Shea Moisture usually trends on social media because of their infamous BOGO Free sales that cycle through stores like CVS, Walgreens, Target, and Ulta. This time around, the brand has come under the scrutiny of โBlack Twitterโ, the social media machine.
On February 23rd, Shea Moisture posted this photo and caption to their Twitter account only:
โWe have a problemโฆโ @SheaMoisture via Twitter
Shea Moistureโs social media management has since removed the photo, but the response outrage still remains:
#SheaMoisture Donโt exclude the black child .White companies lost business behind these kind of marketing campaigns.
โ WynetteWoah (@AlittleSapphire) February 23, 2015
I get why ppl are getting testy with Shea Moisture tho. Its not like brands who BW have supported havent turned their backs on us before.
โ DarkSkintDostoyevsky (@daniecal) February 23, 2015
The sharp shift in marketing is jarring @SheaMoisture. Thatโs all. โ Charles Wade (@akacharleswade) February 23, 2015
In response to the uproar, Shea Moisture released this statement via Twitter this morning:
We came across an image of a little girl with a puzzled expression that we imagine our #SheaFamily has when they run out of product, so we shared it with you. No ad. No agenda. As a certified minority-owned business, we are so proud of our heritage, our community and how far weโve come โ from a village market in Sierra Leone, to the streets of Harlem, to retailers throughout the U.S. With your support, weโve been able to bring change, diversity and variety to retail. We hope you continue to join us in celebrating how the versatility of our products can help people everywhere.
Some followers were a little more forgiving, supporting the brandโs decision to expand their marketing base: โPost whatever you want. Increase your market share. Most of us get it and wouldnโt ever dare question GROWTH.โ
Idgaf if Shea Moisture use dogs in their ads, Iโll go right to Petco and buy my curl smoothie. Chโฆ โ Three. Six. (@ImJustCeej) February 23, 2015
Yes, shea moisture is a historically black company but they cater to ALL hair needs. If youโre mad theyโre being all inclusive, have a seat.
โ Motolani. (@YesOrMo) February 24, 2015
Yโall donโt have to explain anything. Your product works for all races and works well. Post what you want. Itโs okay. @SheaMoisture
โ CLJB (@CLJB) February 23, 2015
Meanwhile others still forged ahead with an alternate perspective:
@SheaMoisture That little girl has a market that caters to her every whim via tv and print. Market to the demographic you serve, thanks. โ BASTET (@GiaShakur) February 24, 2015
Shea Moistureโs products have been a pillar in the natural hair community, with many citing their effectiveness on our uniquely textured hair. The brandโs decision to select Janell Stewart (Kinky Curly Coily Me) and Jessica Lewis (Mahogany Curls) as their brand ambassadors comforted many naturalistas, as it re-affirmed Shea Moistureโs values and primary market. Most importantly, it demonstrated that they were paying attention during the whole Carolโs Daughter debacle. Their posts on Twitter represent a stark contrast to the aforementioned. It is worth mentioning that the ads are essentially focused wholly on Twitter, and are largely absent from Facebook and Instagram.
Have you seen the Shea Moisture ads on Twitter recently? How do you feel about the new dynamics of their Twitter marketing?
I think its a ridiculously trivial issue, IMHO. Shea Moisture isnโt exclusive to Black, natural hair. If it works for hair that is naturally straight (i.e. White peopleโs hair), then why not use a little White girl in their ad? I wonder if people would have been as outraged if Shea Moisture used a Hispanic or Native American child in their ad? We have bigger things to get upset about than seeing a White girl in a hair ad.โฆ
No. People probably wouldnโt have been outraged to see a Hispanic or Native American child in their ad. Probably because their people probably have as little representation in the beauty industry as we do compared to the vastly white majority (probably even less, if weโre going to talk about Native Americans). The point isnโt that people are banning white people from or outraged at white people for using SM products (theyโve been using them for years. SM has good products that can be used by everyone), but that SM itself is โselling outโ by playing up to a population that… Read more »
It is true Shea Moisture isnโt exclusive to Black natural hair. But letโs be honest one second with products compose with Shea Butter or JBCO you must admit that their core target is the curly, kinky, coily community. I believe when a community is responsible for your growth and success you have to pay tribute to it and respect it. I lived in France where theaters refused to broadcast โBest man 2โ because the casting was entirely african-american and so โnot reprรฉsentativeโ enough of the viewers. So we black have to deal with all kind of movies, ads etc where… Read more »
Spoken like someone who really just doesnโt get it. Itโs just another case of a company building their brand on the hard earned dollars of black women only to abandon us when they get a little bit of media shine, as if our dollars arenโt just as green or just as almighty. Carolโs Daughter did the same thing and look what happened โฆbankruptcy. If you donโt โgetโ why people are upset then you are just being willfully ignorant.
