The India Arie skin bleaching rumor: Is skin tone part of her personal brand?

Black_Copy_india-arie-cocoa-legs Is India Arie truly loving the skin she’s in? I can’t think of any other artist or celebrity whose skin tone is tied so significantly to what they do and who they are. The realization of that fact struck me a few days ago, as I read about the brouhaha over the image from India’s new single, Cocoa Butter . India sports a hot bronze and black mini against a bronze background. Her skin glows golden brown instead of her usual dark cocoa. Questions fluttered throughout the Internet whether India succumbed to the “lure” of skin lightening treatments. She is the example for all women who refuse to subscribe to society’s standard of beauty. Didn’t she write Brown Skin, I Am Not My Hair and Video? The very thing that I think kept India from winning any of her seven Grammy nominations in 2002, is the very thing that makes her an icon: The unapologetic embracing of her brown skin and all that goes with it.  It is what keeps us waiting patiently for her occasional hit singles. And to think she would renege on what is true. What a profound betrayal that would be, and an irreversible screw-up of her brand.

What she sings, how she sings, Who she is, right down to that mahogany skin is what we identify with.  This is India’s brand equity. It defines her image in the minds of her fans and admirers.  Can skin tone be so important that it becomes not only the person but the persona? I thinks so.  Just like logos have a consistent style code e.g. specific colors, font, size, etc. So does one’s  image.  That person is a walking logo. In India’s case, her hair, features, and yes the tone of her skin, has always stayed congruent to the message in her songs. Straying from that, ruins her brand.

Personal branding always starts with three questions: Black_Copy_India_guitar

  • Who is your target?
  • What do you stand for?
  • How do you communicate that message to the “who”?

India’s brand has enjoyed a point of distinction, that has stayed consistent throughout her career.  India’s brand has been successful because it’s authentic.  Altering any of it is disrespecting the brand…and us.

I know this sounds silly but one “color-of-skin-as-a-brand” example that comes to mind just as strongly is the Grinch,  if his green turned beige, that would ruin his whole grouchy Seuss-y vibe.

India Arie quickly squashed that nasty rumor with a laugh via Twitter and Facebook. Here is what she wrote on fb:

Love to all #SoulBirdsWorldWide are you ready for this #SongVersation ?

Personally speaking! I’m happy to say I have NOT BLEACHED my skin LOL! ROTF at the thought.

1. I wouldn’t endanger my health that way

2. i’m so in love with myself I have no DESIRE to BLEACH myself. Lol

3. The GLOW you see IS (magnificent) lighting

4. THE LIGHT you see, Well thats all ME!!

Politically speaking racism/colorism in the black community is a MUUUUUUUCH larger #SongVersation #skinversaton

THAT I’d LOVE to “shed light on”..that conversation IS REAL, …let’s keep talking. #SongVersation #soulbirdsworldwide

Big love to ALL #soulbirdsworldwide

Do you think the skin bleaching rumor damaged India Arie’s personal brand?

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Life after Timberlake: The Evolution of the Creative Director

Black_Copy_RobotEvolution

So we’re experiencing the evolution of the creative director.  First, we had the old school haberdashery and martini types, then the quirky cool all-black clad sophisticates. Then the young irreverent digi-hipsters populated the industry. And now we’re trending the “A-list celebrity” variety. Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Will. i.am and other uber stars are not only setting trends in the music biz but adding lyrical flavor to high profile ad launches. And it seems the agency’s lessor known directors of  the Big Idea can do nothing but embrace it, watch in dismay or blog about it.

Okay, so marketers are riding high on this one. But is it going to last? I mean, come on. Celebrity CDs can go so far before that becomes passe too.  You’ve got to come up with a new unexpected, edgy twist. So what’s next? What will be the next big trend in the land of Creative Directordom? I’ve got two predictions…

A Reality TV Show

Reality shows rule the planet. People lose weight, get married, catch criminals, become singing idols, pawn valuables, hoard, eat deodorant, repossess cars, catch fish , dupe pedophiles, rock the runway, and so on and so forth. Why not search for the next generation of Creative Directors via reality TV?  Yeah! A total 360 degree turn-around, from riches to rags.  Kind of like The Apprentice. Call it, “Anybody Can Be a Creative Director.” No, that’s too long. How about, “Ad Star Search”? Eh…  It’s a working title.

