a parenting ethos that churns out ego-addled spoiled brats. And though it is too soon to tell if our economic free fall will cure America of its sense of economic privilege, it has made it much harder to get the money together to give our kids six-figure sweet-16 parties and plastic surgery for graduation presents, all in the name of “self esteem.” And that’s a good thing, because as Jean Twenge and W. Keith Campbell point out in their excellent book “The Narcissism Epidemic,” released last week, we’ve built up the confidence of our kids, but in that process, we’ve created a generation of hot-house flowers puffed with a disproportionate sense of self-worth (the definition of narcissism) and without the resiliency skills they need when Mommy and Daddy can’t fix something.

Indeed, when Twenge addressed students at Southern Connecticut State University a couple weeks back, their generation’s narcissism was taken as a given by her audience. The fact that nearly 10 percent of 20-somethings have already experienced symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder, compared with just over 3 percent of the 65-and-over set? Not surprising. That 30 percent of college students agree with the statement: “If I show up to every class, I deserve at least a B”? Didn’t get much of a rise either. When they’re faced with the straight-out question—do you agree with this research, that you guys are the most narcissistic generation ever—there are uniform head nods and knowing grins to each other. “At the end of the day I love me and I don’t think that’s wrong,” says Sharise Tucker, a 21-year-old senior at Southern Connecticut State, a self-professed narcissist. “I don’t think it’s a problem, having most people love themselves. I love me.”

But as Twenge goes on to illustrate, all that narcissism is a problem that can range from the discourteous—residential advisers at Southern lament students disregarding curfews, playing dance music until 3 a.m., demanding new room assignments at a moment’s notice and failing to understand why professors won’t let them make up an exam they were too hung over to take—to the disastrous—failed marriages, abusive working environments and billion-dollar Ponzi schemes. Seems that the flip side of all that confidence isn’t prodigious success but antisocial behavior.

Armed with a steady influx of trophies just for showing up, “I Am Special” coloring books and princess parties, it is hard for kids to understand why an abundance of ego might be bad for them. Hot off their own rebellions in the late ‘60s, my parents struggled to give me the freedom to be me while also teaching me generosity, compassion and humility. I didn’t make it easy on them. I was the kind of kid who threatened to drink Drano if asked to load the dishwasher. “Don’t get cocky, kid,” was the response from my dad when I declared my grades too good for my behavior to be monitored. “Pretty girls are a dime a dozen,” my mother would remind me when I came up with the brilliant idea that school was getting in the way of my social life. My mom would also trot out fables to keep me in check. Ever read the original ending to Cinderella? The evil stepsisters get their eyes plucked out by pigeons and end up beggars. But it worked, mostly, and “Don’t believe your own bulls—t” became my mantra. Of course, I still hate to be told what to do, dislike following rules and will waste hours trying to get out of the simplest household task; but hey, I’m a work in progress.

But no matter how you were raised, the handiest cure for narcissism used to be life. Whether through fate, circumstances or moral imperative, our culture kept hubris in check. Now, we encourage it. Pastors preach of a Jesus that wants us to be rich. The famously egocentric wide receiver Terrell Owens declares at a press conference that being labeled selfish is fine with him. Donald Trump names everything he owns after himself and calls his detractors “losers.” We live in a world where everyone can be a star—if only on YouTube. The general sense among students on that New Haven campus is that with the world being such a competitive, cutthroat place, they have to be narcissists. Well, you may need a supersize ego to win “America’s Next Top Model” or to justify your multimillion dollar bonus. But last I checked, most of our lives don’t require all that attitude. Treating the whole world as if it works for you doesn’t suggest you’re special, it means you’re an ass. As an antidote to a skyrocketing self-worth, Twenge recommends humility, evaluating yourself more accurately, mindfulness and putting others first. Such values may seem quaint, maybe even self-defeating, to those of us who think we’re special, but trust me: it gets easier with practice.

With Sarah Kliff

6664: Rolling Out In Style—Without A Ride.

As previously noted, the King is dead. The magazine apparently failed to gain enough advertisers. The final issue tells the story. There are the obligatory beer and Hennessy ads. Plus, you’ll find the standard fare from Rocawear, Lugz and Stacy Adams—alongside countless porn products and male enhancement drugs. But the vast majority of messages are for tires and rims. Missing from the mix, ironically, is the once-lucrative support from automakers. The rims are without rides.

6663: Tony Dungy’s New Game Plan.

From USA TODAY…

Reaching out, lifting up: Prison ministry now Dungy’s priority

By Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY

BOWLING GREEN, Fla. — In many ways, it was like hundreds of pep talks and locker room speeches he’d given in nearly three decades as an NFL coach. Tony Dungy’s message was one of responsibility, of motivation, of not letting others — and yourself — down. As always, he was pointed and analytical, yet smooth and laid-back.

This time, however, Dungy’s audience wasn’t a highly paid collection of elite athletes. On this day Dungy — a little more than two years removed from becoming the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl and less than three months after retiring as the leader of the Indianapolis Colts — was in a prison yard, the Bible tucked under his left arm.

This is Tony Dungy’s new world, the one he has embraced since walking away from cheering crowds, a salary that exceeded $5 million a year and a team that was equipped for another Super Bowl run.

These are the players Dungy, 53, now seeks to motivate and help improve: men like the 500 or so felons here at the Hardee Correctional Institutition, who sat 10-deep on the grass in neat rows for an upbeat program with the flavor of a religious revival — complete with stirring rhythms provided by the prison band and gospel singers.

The audience at the optional meeting made up about one-third of the inmates at Hardee, a prison southeast of Tampa where the population ranges in age from 19 to 77. The average sentence here is 29 years; the population includes inmates convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and child abuse. Nearly 600 of the inmates are serving life terms.

“He could have absolutely been doing anything else, but decided to spend time with us,” said Traveguz Butler, 34, serving a 30-year sentence that extends to December 2028 for carjacking, robbery and false imprisonment. “It’s uplifting. I’m glad that he was able to lower himself down to our level.”

At a place where there are seven formal head counts each day — and as nearly two dozen armed guards kept close watch — Dungy did not merely lecture from an arm’s length. After a 20-minute speech, he was swarmed by prisoners and spent a half-hour in face-to-face conversations.

George “Big Country” Edmonds, serving a life sentence for murder, got Dungy’s autograph.

“I’ve got something to talk about for a long time,” Edmonds said. “Sometimes when people come in, they won’t even shake your hand. But he’s out here in the middle of us.”

Dungy spent six hours at Hardee, including more than an hour with inmates in solitary confinement. Then it was a trip to the work camp, where he ate the prison food for lunch — shredded turkey smothered in a bland, tomato-based sauce, cold pasta, carrots, cucumber salad and yellow cake that prisoners who quickly flowed through the cafeteria in 15-minute shifts raved was better than usual.