And you sound pathetic. โAbandon ndon usโ. Why the hell do we need coddling. Please!!! I have my self esteem and worth with or without โcorporate sponsorshipโ. I say this for our own good. We need to grow out of this childishness
Carols Daughter, same argumentโฆthat is all
So what they are telling me is that they couldnโt find a black little girl with a puzzled look on her face and then take the picture with their celphone?! I donโt buy the product anyways (it doesnโt agree with my hair), but I really donโt buy the reasoning.
They werenโt looking for an picture, they came across and and basically made a meme with it because of the little girls expression.
I find this ridiculous. Not just for the fact that people are in an uproar over a picture but for the simple fact that Shea Moisture sells more than just hair care products (which can be used by anyone, of any race). They also sell skincare products and an entire childrenโs line, both of which are not limited to the โethnicโ section in stores like Target and Walmart. Seems like people are looking for reasons to be offended.
Exactly!!!!, not to mentionโฆit makes business sense to widen your audience. Their in business to make money, just like everyone else.
I still think its sad that black companies do this. Because mainstream ( white) companies do not. For example, I know many sisters who love herbal essances products and they do not use black women and their advertising. Doesnt stop us from buying it though, It should be the same for whites. They are free to use Shea moisture but do they really have to cater to them above their main consumer base? No! but we always fall victim to this. Example Carols daughter, I used to love it, but when she started focusing on the mainstream ( read white)… Read more »
Iโm almost close to renaming TeamNatural the KinkMafia, always picking on somebody smh. How could the same community who appreciated a business for catering to their hair needs turn around and scrutinize who they make their products appealing to? Are they implying that SheaMoisture now needs to pull a Michael Kors and not make their products appealing to all? #TooSensitive
No. No. No. I donโt buy it. How can they possibly think that posting a blonde little girl would be largely received well? I just donโt know why a Black owned company would basically claim โignoranceโ .โฆ..oh, we just saw a picture of a cute little girl who happened to be white.โฆwe didnโt realize.โฆโฆblah blah blah!!! Iโm not saying that they should not have posted the pic, but they shouldnโt act like they donโt understand the racial aspect of it.
Even so, the point being made isโฆwhat is it to us how they conduct their business? Who are we to tell SheaMoisture how to make their money? There is no racial aspect to it, they did nothing wrong. People need to simply get a life. Itโs never personal, itโs just business.
#truth, I guess I need to invest DYI cause these companies are not here for us
The Internet Outrage Machine strikes again.
This was a gross overreaction.
Two words: carols daughter.
I live in the UK so I probably wonโt see the advertising that Shea Moisture produce on mass like the US. On an individual/business level, well done for expanding, taking advantage of a wider audience and bringing in the money. They should be applauded for their work ethic and achievement as itโs something we as black people donโt do enough of (supporting). However, in terms of the black (natural hair) community as a whole, this is probably one of the steps in the elimination of our contribution. The problem isnโt with there being a white child as part of marketing,… Read more »
I believe you made an excellent comment especially bringing economics into it. First, the Natural Hair Movement is a game changer, economically and culturally, because one, Black women, not only in the US, but all around the world: Brazil, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, French Guyana, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, France, UK, Sweden, Australia, even in Japan, are returning to their Natural Hair, and have built a space/platform (which I am working to build globally to connect everyone) and many those in the movement have become successful entrepreneurs, whether they are bloggers, vloggers, started making products from their kitchen and now have… Read more »
You said it better than i was going to say it. I love SM products, i have been using them for some years now and iโm from the UK. I am disappointed by the advertisement as the kind of image they have used i honestly do not think is a very healthy one for our impressionable little girls and boys.
wow
Iโll still be buying there products. Just like that one lady said. They could have put a picture of a dog there and Iโd still buy it.
