Sunday, April 27, 2003

TOUCHY!

Nissan North America Inc. has drawn criticism, rather than praise, for a billboard celebrating Black History Month. The billboard shows the words "Black History Month," with "History" crossed out and replaced by "Future." The billboard is in eight cities, featuring the Nissan logo but no car images. Critics say the campaign disrespects and ignores black history. And it doesn't help that this is the first major work produced by Nissan's new minority advertising firm, True Agency of New York.

Glenda Gill, Detroit's bureau director of the automotive project for Rainbow/PUSH, is offended by Nissan's strategy. "Replacing history with future sometimes can rest in the philosophy of those opposing the leveling of the playing field for African- Americans," Gill says. "I would have felt better had it said 'Black History is our past and our future.'

Via The Flummery Digest.

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