An afternoon speech was tailored for inmates at the work camp, who are closer to release dates than main unit prisoners and spend time working on jobs outside the prison. Mindful of prison officials’ estimates that 40% of released Florida inmates ultimately return to prison — 32.8% of them within three years — Dungy talked a lot about planning.

“How do you not become one of those statistics?” Dungy asked, adding that he found out more about the character of his football players on their days off than he did when they were at team headquarters. “When you get out, that’s when we’re going to find out if you’re searching for the Lord with all your heart.”

Dungy has made about a dozen such excursions to prisons with Tampa-based Abe Brown Ministries, dating to 1997 when he coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“The first time I came, I was so nervous,” Dungy said. “But then I saw how young and impressionable a lot of these guys are. We could sit down and talk … about life, about sports or whatever. It’s deep. The main thing is to give these guys a little hope. But this is also a gospel message. It’s changing on the inside.”

Read the full story here.

6662: US RSVP 2 UN NG.

From USA TODAY…

U.S. to boycott U.N. racism meeting

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration will boycott “with regret” a U.N. conference on racism next week over objectionable language in the meeting’s final document that could single out Israel for criticism and restrict free speech, the State Department said Saturday.

The decision follows weeks of furious internal debate and will likely please Israel and Jewish groups that lobbied against U.S. participation. But the move upset human rights advocates and some in the African-American community who had hoped that President Obama, the nation’s first black president, would send an official delegation.

The administration had wanted to attend the April 20-25 meeting in Geneva, although it warned in late February it would not go unless significant changes were made to the draft text.

Some revisions — including the removal of specific critical references to Israel and problematic passages about the defamation of religion — were negotiated for which State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the administration was “deeply grateful.”

But he said the text retains troubling elements that suggest support for restrictions on free speech and an affirmation of the findings of the first World Conference Against Racism, held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001 that the U.S cannot endorse.

“Unfortunately, it now seems certain these remaining concerns will not be addressed in the document to be adopted by the conference next week,” Wood said in a statement. “Therefore, with regret, the United States will not join the review conference.”

Despite the decision, he stressed that the United States “is profoundly committed to ending racism and racial discrimination” and “will work with all people and nations to build greater resolve and enduring political will to halt racism and discrimination wherever it occurs.”

Read the full story here.

6661: The World According to Google—Part 4.

The World According To Google presents content discovered while searching for other things.

Today’s search word: Multicultural.

6660: Hot Or Not. Not.

Does freecreditreport.com even bother employing creatives to produce its messages?

6659: Calling Out Cluelessness.

Everybody Loves A MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Comedian actor Brad Garrett is catching heat for uttering racist remarks. As an Arab man sought to take his photograph, Garrett hollered, “Wear the turban!” On second thought, let’s remove “comedian” from the man’s title.

• Delta Airlines will stop using call centers in India, following years of complaints from customers expressing a strong preference to speak with someone from the U.S. Brad Garrett must fly Delta often.

• General Motors announced it might need more bailout loot in the neighborhood of $5 billion. No word yet from Brad Garrett.

6658: I Have A Bill.

From The New York Times…

Family of Dr. King Charged Group Building His Monument

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The family of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has charged the foundation building a monument to him on the Mall about $800,000 for the use of his words and image, an arrangement one leading scholar said Dr. King would have found offensive.

The memorial, including a 28-foot sculpture depicting Dr. King, is being paid for almost entirely with private money in a fund-raising campaign led by the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation. The monument will be turned over to the National Park Service.

The foundation has been paying the King family for the use of Dr. King’s words and image in its fund-raising materials. The family has not charged for the use of his likeness in the monument.

David J. Garrow, a Cambridge University historian who won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Dr. King, said he did not know of any other descendants that had been paid such a fee.

“One would think any family would be so thrilled to have their forefather celebrated and memorialized in D.C. that it would never dawn on them to ask for a penny,” Mr. Garrow said, adding that Dr. King would have been “absolutely scandalized by the profiteering behavior of his children.”

According to financial documents reviewed by The Associated Press, the foundation paid $761,160 in 2007 to Intellectual Properties Management Inc., an entity run by Dr. King’s family. Documents also show a “management” fee of $71,700 was paid to the family estate in 2003.

In a statement to The A.P., Intellectual Properties said that the proceeds it receives go to the King Center in Atlanta and that the arrangement was made out of concern that fund-raising for the monument would undercut donations to the center.

Dr. King’s son Dexter is the center’s chairman, and his cousin Isaac Farris Jr. is president. Dr. King’s two other surviving children, Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, are lifetime members of the board of directors.

6657: The Apocalypse Will Be Here Shortly.

Talk about extending the proverbial 15 minutes of fame.

6656: WTF CBC.

From The New York Daily News…

Will someone save the Congressional Black Caucus?

By Josh Greenman

With a former member of the Congressional Black Caucus leading the nation, the CBC could be wielding historic influence. It would be welcome: The raging recession is hitting blacks especially hard, and two issues of supreme importance to African-Americans, education and health care, are taking center stage.

What a shame, then, that the group has become something of a sideshow of late.

Look at how the Black Caucus has made headlines this month. First, by making a high-profile visit to Cuba. Then, by taking Obama to task for sitting out a UN conference, the followup to a 2001 gathering that declared Zionism to be racist.

Now there’s nothing wrong with visiting Cuba and nothing sacrosanct about America’s economic embargo. But you can rationally question U.S. Cuba policy without cozying up to Castro. The CBC did the latter — failing to meet with a single dissident on an island with a record of making dissidents disappear and handing El Jefe his best press in years.

“[Fidel Castro] looked directly into my eyes, and then he asked: ‘How can we help President Obama?’” said Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Calif.), unintentionally recalling George Bush’s comically naive assessment of Vladimir Putin. “He really wants President Obama to succeed.”

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) did Richardson one better. “It was almost like listening to an old friend,” said Rush. “In my household, I told Castro, he is known as the ultimate survivor.”

The human rights record in Castro’s Cuba is not open to legitimate political debate. In its 2008 world report, the left-leaning human rights group Human Rights Watch said, “Cuba remains the one country in Latin American that represses nearly all forms of political dissent. … The repressive machinery built over almost five decades of Fidel Castro’s rule remains intact and continues to systematically deny people their basic rights.” That verdict is echoed by right-leaning Freedom House.

Fortunately, prominent black journalists were among those who called the caucus on its blindness. Said Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post, who has made 10 reporting trips to the island: “The Congressional Black Caucus delegation that visited Havana last week was naive not to notice — or disingenuous not to acknowledge — that Cuba is hardly the paradise of racial harmony and equality it pretends to be.” Said Clarence Page: “I was disappointed to see the black-caucus delegation lavish praise on the Castro brothers for their hospitality, yet ask for nothing on behalf of freedom and human rights.”

As though there just aren’t enough critical domestic problems to keep them busy, the Black Caucus this week found a second international debate to bumble into: The UN’s “conference against racism,” due to start on Monday.