This is a cute little girl.
I personally think that the backlash caused by something as insignificant as the childโs ethnicity is a bit alarming. 0_o
Why?
If SM didnโt want a backlash they would have found a child with brown hair, brown eyes and clearly curly hair. Thatโs what marketers do when they want to appeal to all demographics.
I justdonโt get why successful companies owned by minorities are so quick to crossover. Meanwhile Loreal and Maybelline still selling the same two coffe and caramel shades w the token black model. Puzzles the hell out of me.
Thats how you make the beacoup cashโฆyou expand into a market with more consumers . White people in America make up a big chunk of the u.s. population, while blacks occupy about 13%. As a business man, you want more people in the market with your products. For black people, that means expandingโฆmeanwhile, whites donโt need to because they already appeal to the masses and blacks will still by and support businesses that make no effort to include them. But I get what you are sayingโฆ I love SM and I want them to become a big popular brand, but… Read more »
Black people generate multiple billion dollars a year in beauty. They have been doing fine they have free promotions from natural hair vloggers on youtube. Bottom line is many black own companies feel like they havenโt made it untilโ they have an open market for all. Carol Daughter once was black owned and eventually marketed to all races and now the company is bought out by I believe Loreal. I love Shea Moisture way before the hype but there is too much competition out there for them to start this bs. But Iโve seen it a while ago on their… Read more »
My view may be controversial but Iโll say it anyway. Black hair is very different from the hair of other races and thus has its own specific needs which may be lacking in the hair-care products used by other races. I donโt feel offended by the picture, especially if it was just a harmless meme, but I do feel concerned about what it could cause. Itโs not a new thing for black-owned hair-care companies to shift their focus from blacks to other races and, in the process, alter the ingredients used. I donโt want SheaMoisture to pull a โCarolโs Daughterโ… Read more »
agreed.. shea moisture is just that sheaโฆmoisture meant to put the moisture back and seal in our hair that so desperately needs it where as white people are the opposite even the thick curly haired ones. so they would not be able to accompany all races because we all have very different needs.
SheaMoisture is on the path of Carol Daughter only a matter of timeโฆif people think they are still black owned with that advertisingโฆwell oh well
Unfortunately marketing indicates the way a company wants to go. Larger brands e.g. Dove often include people of colour as they want everyone to buy their products. Smaller brands obviously miss this trick.
this is sensationalism at its best.
Thereโs no way SMโs social media person is this oblivious. I mean, the backlash was almost unbelievably predictable.They did this on purpose to get free publicity from Black Twitter.
Iโm not sure this is a good way to have publicity from the merciless Black Twitter..
Not only is their oblivious marketing strategy offensive, but itโs plain odd as well. I donโt understand why Shea Moisture would even try to target White women, a lot of whom usually remark how heavy the SH lines are on their hair. I know this isnโt true for all White women (and that SH sells more than just hair care products), itโs just based on the numerous accounts Iโve read online. It makes sense for companies like DevaCurl to appeal to a broad market, but Shea Moistureโs heavier, oilier products would usually fair better for people of color with kinkier,… Read more »
Shea Moisture also make skin care (adult & baby) products so even those who wonโt use their hair products might love them on their body. The body stuff is pretty amazing!
