So far this year, IPG acknowledged MLK Day, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Lunar New Year. However, despite being recognized for leadership in diversity and inclusion—according to its performative PR and gobbledygook—the White holding company has not yet saluted Black History Month.
Probably prioritizing pending purchase and pruning…?
White holding company Stagwell wished everyone a Happy Lunar New Year, but has not yet acknowledged Black History Month—despite a Harris Poll survey indicating most Americans support DEIBA+ programs.
Today marks Chinese/Lunar New Year 2025, an event inspiring lots of advertising that appears to be well-funded extravaganzas—versus crumbs-funded performative productions.
Of course, it’s unclear what roles people of Chinese descent played in the creation of such campaigns—besides casting, consulting, and catering.
The adoration and intrigue for Chinese culture will be underscored in a few days, when Black History Month launches with a handful of contrived and clichéd heat shields featuring royalty-free stock images—including the hardest-working man in Black advertising.
In Adland, expect further DEIBA+ disregard, disrespect, and dismissal too.
Year of the Snake indeed.
This Panda Express video posted at Ads of the World serves as a DEIBA+ doubleheader, presenting Chinese American culture/casting and Chinese/Lunar New Year.
Taking lead credit is White advertising agency Opinionated, who won AOR status for Panda Express in July 2024 by tapping TDW + Co.—a multicrumbtual shop—for cultural competence.
It would be interesting to learn how much compensation TDW + Co. received for its creative contributions. Based on the Prime Redlining typically experienced by non-White firms “partnering” with White ad agencies, the fee was likely not a fortune, but rather, fortune cookie crumbs.
Honesty is the best policy indeed.
Dolce & Gabbana celebrates Lunar New Year 2024 with a lame commercial featuring talent of Chinese descent. Is it an annual example of crumbs—or is it just crummy?
After three weeks into February, Publicis Groupe, Havas, and Dentsu are still without BHM-related social media posts. Dentsu managed to spotlight the celebration of Lunar New Year at its San Francisco office, which at least has cultural cues.
To further commemorate Chinese New Year—aka the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival—and recognize 2023 as the Year of the Rabbit, take a moment to brush up on Brer Rabbit. Hey, combining Chinese New Year with Black History Month is a diversity doubleheader.
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Oddly enough, the weeks ahead will probably see fewer patronizingly celebratory APAHM advertisements than Chinese New Year messages. Hell, there will likely be more Cinco de Mayo campaigns.
Kellogg’s
commemorates Chinese Lunar New Year—and Year
of the Tiger—with Special Edition Frosted Flakes boxes…? For cultural appropriation,
they’re gr-r-reat!
Ads of the World collected Top Chinese New Year Ads—yet there are no collections for MLK Day or Black History Month. Hey, why not salute the classic Calgon commercial too?
Ads of the World presented a collection of Top Chinese New Year Ads, along with collections for events including the Super Bowl, Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, April Fools’ Day, International Women’s Day, Halloween, U.S. Election and more. Black History Month Ads, however, are excluded.
The NBA appears to be celebrating Black History Month on a team-by-team basis, including individual promotional activities with the Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics. Why, the Sacramento Kings even displayed sensitivity over BHM activities coinciding with the Chinese New Year’s “Year of the Monkey.”
Google celebrates Black History Month with an image of monkeys? Damn, it’s yet another blatant example of the company’s cultural cluelessness and exclusivity. Somebody call Jesse Jackson pronto! Rally the protesters and… oh, wait a minute. The illustration is commemorating the Chinese New Year? Okay. Never mind.