Though advertised as marshaling nations to fight prejudice, in truth the conference is an excuse to grind all kinds of axes against America and Israel — while ignoring blatant bias throughout the Muslim world.

It’s the sequel to the misbegotten 2001 gathering in Durban, South Africa, that vilified Israel and so offended the U.S. delegation that then-Secretary of State Colin Powell walked out. At Durban II, Iran, Libya and Cuba will run the show. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a Holocaust-denier, will have a platform. So will many others who think Israel is the world’s one inherently racist nation.

Last month, the Obama administration made a last-ditch try to change the conference’s direction. It didn’t work. Durban II’s core document still affirms in full the language agreed upon at the first conference. So, it’s a no go.

Prominent members of the Black Caucus still want us there. “U.S. participation in the conference is critical for both symbolic and political reasons,” said a letter signed by the heads of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. “Reduced global participation would mark a significant setback to efforts to overcome racial inequality around the world.”

In a country that’s had an unhealthy dose of black-Jewish tension over the years, would it be too much to ask for a little more sensitivity about participation at a confab that, to many Jewish organizations, has anti-Semitic undertones?

These diversions might be understandable if the CBC were just a standard-issue liberal caucus. But it’s supposed to be relentlessly focused on improving the lives of black Americans — who have much more pressing concerns here at home.

A little more sustained attention to immigration reform, for instance, would be welcome. Or health care. Or public education. African-American students still lag years behind their white counterparts, and Obama is intent on attacking that outrageous status quo. Yet not one member of the CBC is among those supporting the Education Equality Project, the Al Sharpton-Joel Klein coalition that has earned the backing of forward-thinking black mayors including Michael Nutter of Philadelphia, Cory Booker of Newark, Kevin Johnson of Sacramento and Adrian Fenty of Washington.

Of course, it’s important to say clearly that the caucus is no monolith. With 42 members, the quality of its membership ranges as widely as that of any random group of congressmen you could select. It counts among its members James Clyburn (D-S.C.), a very wise legislator who’s now House majority whip; Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), a force to be reckoned with; Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil rights hero, and Artur Davis, a candidate for governor of Alabama who is one of Congress’ rising stars.

But right now as a group — as a potentially instrumental bloc of U.S. representatives — the good work of the many is getting drowned out by high-profile missteps of the few. Let’s hope black congressmen who care about the CBC’s future right the ship and make clear that their caucus can be a player in the mainstream and a partner to Obama, not a jester on the margins.

6655: Dining, Dummies And Dialing.

Snacking with a MultiCultClassics Monlogue…

• An Illinois couple traveling in Arizona was seriously injured when a Mickey D’s sign fell on their vehicle. Expect a super-sized lawsuit.

• The idiotic woman in the infamous Domino’s YouTube video is also a convicted sex offender. Plus, she was convicted of having stolen goods and damaging a vending machine in 1995. In a response broadcast on YouTube, Domino’s CEO said, “We’re re-examining all of our hiring practices to make sure that people like this don’t make it into our stores.” You think?

• DirecTV and Comcast will cough up $3.2 million for calling people who told the companies not to call them again. It’s the second time DirecTV has been hit with a fine for violating do-not-call provisions. Maybe DirecTV can do a spot for its campaign with a takeoff on “Don’t Answer The Phone.”

6654: King-Sized Exaggeration.

Bet the majority of men buying this product do not have a harem like this. Also, note that one of the participating sponsors is Longs Drugs.

6653: Flying, Flagging And Failing.

Charging ahead with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• United Airlines announced plans to charge overweight passengers for two seats. The passengers should insist on receiving two meals, two beverages, etc. Wonder if United will ask the fliers to step onto the suitcase scale at the ticket counter. Of course, they can expect to have their luggage lost twice too.

• Burger King apologized for its Texican sandwich advertising that offended Mexicans, announcing the campaign would be revised. The ads featured a short character wearing a Mexican flag as a cape. Mexico’s ambassador to Spain said the flag usage violated national law. A statement from the fast feeder read, “The existing campaign falls fully within the legal parameters of the United Kingdom and Spain where the commercials are being aired and were not intended to offend anyone.” These guys must think they’re working for a real king.

6652: The World According to Google—Part 3.

The World According To Google presents content discovered while searching for other things.

Today’s search word: Stereotype.

6651: Trust Me, You’re History.

TNT series Trust Me has been dumped like JWT Chicago. Although it’s doubtful fans will create a website to commemorate the show’s demise. The program ultimately reflected the advertising industry too well. Trust Me was outdated, irrelevant and contrived. Hell, it wasn’t even entertaining. Like a hackneyed agency, the show couldn’t hold onto talent either, as star Eric McCormack reportedly took a role in an ABC comedy pilot. Bad writing. Mediocre design. No Big Idea. Didn’t help that the ensemble cast lacked diversity too. Will anyone on Madison Avenue see the lessons to be learned here?

6650: Ads Made Fast—No Starch.

This actual job listing demonstrates the deterioration of advertising as we know it. Who needs in-house studios or dedicated creative staffs? Send out an email by noon, and get your completed files back the next day. The industry has been searching for a new business model—and it looks like we’ll be adopting the one used by dry cleaners.

Hello Creative Circle! Here’s a new opportunity for you to check out.

Position: TODAY – Offsite conceptual designer
Location: Other Areas
Status: Freelance
Estimated Duration: 6 hours
Starts: TODAY – Start around 11:30-noon
Rate: $27-$30/hr. offsite

Job Description:
Our Client is a prepaid wireless provider who has bought transit media space and has to turn around concepts for bus and train ads.

This Client has copy and some basic ideas and will be able to hand off the project specs virtually around noon.

In turn, he is looking for a designer who is excited to concept highly visible ads that will run throughout Chicagoland.

If you are conceptual, able to execute, a good offsite communicator and can turn ideas around in a short period of time, these files are due tomorrow!

If you feel you are qualified for this position please send your resume (and samples if applicable).

Best wishes!

6649: Desperate Sales Events.

Calling off the news in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The New York Daily News presented a slideshow of Michael Jackson paraphernalia that almost went up for auction. The sale was canceled at the last moment—which is too bad, as it might have seriously stimulated the economy.

• Hallmark Cards announced it will lay off 8 percent of its U.S. workforce. Hey, has the company already considered a line of sympathy cards for people who have lost their jobs? Big market there, for sure.

• KFC is launching grilled chicken on its menu, labeling it KGC (Kentucky Grilled Chicken). “We designed it for the needs of the health-conscious consumers who said they’re looking for some non-fried options, but they don’t want to sacrifice the flavor,” said KFC’s chief innovation officer. Um, “health-conscious consumer” is a highly subjective term when used by a chief innovation officer from KFC.

6648: Popeye’s Chicken Spot Am What It Am.