Yes, I know! Their African Black Soap bar and and Raw Shea Butter for skin in particular are fantastic. ๐ Makes my skin feel like buuuuuutterrrrrrr
My thing is that I know MANY white people who use SM products. Why? Because their hair is thick and curly! Thatโs it. Seriously (even though this little one is as cute as a button) if the little girl they used had was white but had thicker, curlier hair, it wouldโve still ruffled feathers but it wouldโve made more sense! She would look like a girl who could benefit from Shea Moisture products. And yes, yes SM likes to say that their product lines suit everyone, but most detractors from the brand (black, white and everything in between) state that… Read more »
Good point! That poor little girl would have, like, two strands of hair left if it were slathered in SM. If youโre going to use a White person, focus on their hair. Theyโd better have some angry unruly curls. Otherwise SM (where the heck did I get โSHโ from?) is getting a serious dose of side-eyeing.
And no I havenโt tried their scrubs yet! Theyโre on my list to pick up next!
So long as our black sisters continue to understand the importance of supporting black businesses, and upholding the image of the proud black person, starting with wearing their hair natural and free of wannabe-caucasian-features-madness, we can get somewhere.
Good grief you are an idiot! So once again black women have to do everything. Typical!
M, the struggle of the black woman which your comment implies does not exist in a vacuum. It exists right alongside the struggle of black men, the struggle of the black family, the struggle of black businesses, the struggle of the black communityโฆ Black womenโs responsibility to themselves and to the empowerment of their little girls calls for wearing their hair natural, let alone their responsibility to the community (as in, presenting themselves as self aware, self respecting individuals who are comfortable enough in their own self to NOT seek chemicals, heat, other peopleโs hair, manufactured hair, to hide their… Read more »
Uhmโฆso basically youโre saying ALL black women should wear their hair in their natural state? If a person has straightened/chemically treated hair, theyโre ashamed of being black? Come on peopleโฆreally? Both are beautiful and people should feel free to do whatever they want with THEIR HAIR without being judged or looked down upon. Come on now, dont turn natural hair into a sectarian โorganizationโ itโs just a choice xoxo
Hi MalagasyGirl! Wearing your hair natural is not a choice. Just like breathing is not a choice. Only through a thoroughly effective program of mental as well as outward slavery/colonization have black women come to see wearing their hair natural as an abomination. It is great that so many black women are now coming around to appreciating their hair again. But letโs not fool ourselves. It is not a choice. Rather, viewing โnon-naturalโ hair styling (consisting of everything BUT our own hair: from fake hair to other peopleโs hair, to chemical straighteners/texturizers, to heat straightening/ heat training, and on with whatever… Read more »
Excellent post! Quoting Ngugi and everything!
Iโve only seen shea moisture hair products in the โethicโ section of stores, my target takes it a step further an divides that section into relaxed and natural. Now as for their body products.โฆ
What I mean is, Black Twitter talks about it, gets everyone worked up in a tizzy. All publicity is good publicity, I guess. The point is, thereโs no way they didnโt think about race before posting this. The outcome is just too predictable.
oh yes, she is too cute, absolutely adorable
Our people donโt understand business which hurts them.
The people who are complaining do not understand how business works. That is the problem. You are correct! A business cannot continue to market to the same group and stay profitable. Look at companies whose main products were relaxers. When the natural hair movement kicked off those companies took a beating. They stayed with the one demography (relaxer users) and are going broke in the process.
You both seem to think people arenโt economically literature.
If you are a company with an existing customer base of mainly one ethnic group and you are expanding to include another ethnic group, you donโt just ignore the existing customer base. You ensure that both groups are included in your adverts.
I have seen both large companies and small businesses do this. Many make up brands, especially not the cheaper ones, ensure they have one or two non-White models while my hair stylists have put both black and white modelโs pictures in their window.
Iโve seen reviews on Amazon & other sites written by white women who use some of โourโ products such as Blue magic, WGO, & Hot Six Oil; Iโve also seen them in Target buying Shea Moisture. Why such a big deal so long as SM keeps making great products? Many black women rave about โwhiteโ products like Aussie Moist, Garnier Fructis, Pantene ( I used to use Pantene years before the Relaxed & natural line & so did a lot of my friends), Giovanni Direct, Aubrey Organics, & Nexxus because THEY WORKED ON OUR HAIR. SM makes great products &… Read more »
Bye Felicia and bye Shea Moisture. Utterly ridiculous that they feel the need to be inclusive towards whites. Whites are the most crybaby race, whining over things they have no business whining over. I get the whole โtheyโre expanding their businessโ, but thereโs clearly something deeper here and itโs been massively felt.
