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Original poster

Would you consider this racist? H&M advert

999 replies

BornInSydneyy · 08/01/2018 21:12

A young black boy wearing a jumper that says -

“Coolest monkey in the jungle”

I genuinely can’t understand how anyone thought that was acceptable.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
Coconutspongexo · 09/01/2018 17:16

Hendricks may I ask if you’re a POC?

Gilead · 09/01/2018 17:20

I wouldn't have seen the connection as I'm sure h and m didn't . Why do people need to make such an issue out of everything !!🙄🙄
Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Daily. FFS! Try reading the thread before you jump in.

hendricksyousay · 09/01/2018 17:31

I don't know what a PoC is so I guess not .

hendricksyousay · 09/01/2018 17:32

I just think people love drama , do you really honestly think H and M would have done it to be racist .. I mean really??? .. knowing it could have potentially damaged their brand .

Ghanagirl · 09/01/2018 17:34

Still waiting for MUMSNET HQ to comment as I’ve also sent email.
Whilst waiting to pick up my beautiful black children or in Mumsnet speak “Monkeys”

CherryMaDeara · 09/01/2018 17:34

Hendricks, what do you think about all the people who have posted on this thread who have been called monkey as an insult, had a banana left on their desk, who have been insulted by 'jokes' about the jungle?

Do you think they love drama?

PoC: person of colour

rcit · 09/01/2018 17:34

Of course they didn’t do it to be racist. But unfortunately it ended up looking (at the very least) questionable

On a side note, I’d have bought those green/orange hoodies if they’d been plain, without mindless monkey/guide shit all over them.

Gilead · 09/01/2018 17:37

I just think people love drama , do you really honestly think H and M would have done it to be racist .. I mean really??? .. knowing it could have potentially damaged their brand.
Yeah, people love being compared to a monkey because of the colour of their skin. Hmm
They really enjoy the drama of being shouted at in the street, pushed out of line in the dinner queue, called other names, having their intellect questioned, having bananas thrown at them when they're trying to work (football pitches).
Angry

Ghanagirl · 09/01/2018 17:38

Unfortunately CherryMaDeara it’s not an issue if your not POC I’ve emailed Mumsnet HQ regarding the rejoicing of racism on this site but no reply,

PortiaCastis · 09/01/2018 17:39

Yes it is racist and hopefully gas been retracted

AppleTrayBake · 09/01/2018 17:40

I just think people love drama , do you really honestly think H and M

Yes black people just love their children being described 'Monkeys in the Jungle' for the drama 🙄

These posts are so upsetting. I'm trying not to look, but I'm drawn to it like a dead fox at the side of the road.

hendricksyousay · 09/01/2018 17:41

I am not belittling racism , just saying h and m didn't mean to be racist .

Ghanagirl · 09/01/2018 17:41

Still waiting for Mumsnet HQ to reply!
If I was an overpaid white Hollywood actress I’m sure I would have heard something by now😡

hendricksyousay · 09/01/2018 17:42

Surely it's only racism if it's meant to be racist . Otherwise it doesn't even make any sense .

Gilead · 09/01/2018 17:43

I am not belittling racism
That may not have been your intention, but by claiming people affected by this are seeking drama, you marginalised their experience and dismissed them, thereby allowing racism to flourish.

Gilead · 09/01/2018 17:44

Surely it's only racism if it's meant to be racist
As far as I know, 'I didn't really mean it' hasn't stood up in court yet.

CherryMaDeara · 09/01/2018 17:44

hendricks I'll ask again.

What do you think about all the people who have posted on this thread who have been called monkey as an insult, had a banana left on their desk, who have been insulted by 'jokes' about the jungle?

Do you think they love drama?

PoC: person of colour

noeffingidea · 09/01/2018 17:45

do you really honestly think H and M would have done it to be racist
I don't know how advertising campaigns work but I do wonder if there were one or two racists in key positions who thought they'd push their luck, and everyone else was either too thick to realise, or too frightened to speak up for some reason.

AppleTrayBake · 09/01/2018 17:45

Yes, yes Hendrick not one person in the h&m advertising team had ever heard of a reference between black people and monkeys in the jungle. It's not their fault and no one is allowed to be upset because you're not.

You can stop going on now.

NotACleverName · 09/01/2018 17:46

Surely it's only racism if it's meant to be racist .

I swear to god some people seem to think that only open involvement with the KKK, lynching and calling black people the n-word can be racist.

Rosewatersoap · 09/01/2018 17:46

hendricks not sure if you missed the OP but the thread is not whether the jumper or ad are racist but whether it is acceptable to photograph a black boy in a jumper saying coolest monkey in the jungle.

Apart form a few persistent posters most people think it is not acceptable as any business especially a multinational company would want to be culturally and socially aware and any marketing department representing a global brand worth their salt will do their best to avoid offending part of their customer base.

quencher · 09/01/2018 17:49

I was called a milky bar at school cause I'm white, do I have a problem the milky bar kid is portrayed as white. No. Apart from skin colour, what deep seated meaning did this carry? Educate me please? How did you feel and how did It make you feel about your childhood, child, brother or sister or any other person with the same skin tone or similar?
How did you look at your future as a human being in sea of different skin colours?

Can I join the bus to out of this world please.

CherryMaDeara · 09/01/2018 17:50

I was called a milky bar at school cause I'm white, do I have a problem the milky bar kid is portrayed as white.

This must have been a shit joke? No on can Ben this stupid.

Iggi999 · 09/01/2018 17:54

Has anyone here ever, ever called their child “the coolest monkey in the jungle” or even “you’re a cool monkey” or “you’re the cheekiest monkey in the jungle”? It just makes no sense at all. It seems like thy went out of their way to make the most pointless slogan top ever and then advertise it is a really offence way. H&M, are you all on glue?

diddl · 09/01/2018 17:59

Well yes, "cool as a monkey"??!!

It's just shit all round!