Superspy’s rant on the latest Popeye’s Chicken commercial inspired 60+ comments. Now the creatives at the responsible advertising agency are insisting they were against the spot, blaming its production on GSD&M CEO Roy Spence and Popeye’s CMO Dick Lynch. Nice. Throw your leader and client under the bus. Talk about running like chickens with their asses plucked clean. But seriously, Annie the Chicken Queen is only carrying on a grand tradition.

6647: Burgers And Bullshit.

Offending the masses in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• People from Mexico are not pleased with a new Burger King campaign hyping the “Texican” sandwich. A TV spot shows a small wrestler who appears to be wearing a Mexican flag as a cape. Mexico’s ambassador to Spain, Jorge Zermeno, said the ads “improperly use the stereotyped image of a Mexican.” Um, Señor Zermeno has obviously not seen a lot of U.S. advertising incorporating minorities.

• The New York Times reported on the legal issues in Riviera Beach, Florida, where citizens and city officials have been battling over saggy trousers. The city passed an ordinance legally banning pants worn low enough to show skin or underwear, and has charged 15-20 youth with violations since things went into effect last July. Defense attorneys argue the measure violates freedom of expression, while others think it’s not right to deny a fashion statement. Hey, has anybody checked the trousers under judges’ robes lately?

• Circuit City is seeking to sell its name and brand to Systemax, a company that bought CompUSA’s intellectual property last year. Is Systemax trying to build a collection of really bad brand identities?

• PepsiCo is suing Coca-Cola over a Powerade campaign that allegedly makes false claims that could hurt the Gatorade brand. Shouldn’t they just battle it out on a sporting field?

6646: The World According to Google—Part 2.

The World According To Google presents content discovered while searching for other things.

Today’s search words: Diversity Committee.

6645: WTF JWT.

Kiss My Blacks Ads pointed out the JWT New York intern t-shirt depicted above, and wondered about the insensitivity displayed by the whip marks on the back of the garment. Actually, it’s not shocking or even surprising. After all, this is an agency where the CEO coined “Idea Racism.” Plus, former JWT executive Marian Salzman still takes credit for having discovered wiggers. JWT/NY also opted to reject partnering with New York City’s Commission on Human Rights on diversity. Instead, the culturally clueless company publishes lame recruitment ads while shutting down entire offices without prejudice. Wonder if the Commodore was running slave ships.

6644: Don’t Love That Chicken From Popeye’s.

Superspy at Agency Spy shat on the latest Popeye’s Chicken commercial, clucking that the message pushes racial stereotypes. Must admit the spot inspired eye rolling and head shaking at MultiCultClassics. At the same time, Popeye’s has been producing bona fide bullshit for a while—even igniting parodies. Hell, Popeye’s even offends in Korea.

6643: The World According to Google—Part 1.

The World According To Google presents content discovered while searching for other things.

Today’s search word: Diversity.

6642: Happy Easter.

6641: Holiday Diversity Ad.

6640: The Value Of President Obama.

President Barack Obama paraphernalia is so popular, Beckett released a special price guide issue. Wonder how much the Chia Obama or Obama Sock Monkey are worth.

6639: Whoa No!

Wonder how this guy will respond upon learning King magazine is gone.

6638: Patience Is A Virtue.

Not sure Eliot Spitzer would agree with this concept, as he’d expect to get quick service for his payment.

6637: 500 People Can’t Be Wrong About Diversity.

Over 500 people signed up for Carmen Van Kerckhove’s FREE teleseminar titled, “The 5 Secrets You Must Know to Implement a Successful Diversity Strategy and Win the Respect of Your Organization.”

Why, you can almost feel the progress happening on Madison Avenue already.

If you missed the event, catch the audio download here—but hurry, it won’t be available for long.

Plus, you can order the home study course version of Carmen’s Diversity Career Success training program right here. While the FREE advice is over, you’ll still get a special bargain. Simply reserve your copy by 5:00 pm EST on Thursday, April 16, 2009, and you’ll be able to split your tuition for the training program into 2 easy monthly payments of just $199!

Ron Popeil and Billy Mays can’t offer better deals. And it’s a lot less than what Vince Shlomi pays for prostitutes. But seriously, this is really cheap for Madison Avenue executives accustomed to coughing up big bucks for award show entries or social media seminars.

Don’t delegate diversity. And don’t delay. Learn more right now, right here.

6636: Choke And Chew.

Talking trash and assorted garbage in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The Chicago Cubs are partnering with a radio station from Univision to broadcast games in Spanish. The first order of business will involve translating “sucks” and “choke” for listeners.

• Wrigley is taking heat from the Better Business Bureau’s National Advertising Division over claims for its Eclipse gum. The complaints involve messaging hyping the product’s germ-killing abilities that allegedly aren’t backed by scientific evidence. However, you don’t need scientific evidence to see that the spot sucks.

6635: Diversity Stimulus Plan.

From The Miami Herald. If Madison Avenue ever asks for bailout money, the industry will be in big trouble.

Diversity sought in economic-stimulus construction jobs

President Barack Obama is asked to issue an executive order to encourage the hiring of minorities, women and low-income residents for federal projects.

By Tony Pugh

WASHINGTON—A group of 50 advocacy organizations has asked President Barack Obama to issue an executive order that encourages the hiring and training of minorities, women and low-income residents to work on federal construction projects, particularly those funded by the economic stimulus package.

“There is concern that without active steps to promote these goals, too few of these construction jobs will reach” these groups, according to a proposal written by the National Employment Law Project and the Partnership for Working Families.

The proposal is modeled on state and local programs around the country that require contractors on federally funded projects to hire and place some disadvantaged and underrepresented workers in apprentice training programs.

UNIONIZED LABOR
McClatchy first reported last month that minorities and women might miss out on jobs on large construction projects funded by the stimulus package because of regulations that could steer most of the work to unionized labor.

An executive order that Obama signed in February “encourage (s) executive agencies to consider requiring the use of project labor agreements” on federal construction projects of $25 million or more. PLAs are collective bargaining agreements with labor unions that set the terms and conditions of employment on large construction projects.

Unless the agreements set goals for including underrepresented groups, however, jobs and training opportunities for minorities and women could be hard to come by because white men dominate the membership of skilled construction-trade unions. Regulations to implement Obama’s executive order on PLAs will be announced in May.

GUIDELINES SOUGHT
The new proposal, which is backed by groups such as the Center for Community Change, the Center for Law and Social Policy and the National Women’s Law Center, among others, calls for a presidential order that would require federal agencies to issue guidelines “encouraging states and cities to use targeted hiring and apprenticeship utilization requirements on all federally funded construction projects.”

The proposal also calls for the U.S. Department of Labor to fund “comprehensive pre-apprenticeship training to support such initiatives and to investigate options for helping more small, minority and women-owned businesses participate in the apprenticeship training system.”

For many years, women and minorities trying to join construction unions faced discrimination, ethnic and family nepotism and little access to union apprenticeship programs. While things have improved, many experts say that more needs to be done to diversify the industry.

6634: The King Is Dead.