Iโll instead switch my business over to BLACK women on Etsy.com who hand make all of their products for a decent price. A simple search brings up hundreds natural hair products made by Black women, for Black women (only).
Get over yourself. Itโs okay to support black businesses but you canโt dictate who the business markets to. I WANT black businesses to have the widest market possible. Am a bit salty today but your post makes nonsense
I was actually put on to Shea Moisture from a white woman on an Amazon message board almost six years ago.Their line has always been inclusive, attempting to accommodate all hair types. Itโs one thing to stand up for the minority interest but itโs another to not even know about a company and cause undo tension when none should present. They arenโt dropping minorities like hot potatoes. They are clearly expanding their business and becoming more main stream. Iโd be more concerned with the changes in quality, and pricing that came along with that newfound popularity, over their advertising which… Read more »
Black owned businesses are few annd far between so in order to help my brotherโs business I will pay a little more instead of paying it to someone else who more than likely wouldnt buy water from me if he/she was on fire. Shea moisture should be inclusive nobody said it shouldnt but the image of blackness and our skin and hair should be dominate in my opinion and for my dollars. And I love how people are talking about expanding the market but forget there is a word called globalization. Shea from shea trees in Africa(Sofi Tucker) over fifty… Read more »
This IS a joke, right?! People are enraged because of this innocent ad with an adorable little girl. You are imposing the same hatred on white people as white people have done for centuries now. As a forward-thinking black woman, I can say that it is that frame of mind that sets us back to when we werenโt allowed to embrace our natural hair textures or even use the same water fountains as white folk. There is nothing wrong with supporting a small business owned by black people, but it is definitely immoral to write off a company that brings… Read more »
Just preach
Itโs not about African-Americans itโs about black consumers, whether they are in the US or Mexico or Brazil. None of the tweets even mentioned African-Americans specifically.
I donโt see how that particular little girl, with that particular hair type, expands their base. A white girl with curly hair, like those in the Dove โLove Your Curlsโ campaign would make sense. Those kidโs mothers also worry about dry, tangle prone hair. To me, this is an example of white=generic, supposedly apeals to everybody and black=specific, niche.
The marketing department gets paid big bucks to think these things through.
Black people spend more on hair products than any other race in the USA. There is no need to cater to white people to sell their products. I canโt use most of their hair products anyway because they all contain protein. The only line that doesnโt have protein is the African black soap one but it is pretty harsh so I only use the masque every few months to clarify. Most of the popular type 4 youtube naturals do not use these natural hair lines, they make their own moisturizers.
we only make up 11% of the population how do we spend more than any other race? When I go to the drug store in the hair aisle, 80โ90% of the aisle in commercial stores (CVS, Drugmart, bedbath beyond etc..) are white marketed products (pantene, bedhead, etc, and all kinds of gels we donโt use). About 10โ15% of the aisle is โethnic haircare.โ That stuff is not marketed to us. And there are way more commercial stores in all neighborhoods throughout the country than privately owned asian wig stores. I have even been to commericial stores that had no black… Read more »
please research before making a rebuttal, Black women spend the most on hair it doesnt matter what percentage we make up.
Thereโs so much information and documentation out there that will answer your question. Emphatically YES, Black women spend much more on our hair than others. Read the links below.
https://bmia.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/how-do-black-people-in-america-spend-507-billion-dollars-annually/
http://www.wbez.org/blogs/britt-julious/2013โ07/iโwant-put-my-face-108095
http://www.communitysteeple.com/urban-business/137-black-hair-boomin-billion-dollar-industry.html
It was meant to be funny. Itโs not a real ad. You donโt see this on TV or on billboards. Relax!! Shesh!!!
Anything with a companyโs logo on it is advertising from pens to tweets.
I signed up for these emails to read about ideas for my hair. What is up with all the negativity? I can love myself without hating somebody else. *UNSUBSCRIBE*
Deuces!
