Ethnic representation in commercials

[noblm]

In the last couple of years I've noticed that tv commercials tend to include a huge number of black people, to the point where it's unrealistic and ridiculous. This is what I've observed in ads (at least 2/3 have one or more of the following) : 

* White person clueless, black person comes along with product and shows how it's done
* A disproportionate number of black people
* Black people in unlikely situations and places
* A black person doing the narration
* White people acting black
* Mixed couples, usually black man/white woman
* Black music in background
* Mixed crowd but closeup of black person
* Black slang used
* etc etc

It's so over the top and blatant. Why are they doing this? If they want to show diversity how come blacks specifically are so overrepresented?

[Thumpalumpacus]

I don't watch TV, so I don't see these "problems". Companies have long made a practice of shilling to preferred demographics, anyway.

[Rhythmcs]

Perhaps the market was underexploited due to systemic racism?

[adey67]

In the last couple of years I've noticed that tv commercials tend to include a huge number of black people, to the point where it's unrealistic and ridiculous. This is what I've observed in ads (at least 2/3 have one or more of the following) : 

* White person clueless, black person comes along with product and shows how it's done
* A disproportionate number of black people
* Black people in unlikely situations and places
* A black person doing the narration
* White people acting black
* Mixed couples, usually black man/white woman
* Black music in background
* Mixed crowd but closeup of black person
* Black slang used
* etc etc

It's so over the top and blatant. Why are they doing this? If they want to show diversity how come blacks specifically are so overrepresented?

What you describe is exactly the same situation we have here in Britain, personally I wouldn't read too much into it, it's just a feature of modern society.

[TheGentlemanBastard]

Sounds like someone's privilege has gotten pricked.

[Dānu]

[c172]

Alright there, "noBLM". Took me a bit to decipher your moniker. I'm sure there are many races in the USA that are underrepped in various spheres, but the black/white dynamic is especially twisted here, so it might follow that we need to make extra effort at accomodating and integrating black folks. This dynamic seems more twisted, complicated, awkward and deep rooted. And that's not to ignore other racisms here in the US.

[Fireball]

I hope everyone starring in those commercials are making the same pay. 

[Dom]

In the last couple of years I've noticed that tv commercials tend to include a huge number of black people, to the point where it's unrealistic and ridiculous. This is what I've observed in ads (at least 2/3 have one or more of the following) : 

* White person clueless, black person comes along with product and shows how it's done
* A disproportionate number of black people
* Black people in unlikely situations and places
* A black person doing the narration
* White people acting black
* Mixed couples, usually black man/white woman
* Black music in background
* Mixed crowd but closeup of black person
* Black slang used
* etc etc

It's so over the top and blatant. Why are they doing this? If they want to show diversity how come blacks specifically are so overrepresented?

Why does it even matter what color their skins are?

[Fireball]

Looks like C172 has it pegged.

[Minimalist]

Alright there, "noBLM". Took me a bit to decipher your moniker. I'm sure there are many races in the USA that are underrepped in various spheres, but the black/white dynamic is especially twisted here, so it might follow that we need to make extra effort at accomodating and integrating black folks. This dynamic seems more twisted, complicated, awkward and deep rooted. And that's not to ignore other racisms here in the US.

I think it is even somewhat deeper than that.  Other than cable news shows or sports I do not watch TV much and network TV not at all so I will gladly accept the observations of those of you who do and tell me if I am missing the mark.  What I do see are commercials, almost always with the sound off and there is a lot of what is noted in the OP present.  I listen with amusement when the Magatards talk about "Liberal Elites" pushing an agenda and it is probably true that the actors tend to the progressive side of the scale.  But the actors do not decide what gets produced and aired.  Those are money-making decisions by the financial types.  As is the case in virtually all of the US, money talks and bullshit walks.

It has long been a truism that advertisers really only care about the 18-49 year old demographic.  In 2022 younger voters skewed heavily Democratic and significantly blunted the expected Red Wave.  https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research...2022-races

It does seem that that demographic is far more tolerant than the dumb old fucks living in Mississippi trailer parks for example.  The ad men are making those commercials not to push any sort of agenda but to sell whatever shit they are hawking to the group most likely to a) buy it and b) be watching the shows they are advertising on.

RepubliKKKunts try to rule through slogans and "Liberal Elites" resonates with the WWF crowd which makes up their core voters but they are being double crossed by the business interests who see them as obsolete.

It's about MONEY.  Always.

[Fireball]

I wouldn't call them obsolete so much as too small a segment of the population to cater to. Either way, they look in horror at what goes on. It was someone here, I think, who pointed out that each generation grows up with the newer more permissive values, which don't gain a real foothold until the older people who doesn't accept them dies off. The newer values then become the norm. We seem to backsliding quite a bit here in the US. I'm hoping that it's just the last hurrah for the religious "right", but we'll just have to see.

[Dānu]

I watched the Ingraham Angle this evening. According to her, young men consuming porn is a national crisis. I'm more inclined to view putting idiots like her in front of a microphone as a concern.

[Fireball]

I used to look at contraband copies of "Nudism Today" when I was a kid, and I turned out "normal". 

[Minimalist]

https://www.marketingcharts.com/featured-30401


According to this, there are 139 million people in the 18-49 range and just about 120 million 50+.


I don't see that as a significant enough difference to account for the discrepancy.

[Rhythmcs]

People tend to overestimate the minority demographics in their environments by orders of magnitude. Maybe members of outgroups just stand out more? There's no doubt that there's more representation of minorities today than there has been in past, but I suspect this is still at play even in our apprehensions of the current situation. Black producers, directors, and leads are all still firmly in the minority. Executives even moreso. This is costing the industry an estimated 10b usd a year.

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insigh...-diversity

To the extent that you might find yourself seeing more "black commercials" - it would probably help to understand that this is an underserved market full of relatively low cost labor and projects. If, otoh, the current situation really is an effect of the war on whites - they'll need to rethink their tactics. It obviously isn't working. The Whites remain stubbornly uneliminated.

[noblm]

If they want to be represented they should go to Africa.

[Inkubus]

And you should go to hell and burn, you piece of shit.

[adey67]

If they want to be represented they should go to Africa.

I'd be very careful, being an overt racist will likely result in a very short and unpleasant tenure here, to say nothing of the fact that it's a really bad look.

[Dom]

Ok, that's hate speech. Not on my watch.

[Rhythmcs]

It was only ever a matter of time.

[Thumpalumpacus]

[no one]

Jokes on no blm, everyone is from Africa.

[Minimalist]

Exactly why the morons cling to their Adam and Eve stupidity.

[pythagorean]

Angelitos negros - Leonor Gonzalez Mina (Cantos de mi tierra y de mi raza)