From Target Market News…

King Magazine to close with upcoming issue due to ‘economic conditions’

By Richard Prince

After six years and 50 issues, King magazine, which dubs itself “the illest men’s magazine ever,” is folding, publisher Dennis S. Page confirmed Wednesday.

King’s full-time staff of about seven is being let go, he said, and its next issue, now in production, will be its last.

“It’s brutal out there,” Page told Journal-isms. “It’s the worst economic conditions in 30 years.”

Page is also publisher of SLAM (on basketball), XXL (hip-hop music), Rides (automobiles) and Antenna (“what drops next” in consumer products). All are published by New York-based Harris Publications.

King reported an average circulation of 173,530 for the six months ending Dec. 31, down 11.3 percent from the year before. Advertising, not circulation, was the problem, Page said. The publication’s revenue staples were automobile and alcohol ads.

Page said XXL, as a music magazine, did not have the same problem and that there were “no concerns” about it folding.

Additional Note: Jimi Izrael offers his perspective at The Root.

6633: Nice Headline.

Although this USA TODAY headline is actually for a story about the struggling merchants on Madison Avenue, it could easily be referencing the ad industry woes too.

6632: The Obamarket.

Moving product in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Walgreens has pulled the Chia Obama from store shelves, citing customer complaints. The Chia manufacturer, on the other hand, seems to have zero problems with the product.

• The FOX network is producing a new reality TV series based on company layoffs. Nice. Maybe the network will also produce a weight-loss competition for childhood obesity. Or how about employees going postal? School shootings? The possibilities are only limited by your conscience.

6631: The Top 10 Hypocrites…?

DiversityInc released its Top 10 Companies for African Americans. Now, we all know there are no advertising agencies on this honor roll, as the industry was noted for paying Blacks 20 percent less than White counterparts. Hell, an NAACP official remarked Blacks “have a better chance of being struck by lightning” than being hired at certain shops. So why do companies recognized for inclusive environments willingly partner with agencies reprimanded for exclusive environments? The excuses would make for an interesting Top 10 list.

Top 10 Companies for African Americans

1. AT&T
2. Target Corporation
3. Sodexo
4. JPMorgan Chase
5. CSX
6. Verizon Communications
7. Altria
8. AARP
9. Marriott International
10. Health Care Service Corporation

6630: Trust Me, It’s Over.

Can’t help but wonder if the general public understood what the hell was going on with TNT series Trust Me. Could anyone in the advertising business explain the closing plotlines? The stories were nonsense. The dialogue was inane. The characters were thoroughly unlikable. The doubleheaders became unbearable. Even the network seemed incapable of supporting the show, playing promo commercials for the season premiere of FX series Rescue Me—which ran opposite the season finale of Trust Me. Although the last episode did unveil a new Black character, as Conner became a Big Brother.

The advertising business has engaging and unique people. You’ll find humor, heartfelt emotions and human interest. Compelling drama happens on occasion. Too bad Trust Me never recognized that—and ultimately, never presented it.

6629: Sugarcoating Childhood Obesity.

Don’t get the rationale behind this Dunkin’ Donuts spot at all. Break your kids away from the powerful grip of TV with a dozen sugar-laden donuts. Brilliant. A new study shows 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds is obese. Can we raise it to 2 or 3? You Kin’ Do It.

6628: Assorted Losers.

Transforming the news in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The Los Angeles Times reported General Motors’ money troubles are adversely affecting its ability to provide marketing firepower for movie tie-in partners. Even super-powered robots can’t transform GM into a financially stable company.

• Ex-New York Governor Eliot Spitzer spoke out on his infamous prostitution escapades. “Like most of us, I suppose, I’ve had flaws,” said Spitzer. “I’ve tried to think about it deeply, address it. There are no excuses. I have tried to address these gremlins, confront them.” Hey, if Ashley Dupré is a Gremlin, we can’t wait to see the Ghoulies.

• Reports show more and more companies are cutting back on employee healthcare benefits and 401(k) matches. Whatever happened to the notion that a company’s most important asset are its people?

• A new study shows 1-in-5 U.S. 4-year-olds is obese, with a higher rate among American Indian kids. Look for Mickey D’s and Burger King to start visiting the reservations.

6627: Drill, Baby, Drill…?

What would Governor Sarah Palin have to say about this?

6626: Overreaction Of The Week.

Enjoy Snickers Dark, Darkitect. And be sure to brush afterwards with Darkie Toothpaste.

6625: A Wealth Of Hate.

The anti-CEO movement is growing.

6624: Put Diversity In Your Easter Basket.

Why is the Easter Bunny almost always White? Should we draw racist workplace implications from the jelly beans he distributes? And why do the chocolate bunnies receive the worst treatment?

Unfortunately, you won’t find the answers to these diversity questions at Carmen Van Kerckhove’s FREE teleseminar. But here’s what you will learn:

The 5 Secrets You Must Know to Implement a Successful Diversity Strategy and Win the Respect of Your Organization.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 5:00-6:00 pm EST

In this idea-packed teleseminar, you’ll discover how to:

• Uncover the self-sabotaging behaviors that get in the way of your own success.
• Overcome diversity fatigue at your organization.
• Frame the value of diversity in terms of your senior management’s priorities, instead of your own.
• Demonstrate to your senior leaders—in specific and measurable ways—how diversity can help achieve their key strategic initiatives.
• Become a trusted advisor to your senior management.

Remember, it happens on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 5:00-6:00 pm EST. It’s the perfect pre-Easter present for the culturally clueless and diversity defenders on your list.

Phone lines for the FREE teleseminar are limited, so sign up today. All you have to do is click here now.

6623: Native Stamp.

From The Chicago Tribune…

Richard Wright comes home again

Julia Keller, Cultural Critic

Mississippi made him, but Chicago made him a writer. It was Chicago—with its bright churn of possibilities and its darker realities—that transformed Richard Wright from a shy Southern kid into a popular and internationally acclaimed author.

Chicago broke his heart, but it gave him his mission: to illuminate the dehumanizing effects of racial prejudice in 20th Century America.

That is why, according to officials at the U.S. Postal Service, when a new stamp honoring Richard Wright (1908-1960) was commissioned, they decided that the stamp’s background simply had to be the South Side of Chicago, where Wright lived and worked during a crucial, formative decade.

And when a location was needed for the public ceremony Thursday at which the stamp will be unveiled, that was a snap: Again, it had to be Chicago.

In fact, in a touch as satisfying as the period at the end of a beautiful sentence, the event will occur at the post office of the same name at which Wright—as a brilliant and ambitious 19-year-old, fresh off the train from Memphis—was hired in 1928 to haul and sort mail. The current main post office is across the street from the building at which Wright worked; the new structure was completed in 1997.

The author of “Native Son” (1940) and “Black Boy” (1945) would go on to live in cities such as New York and Paris, but it was Chicago that turned him into the restless literary artist and fearless truth-teller he became.

