Nivea Pulls Kerfuffle-Causing Racist Ad

• It's = it is. Its = belongs to it. Learn to write English. You are part of the problem, racist.

• Racism is a system. If people don't understand that statement, then they won't understand how the ad is offensive. A white guy with an afro is not the issue because 1) A white man is not in the ad. 2) White men with afros (or an attempt at one) have not been told that their natural hair state is unruly and should be changed for over 400 years. 3) White men are part of a race of privilege. The reason why so many ads get the red light is because people of color constantly dismiss offensive material as nothing but people doing their jobs or give the "that's the way life is" speech. People have got to wake up. Systematic racism is alive and well. This ad is an example that it's not going anywhere anytime soon.

• Haha, listen up. Racism is a  belief, not an act or behavior. The ad may be insensitive. I may be insensitive. But NEITHER are "racist". Further, by throwing the word around, you dilute it's power, so when you come across real racism (yes it does exist) it's harder to call attention to it.  Make no mistake, you are part of the problem.

• No, it's on blind racists like you. It was disgusting, NIVEA pulled it as they should, and we don't live in a racial, ethnic or cultural vacuum, with no history before us. And a GERMAN company of all shouldn't have been pulling this crap. Germany and its corporations have a horrible enough history as it is.

• It's all about intent. Simple-minded indeed. And you shouldn't have to "intuit" offensive. Either something is or is not offensive. If you have to think about it, that's your first clue. Like I said, that's on you.

• I get SO sick of comments like "If it was a white guy holding a shaggy wig, would it be offensive?" Jesus Christ, for how many years and in how many ways do you need to say that no it wouldn't be, because blacks and whites have a different story in the U.S., and the historical significance and inferences to be made from an ad like this are COMPLETELY different for the two races. I just can't stand simple-minded thinking. It drives me up a freakin' tree. And I don't yet final comment of "Inappropriate, maybe. Offensive? If you think so, that's on you."  It's if perhaps inappropriate, that's because people can intuit that it's offensive.

• Oh, please ... would the ad still make sense if it was a white guy with unkempt hair? Yes. Does anyone really think there was racist intent (even subliminal) behind the creation of the ad? No. Inappropriate, maybe. Offensive? If you think so, that's on you.

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