Honestly, most of AAs constantly complain of racism and discrimination. I do agree that these sad topics still exist, but some of you overreact to things. Itโs not just white people who are racist, anyone can. And racism doesnโt only affect black people, it can affect anyone. Whatโs so embarrassing and disappointing is that yโall complain 24/7 about racism but some of you think you have the right to do it to other people. So what if that poor sweetheart is on a Shea Moisture advertisement, how is it a threat? Seriously, thatโs so ignorant to think that this company… Read more »
Racism = power and privilege. Black people cannot be racist toward white people. No person of colour can in a white-dominated heteropatriarchal society that caters to whiteness. People of colour can exhibit prejudice toward white people, but we cannot oppress them and racism is โoppression based on race.โ Itโs not racist to want to have spaces that cater to us when weโre largely excluded from the mainstream. All of a sudden natural hair is in and we must include white people or else? When have they ever seen it as a priority to include people of colour without us having to… Read more »
Black people can be bigoted, prejudiced, mean spirited, jealous, hateful and disrespectful toward white people and that is bad enough. I live in a beautiful, free, imperfect country where we have a black president, where my family and relatives have the educations, jobs and security for their families that they have chosen for themselves. Black people are not the only people in this world or even in this country who have faced some type of struggle. Everyone has their own story, their own struggle, their own demons. You canโt tell what is going on in someoneโs heart just by looking… Read more »
*claps*
Thank you so much for this!
Racism DOES NOT necessarily equal power and privilege in my book. Itโs the use of race as a decision factor in any decision about another person: whether to like them, whether to hire them, whether to discriminate against them in any fashion. And please stop the elitist โeducate yourselfโ put-down when someone doesnโt agree with you. Back at you: educate yourself to the fact that people with differing opinions are not necessarily uneducated. Nor, for that matter, should a person have to be educated to hold an opinion. Or are you an โeducationistโ? Our business, Uncurly, caters to every race… Read more »
Agree
I know right! So ignorant
They make money off of us why canโt we make money off of them.
I love your comment Ms. Vee. I just wanted to say that.
Heres a question though โ why canโt companies sell products to nonblack people AND primarily use images of black/brown people? Think about it โ black/brown people have always bought products where we are not reflected/mentioned/messaged to at all in the marketing. It seems to me, that the people who are angry about this are not actually being racist towards white people, not really. I think itโs just the bothersome feeling is that other brands expand and achieve growth just fine just by making good products. But often, the route to expansion for black-focused companies seems to only come on the… Read more »
Exactly, this is very well written.
Hereโs a question though โ why canโt companies sell products to non-black people AND primarily use images of black/brown people to grow the business? Think about it โ black/brown people have always bought products where we are not reflected/mentioned/messaged to in the marketing. Companies and society (ourselves included) seem to understand that black & brown people are able look at the purpose and value of a product and decide if weโll try it. It seems to me, that the people who are angry about this are not actually being racist towards white people, not really. I think itโs just a bothersome… Read more »
Are you serious. This is not racism by any stretch of the imagination. Ferguson is racism. Not getting that MARKETING job because blk ppl cant relate to others is racism. This is discontent . Nobody is barring people from buying shea moisture based on race. Asking for representation of black peoples and poc from a black owned โminorityโ company (?!) is a necessity right now as stated by another poster(fourth quarter ).
Because theyโre on every ad imaginable. go to Europe and youโll see. Guess what? Theyโre on Asian Ads too. โ just go travelling in Asia, and youโll see. Even in this Country, Everywhere. Everyone wants to stand up on the back of blacks, then when they think theyโve arrived โ they just kick them to the curb as if they never existed. These people are in the spotlight and is the center of attention at every turn. Give the black people a chance. The saddest thing is itโs done by their own.