“We went back and forth about what the background would be,” said Kadir Nelson, the artist who created the Wright stamp, from his studio in San Diego. “It was either going to be the South or Chicago. Chicago just made the most sense.”

Read the full story here.

6622: Disgruntled Should Grunt.

From The Washington Post…

Lucky to Have a Job? You’re Still Allowed to Grouse.

By Dan Pashman

Al is a 31-year-old consultant whose fiancee is unemployed. After a tough day at his New York office, he gets off the subway one stop early and walks the 15 minutes home, just to blow off steam before seeing her.

“She asks how my day was, but when you sit there and start talking about it and realize you hate your job that day, it’s hard to combat the idea that, yeah, I do have a job, I wasn’t part of the unfortunate many,” he says.

“You feel like you can’t really complain, but on the other hand you feel like you’re carrying the stress and the burden of keeping your mouth shut. You know [talking about your day at work] will make the other person feel worse about themselves, because they clearly have something to offer, but they’re just not getting the opportunity.”

Hundreds of thousands of layoffs across the country are affecting personal relationships, and it’s not just the laid-off who are feeling it. Many people who are working say they’ve stopped asking unemployed friends about job prospects, and they make sure not to gripe about their own jobs when those friends are around.

But refraining from the time-honored tradition of venting about work can create its own problems.

A 28-year-old writer says, “I’m really careful about complaining to my friends about anything work-related, because half of them have recently been laid off, so it’s particularly sensitive. If my mother asks me how I’m doing and I complain about an annoying thing at work, she tells me to basically suck it up because I should be happy to have a job.”

And she is happy to have a job. But, she adds, “It does make me feel stuck, because if you’re convincing yourself you’re lucky to have a job, it makes you feel like, ‘I’m lucky to have this job, but this is all I’ll ever do.’”

An attorney at a top New York law firm goes a step further, saying, “I’m actually starting to resent the fact that I’m not allowed to hate my job, I’m not allowed to have a bad day, because I’m supposed to be so thankful to have a job at all.”

In this economy, the employed are constantly reminded that they’re the lucky ones, and in some obvious ways they are. But are they entitled to feel like they’re getting screwed, too?

People who deal with “survivors”—the employees in companies left behind after layoffs—say yes.

“When organizations refer to people who lose their jobs, they refer to them as the employees who will be affected by the layoffs, and that’s my pet peeve,” says Joel Brockner, a professor at Columbia Business School who studies survivor reactions. “The implication is that people who stay won’t be affected.”

But Brockner says survivors have to deal with a lot: The threat of more layoffs hanging over their heads, an increased workload because others are gone, the loss of friends in the office, and frequently these days: pay cuts.

“There’s often a lack of focus because the stress levels go way up,” says Mary Whitcomb, a leadership consultant with Lee Hecht Harrison and a licensed psychotherapist. She says the conditions facing survivors after layoffs “fuel resentment, anger and a sense of feeling trapped, like there are no options. So there can be a lot of grousing and anxiety, a lot of negativity in an organization after people have been let go.”

These principles of survivor reaction can extend beyond an individual workplace and probably do in a time like this. If you view the whole country as one big company, USA Inc., people who still have jobs are all essentially survivors, regardless of what’s happening at their particular companies. After all, the economy has affected pretty much everyone in one way or another.

And there’s another aggravating factor. Brockner says the fairness of layoffs—who is chosen and how they are treated when they’re let go—has a huge impact on how survivors feel about their own situations. Few people would argue that the layoffs at USA Inc. have been fair. They’ve been driven primarily by economic forces beyond most peoples’ control and, so far, help has been more forthcoming for the culprits than the victims.

So it’s no surprise that the typical survivor reactions—anxiety, anger and resentment—would be found across the country. Now, recall that those with jobs are increasingly biting their tongues out of respect for those in more dire straits, and you realize there are a lot of seriously repressed people out there who are probably entitled to their own slice of the empathy pie.

The problem is, the empathy pie is shrinking.

Dan Pashman is a freelance journalist and producer at Air America Radio.

6621: Designing Stereotypes Always In Fashion.

Another example of a stereotypical role for women in ads: The fashion designer/boutique owner.

6620: Tweets, Twits And Terminations.

Saturday Evening News in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The rumors persist that Google will buy Twitter. This news doesn’t even warrant a Tweet.

• Some economists say the worst is over, claiming U.S. layoffs may be flattening out. Hey, have any economists been laid off?

• FedEx dumped 1,000 workers from its Memphis headquarters. Wonder if the termination notices were delivered overnight.

6619: JWT/Chicago Hits Rock Bottom.

From The Chicago Sun-Times. A brief MultiCultClassics commentary immediately follows.

End of an icon: JWT folds up shop in Chicago

By Lewis Lazare, Media & Marketing Columnist

Rack it up to incompetence.

On Friday JWT North America President Rosemarie Ryan came to Chicago to tell the shop’s 50 remaining staffers that JWT/Chicago will shut down forever within the next 60 days, leaving the last vestiges of its Chicago staff without jobs.

It’s a stunning blow to the Chicago ad industry, which has seen almost nothing but one setback after another in recent years, and for JWT in particular, which for many years could lay claim to operating one of Chicago’s largest advertising shops. At its peak, JWT/Chicago’s staff numbered more than 800 in the 1980s.

But JWT/Chicago has been headed nowhere but down in recent years as the agency’s top brass in New York dispatched round after round of useless managers to Chicago who were ill-equipped to deal with the shop’s declining fortunes.

The last bombshell was Northfield-based Kraft Foods, which pulled nearly $200 million worth of business from the agency two years ago.

JWT/Chicago also has been without any on-site leadership for nearly two years, even as Ryan maintained she was managing the shop from New York. Amazingly, Ryan, unavailable for comment, told Advertising Age she had no idea why JWT/Chicago failed.

If nothing else, that sort of remark speaks to the woeful inadequacy of current leadership.

For several years it has been Ryan’s responsibility to know why JWT/Chicago was failing—and do something about it.

But even after the agency lost its Kraft business, Ryan seemed at a loss about what was needed to get JWT/Chicago back on track. Instead she kept insisting the Chicago shop would muddle through under her guidance.

It didn’t. Now there is nothing left.

On the one hand, it’s hard to imagine JWT/Chicago staffers were surprised with the announcement. At the same time, it’s another example of curiously insensitive termination notices. Hey, workers, you’ve got 60 days to clean out your cubicles. Perhaps Madison Avenue needs to remove the word Human from Human Resources.

The Chicago shop is currently defending in a review with the Illinois Bureau of Tourism. This news can’t help their chances. Why would the Illinois Bureau of Tourism want to retain an agency whose leadership is abandoning Illinois?

JWT was the first advertising agency to get zapped by a takeover in 1987—by none other than WPP Overlord Martin Sorrell. Despite an occasional positive blip, the ad firm has been on a downward spiral ever since. Didn’t they even throw the iconic Commodore overboard before letting the ship hit rock bottom?

