Read the counterpoint to this article here.
This past week, Gap launched a children’s clothing ad featuring a group of kids donned in KKK ensembles lynching a helpless little black girl. At least, that’s what you’d think based on some people’s reactions to the retailer’s actual ad, which showed a black girl used as an armrest, at least according to numerous critics.
meet the kids who are proving that girls can do anything.
check out #GapKidsxED: https://t.co/qbR13BsWIL pic.twitter.com/e47gVghHt0
— GapKids (@GapKids) April 2, 2016
The ad displayed four members of Le Petit Cirque, a children’s performing group. “[M]eet the kids who are proving that girls can do anything,” GapKids tweeted alongside the photo. However, because the company used the sole black girl in the ad as an alleged “prop,” various angry observers insisted that the message was anything but empowering.
“[B]lack girl’s talent is being a stand for white girl. Major fail. Def not shopping 4 my black daughters at Gap,” read one tweet. “Congratulations on the passive racism,” said another. And over at The Root, writer Kristen West Savali wrote that the “ad is what happens when black faces appear, but no black voices are at the table.”
As a result, Gap pulled the image and apologized: “As a brand with a proud 46 year history of championing diversity and inclusivity, we appreciate the conversation that has taken place and are sorry to anyone we’ve offended,” company spokesperson Debbie Felix said.
Except, Gap had nothing to apologize for. I wish it would apologize for the apology (as if). It is impossible, now more than ever, to so much as breathe without offending someone. People who want to see “passive racism” will find it wherever they look. I suspect that in this case, the creative directors of the ad were not thinking of race—or perhaps this was an attempt to promote diversity. Maybe not. I don’t know.
What I know is what I see: A picture with a cute girl—OK, a cute black girl—with her white friends. It’s that simple.
Meanwhile, filmmaker Matthew Cherry offered somewhat of a backlash to the backlash by citing a very similar Gap ad from last year, showing a black girl resting her arm atop the head of a white girl. “Does the @GapKids pic on the left make the pic on the right okay?” he asked. “Let’s debate.”
Does the @GapKids pic on the left make the pic on the right okay? Let's debate pic.twitter.com/rCFbK4uG5y
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) April 3, 2016
Anyone who purports that the ad sends a poor message to children clearly forgot what it means to be a child. Kids are not looking at this ad and thinking, even subconsciously, that the black girl is inferior, a piece of furniture. Only adults would conceive such a notion. Kids know better.
So do I. So should you.
Read the counterpoint to this article here.