The next time SM uses a child in their advertising, they should hire the beautiful Miss Riley Elle. If youโve never heard of her, sheโs one of the young curlies in the McDonaldโs/Cuties t.v. commercial. rileyelle.tumblr.com
Carolโs Daughter did it. Why not Shea Moisture? They need to know Iโll go back to my Qhemet Biologics if I have to. Does anyone notice that Shea Moisture products are often not in the โblackโ hair section. Shea Moisture, probably THE best hair product that is widely sold in retail stores, isnโt even labeled as โforโ black hair, although we all know it is. Sometimes I read reviews on Amazon from white people crying about how Shea Moisture doesnโt work on their limp straight hair.โฆ If Shea Moisture wants to be greedy and isolate its original base, then let… Read more »
Not sure if anyone else has noticed, but Iโve seen Shea Moisture use white models in ads theyโve posted on their facebook page. I donโt necessarily think theyโre trying to โcrossoverโ to create a more racially inclusive market, but one thing I do know is that there are already quite a few white people who use Shea Moisture for hair and for body. Not sure what to say about this, though.
This is just so ridiculousโcomplaints about relaxer/white companies marketing to naturals because they donโt really love us in their heart of hearts; complaints about black-owned brands trying to expand their customer base (btw, if you call yourself supporting black business while opposing their attempts to expand market share youโre doing it wrong)โlook, you are not in a fiduciary relationship with the people who make your hair products. They make a product which they hope youโll buy, you give them money in the hopes that the products work well for you. If youโve been a loyal customer and the products are… Read more »
Iโm not understanding why this is a big deal. African American are not the only ones with thick curly hair. So why is it a problem that they are using a white child on there add? Is it because the person is white? Should it be a problem if the child was Mexican? Or even Brazilian?
The kid in the picture doesnโt have thick curly hair
Petty.โฆI work in an area that is 99.9% white and saw shea moisture product sitting on one of the clericals desk and yes โฆsheโs is white. Their products are crossing overโฆitโb business sonny..not personal
Black people are too damn sensitive and I wish yall would shut the hell up already. We are the only race that constantly complains about the littlest things. There are more important things to cry about.
You know when people have said to my face โ โyou are damn sensitiveโ they have then abused me or least tried to.
Advertising by any company is an important thing. Every advert that declines to use a Black or other minority group who actually is the main demographic who buys and uses a company products is repeating the stereotype. This stereotype includes the fact that we are invisible and arenโt worth acknowledging as a group.
the fact that were even discussing this is pathetic.
Speaking to the author of this article, using the word โinfamousโ means to be well-known for something bad, having a bad quality. Iโm assuming you meant โfamous,โ unless you really did mean to cite that Shea Moistureโs BOGO sales were a bad thing. Sorry itโs just one of those things I see often that I canโt help point out.
I have an understanding of both angles: 1) SheaMoisture is black owned. If they (or any black owned company) advertise their products to non-blacks then that means more money into the hands of black pockets. We benefit in that regard. Every other groups will gladly give a black face 5 minutes of shine if it means black consumers will buy their products. So I understand this move on Sheamoistureโs part from a business perspective. 2) On the flip side I understand the deep rooted concern that black women are having with the very idea that once again a space we… Read more »
โWe can use white images as disposable tokens as they do with us but keep the image of blackness dominant and persistent.โโI think that might be the best solution. You have to cater to your largest consumer base, but there is NOTHING wrong with expanding at the same time.
People need to stop being so racist. Itโs getting embarrassing.
Now, while I understand that diversity is key in any for profit entity, it must be said that Shea Moisture needs to always be aware of who theyโre marketing to and never ever forget their foundation of grassroots supporters, because that kind of mistake (selective amnesia) will cost you. Never bite the hand that feeds you. Also, I just believe that this little girl should have been accompanied by at least several other little girls and or boys of different ethnic groups, allowing Shea Moisture to effectively get their point across, sans the confusion and backlash. Iโm thinking of a… Read more »
I think people also forget that SheaMoisture isnโt just the hair products that are known for. They, also, offer bath and body products, e.g. bath salts, body wash, lotions, etc.
This is probably the first step of Selling the company to Shea Whitey (in living color), and by posting this ad, they wanted to see what kind of reaction they would receive?!?!
I know white and mixed people that use Shea moisture productsโฆ Iโm not seeing the issue.