Ironically, JWT/New York recently generated hype for itself with the JetBlue campaign featuring a clueless CEO. The place obviously looked internally for insights to develop that character.

6618: Don’t You Forget It.

The headline for this diversity ad could be read a few ways. That is, never forget you’re really working for The White Man.

6617: The R Word.

From The Chicago Sun-Times…

Time to drop ‘retard’ slur

An open letter to teens and young adults: It’s time to give up a last slur you can still get away with: “retard.”

Plenty of other once-common slurs, as you know, have largely fallen out of favor as their destructive power has seeped into the public consciousness.

But not “retard.”

We’re talking specifically to you, young people, because you’re the ones most likely to use the word, and we’ve largely given up on the backward adults who still toss the word around. We suspect you have not yet fully grasped the word’s full power to belittle, its full power to inflict pain.

Maybe that’s because the victims usually can’t or won’t fight back. Maybe that’s because kids always need at least one group to pick on.

Whatever the excuse, it doesn’t cut it. It’s time to retire this hateful slur once and for all. That means don’t use it. That also means speaking up when someone else does.

The Special Olympics last week launched a campaign—“Spread the word to end the word”—to banish the word from public use.

In your heart, you know—we all know—they’re right.

6616: Amtrak Seeks Porters.

From The New York Times…

The Last Pullman Porters Are Sought for a Tribute

By Jennifer 8. Lee

For more than a century, Pullman porters were a part of American train travel, until competition from planes and automobiles led to the decline of sleeper cars. Now the last generation of porters — who played a critical role in African-American history — is rapidly dying off. And Amtrak is attempting to locate the last few for National Train Day.

In 2001, the A. Philip Randolph Museum compiled a national registry of black railroad employees who worked from the late 1800s to 1969, a record that could be useful for historians and genealogists.

“There are a thousand people on this list — as we mark it up, it’s not looking like the same list anymore,” said Hank Ernest, who is coordinating the publicity for Amtrak. Asked how many they had found, he said, “Double digits.”

For his book “Rising From the Rails,” Larry Tye interviewed about two dozen former Pullman porters, so called because they worked for the Pullman Company, which made sleeper cars. “The youngest were in the 80s at that time, and the oldest were in their early 100s,” he recalled. In between the time he did the interviews and when his book came out in 2004, he estimated, a third of those men died. Another third have died since then, he estimates.

“The fact they are disappearing is taking with them a piece of American history,” Mr. Tye said.

Though it could be demeaning, the job of porter was considered for decades one of two good jobs for black men in the United States. (The other was working in the post office.) At its peak, the Pullman Company was the largest single employer of black men in the United States, employing 20,000.

The Pullman porters laid the groundwork for the civil rights movement by forming the first black labor union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, under the leadership of A. Philip Randolph in the 1920s. The union gave leadership and money to the civil rights movement.

It was a former Pullman porter, E.D. Nixon, who selected Rosa Parks as the sympathetic figure for the Montgomery bus boycott, and recruited a young minister named Martin Luther King Jr. to lead the protest.

“If Martin Luther King was the father of the civil rights movement, then A. Philip Randolph was the grandfather of the civil rights movement,” Mr. Tye said.

The Pullman porters also played an important role in the great black migration, since they were the only blacks who regularly moved between the South and the North. By carrying copies of black newspapers like The Chicago Defender and The Pittsburgh Courier, they offered Southern blacks in small towns a glimpse of what life was like in the big cities.

The porters were also playing a critical role in gaining an economic foothold for their descendants. “They are — to a disproportionate extent — the father, the grandfathers, the uncles of the black professional class today,” Mr. Tye said.

A number of prominent black figures have Pullman porters in their lineage, he said: William E. Kennard, a former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, had a Pullman porter grandfather; Thurgood Marshall, the Supreme Court justice, and Willie Brown, a onetime mayor of San Francisco, were the sons of Pullman porters.

The porters’ wages were supplemented by tips, and at times they threatened to strike if tips did not improve. An 1890 article in The New York Times debated the ethics of tipping porters: “Tipping is objected to by austere and frugal American moralists upon the ground that it undermines the manhood and self-respect of the tippee. But this proposition loses all its force when the tippee is of African descent.”

But with meager wages, Pullman porters made substantial contributions to their home communities. For example, in the late 1800s, a Pullman porter built and supported a school that educated hundreds of black children in Covington, Ga.

The Pullman porters were the inspiration of George Pullman, the company’s founder, which is why they were often called George, regardless of their real names.

He was looking for the perfect servant to signify the luxury train experience. “Who better to hire than ex-slaves?” Mr. Tye said. “They were brilliantly attentive. They were incredibly inexpensive to hire.” Not only were they servants, they provided entertainment, as they were organized into choruses, orchestras or bands.

The porters largely settled in cities that were major rail stops — Chicago, Boston, Washington, New York — but they could be found anywhere the railroads ran. “We found pockets of them in Nebraska, in Omaha,” said Mr. Ernest, who works for Images USA, which is working with Amtrak on the National Train Day project.

The men have retained a certain dignity. “When we find them, they are dapper,” Mr. Ernest said. “They are men, even at this age, who wear suits and ties.”

“They will look at you and have a great conversation, because back then that’s what they had to do,” he said.

Former porters should contact Saunya Connelly of Amtrak at (202) 906-4164 or connels @amtrak.com with the following information: name, telephone number, mailing address, age, years of railroad service, and routes if known. The deadline for response is April 14. A ceremony honoring the porters is scheduled to take place during the celebration of National Train Day, on May 9, at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.

6615: Saturday Morning With Mister Cartoon.

From The Los Angeles Times…

In the world of tag, Mister Cartoon is it

The underground artist has found his scrawl space in the mainstream, with his work emblazoned on movie billboards, custom cars and video games. He gives products ‘street cred’ and counterculture cool.

By Chris Lee

Mister Cartoon eyeballed a blank spot on the giant graffiti mural and rattled his can of spray paint. An aerosol hiss filled the air. With a few fluid swipes of his beefy arm, an image began to take shape: a cluster of storm clouds massing above a Windex blue hot rod.

“If I knew the cops were coming to bust me, I could probably finish this whole thing in an hour,” the street artist joked.

Cartoon is standing atop a ladder in front of a 14-by-48 canvas in his cavernous warehouse studio in an industrial cul-de-sac just past L.A.’s skid row. His work in progress would hardly qualify as vandalism. The billboard was commissioned by Universal Studios to publicize the latest entry in its street-racing movie franchise, “Fast & Furious.”

The burly Cartoon, with a shaved head and gang-inspired tattoos creeping down his forearms and up his neck, has become one of corporate America’s hottest image makers. He’s in demand to imbue products—even celebrities—with “street cred” and counterculture cool.