Who would star in Ad Star Search?  Your ordinary shmo who doesn’t know dooda about advertising; Grabowski the butcher, Celeste the librarian, Or Shalonda, mother of two. Like The Apprentice, they ‘re given ad projects to supervise and produce from concept to execution. And each contestant’s work is critiqued by the biggest creative geniuses in the industry; folks like Lee Clow, Tom Burrell and Justin Timberlake.  Of course there are eliminations every week. The winner’s work is produced and they win the coveted title of Creative Director at a swanky Madison Avenue agency. Forget the college grads who slaved for an ad degree or the veteran unemployed ad exec trying to replant his foot in the industry door. That’s too expected. Ad Star Search contestants are far removed from the advertising mainstream. That’s what makes it so intriguing. Ad Star Search will be so popular that ad agencies will adopt the concept  to recruit for their own shops.  They will ride the “trend” like a stallion. Soon we’ll see webisode contests all over the web. And what about the aspiring creatives inside and the shops? They will stand on the sidelines and watch in dismay or blog about it.

Or maybe the trend will go techy:

Robo CDs (Creative Directors)

Robots programmed with the thought waves and algorithms of the most creative ad minds in contemporary history, like Lee Clow, Tom Burrell and Justin Timberlake. Robo CD’s efficiently and spectacularly direct creative and manage teams. This would be a great win-win venture for both client and agency because :

  • Robo CD’s are cost effective. Buy one for $999,998 and it pays for itself in a couple of years.
  • It has a built in budget manager that keeps spending costs within budget
  • A Timeline tripper to keep the projects on track. That eliminates finger-pointing. If the client fails to approve the copy at the agreed date, Robo CD has record of it. Clients will still blame you for the missed deadlines. But at least Robo CD’s got the proof.
  • It is the ultimate project manager, group manager and coffee fetcher all-in-one. No egos to deal with. It multitasks with ease and is always on time
  • It doesn’t talk smack, and it doesn’t get frustrated by temperamental creatives.
  • It presents the work to the client with well calculated and statistical rationale, the creative team is like a human accessory. In fact, for an upgrade, Robo CD could triple as a account planner, media buyer, and receptionist. Can we say “phase out positions?”.
  •  Robo CD comes in silver with a black mock turtleneck; it speaks 12 languages including Spanish and Ebonics. So you’ve got the multicultural thing covered.
  • The after-hour schmoozing? Well, give Robo CD a can of synthetic oil with a dash of lemon, and (s)he’s good to go.
  • You can program it to be male or female,  gay or straight.

Creatives hoping to rise to CD status will have to redirect their aspirations. But that’s the nature of the business. Robo CD is the new digital. We must adapt to our ever-changing industry.  Human creatives can do nothing but watch in dismay or yes, blog about it.

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So God made a black farmer too. [Video]

black-farmer …And on the 3rd Day of February, between gliding leather bullets and human collisions; amidst frantic cheers and tears under the annual ritual we call the Super Bowl; God saw fit to allow the airing of a 2-minute TV commercial; One that tugged the hearts of armchair America, a Dodge Ram spot that paid homage to the caretakers of our land: So God Made a Farmer.

The commercial eloquently captured the blood, sweat and toil of this dying breed who faithfully provide sustenance to America’s families. And yes, I was riveted by the still photography and stirring 35 year old delivery of legendary radio broadcaster Paul Harvey. But as I sat mesmerized, I waited to see an image that spoke to my heritage. What flashed before me were close-ups of stoic white men whose faces drowned out the obligatory medium shots of a minority token or two; Their images minimized against the amber waves of grain.

God made a Black farmer too. Where was my Grandpa, Grandma and Great Granny? My Auntie and Uncle Bolden? And didn’t God make Hispanic and Native American farmers? They too were under-represented.

I am the offspring of a century and a half of African-American caretakers of the land, from Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, who experienced their toils and troubles, their sun ups and sun downs. Their injustices and beat-downs.   I wrestled with my mixed emotions; loving the commercial and feeling dejected at the same time. Come to find out. It is not an original concept at all, but a direct rip from the Farms.com website. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Farmer isn’t original, but the execution is still stunning, so much so, you can easily miss the whitewash. Minimizing positive Black imagery and accomplishments is as American as wrestling cattle. We’re often footnotes or accessories in history books, TV shows, movies and magazines as well as TV commercials. When content is exceptional, the omission is harder to recognize or criticize. Some friends of mine saw – or rather felt – the omission as I did. Others did not. I say be aware and vocal about how you are represented – if represented at all, otherwise your importance and relevance  will be lost.

What do you think of the Farmer spot?

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Nigerian men with tattooed pink lips: Hot fashion or hot mess? [VIDEO]

Black_Copy_Pink_LipsOkay folks, we’ve seen it all when it comes to fashion and fads within African and African-American culture, bleaching creams, gold grills, sagging pants and now, pink lips. Yes friends, tattooing the bottom lip pink (or red, if you prefer) is the latest fashion craze among many men in Nigeria. Why oh why, do they decide to permanently mark their lips in such a fashion? A Lagos tattoo artist said he’s “cleaning up” black lips by painting them pink. Recipients of the procedure say pinker lips attract the ladies.