Cartoon (born Mark Machado, but call him that at your risk), 39, readily admits he perfected his craft practicing public defacement as an outlaw tagger. He’s a big shot in lowrider circles—the artist has 11 prize-worthy customized show cars. His ability to create visuals encompassing Chicano gang and lowrider culture, ‘70s New York graffiti and Japanimation has made Cartoon a sought-after tattoo artist, car customizer, illustrator and fashion designer.

“It’s definitely a rush seeing your art on a billboard,” Cartoon said. “Working with design agencies, designing concept cars—it’s a long way from my dad telling me to get a real job.”

Cartoon’s graphic designs, illustrations and artwork have also been used to add visual punch to a crazy quilt of pop cultural offerings:

He rendered the gang scrawl seen throughout the bestselling video game “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.” He designed clothing for companies including Levi Strauss, Stussy, Vans and Supreme. He designed a customized T-Mobile Sidekick. He did detail work for a concept car for Scion. In 2005, Nike hired Cartoon to create limited editions of its Air Force 1 and Cortez shoes.

“The mainstream is coming around to his aesthetic, not the other way around,” said movie producer Brian Grazer, who is planning a film based on Cartoon’s life. “He doesn’t change. He’s still hard-core. He’s a gatekeeper to that world.”

Read the full story here.

6614: Working Toward The Weekend.

8.5 percent of the news in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The U.S. unemployment rate jumped to 8.5 percent, the highest level since late 1983. That was the last year Annie sang, “The sun’ll come out tomorrow,” on Broadway.

• Former NFL star Michael Vick is set up to work a $10-per-hour construction job after being released from jail. Which makes him luckier than 8.5 percent of law-abiding Americans.

• A new study shows playing on Twitter and watching YouTube at work can make you more productive. Tell that to 8.5 percent of American citizens.

6613: Free Diversions And Diversity.

Here’s a Friday double-feature presentation. Check The Five Deadly Venoms trailer. Then preview The Five Diversity Secrets starring Carmen Van Kerckhove.

You can catch the full show by signing up for Carmen’s FREE teleseminar:

The 5 Secrets You Must Know to Implement a Successful Diversity Strategy and Win the Respect of Your Organization.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 5:00-6:00 pm EST

In this idea-packed teleseminar, you’ll discover how to:

• Uncover the self-sabotaging behaviors that get in the way of your own success.
• Overcome diversity fatigue at your organization.
• Frame the value of diversity in terms of your senior management’s priorities, instead of your own.
• Demonstrate to your senior leaders—in specific and measurable ways—how diversity can help achieve their key strategic initiatives.
• Become a trusted advisor to your senior management.

Phone lines for the FREE teleseminar are limited, so take five minutes and sign up. All you have to do is click here now.

6612: The Digital Diversity Divide…?

One question: If your company ranks so highly with Black employees, do you really need to run corny ads to recruit them?

6611: Gentlemen, Start Your Search Engines…

From USA TODAY…

Magazine’s Obama-NASCAR hoax creates April Fool’s stir

By Larry Marshak, USA TODAY

A Car and Driver April Fool’s hoax on the Web, reporting President Obama had ordered Chevrolet and Dodge out of NASCAR after the 2009 season, turned into a sizzling Internet topic Wednesday.

“Just when we thought we could take a breather from Barack Obama’s wacky policies, he reached across the Atlantic today to drop another one on us,” wrote Sandra Rose at Rightfielders.com. “Naturally, NASCAR fans are outraged.”

Car and Driver later pulled the fake story (which estimated savings of $250 million between the manufacturers) and apologized for “going too far” while noting the magazine “has a proud tradition of irreverent editorial and we amplify that each year with our April Fool’s Day joke.”

The mea culpa wasn’t enough for Denny Darnell, who does public relations for Dodge’s motor sports program. He wrote in an e-mail that “I’ve been in this business more than 30 years and I have never seen a story so irresponsible.”

6610: Same Old, Same Old.

Different tastes, different dreams, different cultures. Same old diversity ad concept.

6609: Trust Me, This Show’s Not Idolized.

Quick note on TNT series Trust Me:

When the show aired on Mondays, benefiting from its slot alongside The Closer, it drew around 1.6 million suckers viewers. The first Tuesday airing reeled in 1.053 million. Let’s put this in perspective. American Idol, which also plays on Tuesday, collects about 36 million votes for the contestants every week. What would Simon Cowell say about Trust Me? Probably this.

6608: Objections May Appear Closer.

Um, if you need a magnifying glass to find the lowest gas prices, is it safe for you to be driving a car?

6607: McCain Says, “Pardon That One.”

From USA TODAY…

McCain seeks pardon for boxer Jack Johnson

Sen. John McCain plans to offer a congressional resolution today calling for a presidential pardon for Jack Johnson, who became the nation’s first black heavyweight boxing champion 100 years ago, the Associated Press reports.

McCain says Johnson was done a “grave injustice” by a 1913 conviction for violating the Mann Act by having a consensual relationship with a white woman — a conviction widely seen as racially motivated, the AP says.

The Arizona Republican, a big boxing fan, has repeatedly said he was wrong in 1983 when he voted against a federal holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., filmmaker Ken Burns and Johnson’s great niece, Linda Haywood, will join McCain at a news conference in Washington to unveil the resolution.

Similar legislation offered in 2004 and last year failed to pass both chambers of Congress, the AP says.

Johnson won the world heavyweight title in 1908 by beating Canadian world champion, Tommy Burns. That led to a search for a “Great White Hope” who could beat Johnson. Two years later, Johnson beat Jim Jeffries, the one-time American titleholder who had come out of retirement for a match billed as “The Battle of the Century.” Johnson’s victory triggered deadly riots.

He lost the heavyweight title to Jess Willard in 1915.

The Mann Act, which outlaws transporting women across state lines for immoral purposes, has since been heavily amended, but not repealed, the AP says.

Johnson fled the country after his conviction, but agreed years later to return and serve a 10-month jail sentence. He died in a car crash in 1946 at age 68.

6606: Trust Me, These Guys Are Desperate.

You have to wonder if TNT has given up on Trust Me. The network opted to run another double-header. Do the scheduling wonks want to spike viewer interest or simply burn through the remaining episodes as quickly as possible?

Placing the show against American Idol is a bad move. Even Paula Abdul would have difficulty finding positive things to say about Conner and Mason at this point.

Here’s a highlight mashup. Tony bopped Simon. And once banged Denise. The agency pitched Rolling Rock. And was beaten by Momentum (which confirms that RGM sucks). Conner and Mason directed voiceover talent to speak in a stereotypical Italian voice. Sarah banged her boyfriend. Then discovered her ex-husband is gay. Mason exploded then sulked after receiving a poor review from his team. A corporate psychologist explored everyone’s feelings, allowing the cast to overact. And scream. And cry. And expose their honest opinions.

This is what’s known as jumping the shark.

6605: Mixed Fruit Welcome.

Comparing apples and oranges…?