Personally, these tattooed pink lips remind me of demeaning stereotypical caricatures from back in the day where darker skinned Blacks who did sport lips that had pinkish tones  were mocked by exaggerated, demeaning and racist images.  One image comes to mind: Little Black Sambo. black_Copy_Little_ black_sambo-coverIronically,  he was a beloved storybook character, an adorable little coon with pink lips that got into mishaps and misadventures. Sambo was as  popular as today’s Wimpy Kid Diaries or the enduring Curious George. Thanks to the Black Power Movement, we managed to eradicate most negative imagery – pink lips and all.

Now a half century later, on the shores of the Motherland, we see this pink lip buffoonery being embraced as a fashion statement. If you ask me, I think it’s yet another attempt to alter the unappreciated, much hated reality of  black skin.

To my misguided brothers who think their black lips would look “Pretty in Pink”: Embrace and celebrate your true colors. Ditto to the brothers who hate their naturally pinkish bottom lips. I pray that this pink lip trend will not cross the shores of America, or anywhere else in the Black Diaspora.

What do you think of the pink lip craze??

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Psy’s Gangnam Style goes to Africa! (video)

Black_copy_Psy_Gangnam_Style_Africa

Aaninka African Dance Company going Gangnam Style

Ahhh, the world is coming together as One. Here’s the viral hit, Psy’s Gangnam Style making moves in the Motherland! A jamming treat from Aaninka African Dance & Music Company, Cote’ d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). If you think it’s hot (or not) tell me why.

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What these seniors will do if voter suppression sabotages the election [VIDEO]

A Message from the Greatest Generation by Michael Moore

My 10 picks of controversial magazine covers

Guess you heard about Newsweek’s latest mag cover.  Talk about biased journalism! At least we know where Newsweek stands on our President by making conservative historian Niall Ferguson‘s one-sided article the cover story.  Do you think it’s fair journalism or did Newsweek cross the line?

Here are more magazine covers that generated their share of raised eyebrows. What’s your opinion?

Well! This Time cover story on attachment parenting left a bad taste in many readers’ mouths. But apparently not for this little boy. Is this sensationalism? I say heck yeah! Kinda nasty too. And I breastfed both of my sons. Tell me what you think. But first, finish your milk.

The Cover of the usually white bread Publishers Weekly magazine got unmercifully picked on for what was perceived to be its insensitivity toward African-American literature. Many felt that the double entendre of showing Afro picks to pun African-American publishing trends, was insulting and racist. What do you think when you first see the cover? Now here’s the back story: The cover was actually designed by an African-American at PW who took the work of Lauren Kelly from the book  Posing Beauty: African-American Images from the 1890s to the Present by Deborah Willis. Posing Beauty was one of the books featured in Publisher’s Weekly. PW issued a heartfelt apology.  Does knowing the back story change your opinion?

King Kong makes a comeback, this time as Lebron James on the cover of Vogue. Black ape-man grabs white damsel in distress. Too me, it’s obviously racist and insulting. Whoever came up with this concept belongs in a zoo.

More Comebacks! Nobody told me Jesus’ second coming would be as Kanye West! Rolling Stone’s cover got anti hip-hop fundamentalists speaking in tongues on this one. I’m a Christian, but this didn’t bother me so much. Charlton Heston played Moses and he was an atheist. Speaking of atheists, check out the next cover….

Ricky Gervais on the New Humanist magazine cover pokes fun at Jesus lovers. True, atheists have the right to their opinions. But just like they don’t want to be offended by my beliefs, I don’t want to be ridiculed for mine.  Ricky and New Humanist can go to hell. What do you think?

In December 1963, Esquire magazine graced its cover with the first Black Santa Claus; actually World Heavyweight Champion, Sonny Liston. George Lois art directed and Carl Fischer shot it. Needless to say this shocked the ho ho ho out of White America, especially down South. Esquire lost thousands in ad revenue. But the cover gained high esteem and praise for its daring move. Would you want Sonny sliding down your chimney Christmas night?

Words could not describe the unspeakable sorrow and  loss felt on September 11, 2001. The New Yorker captured it with this cover by Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly. Look closely and see what is literally missing.

From ravishing to ravaged. This Time cover on U.S. troops leaving Afghanistan sums up the damage of war and terrorism. Are we exiting a nation unprepared to defend itself? This teen-aged girl named Aisha, had her nose and ears chopped off by the Taliban. Is Time playing with our emotions with this cover?

Nicki, Nicki, Nicki. Complex magazine’s 10th anniversary issue deserves a complex subject on its cover. This really isn’t that controversial to me, but to my more conservative friends…Lawdy, Lawdy. I think the art direction is pretty cool and fun. What’s your take?

Out of my 10 picks, which one is the most controversial to you and why?