This black vegetarian is so tired of PETA ads
The 2020 Super Bowl ad from PETA that deserved a block from Fox Sports and the NFL
I’m a tree-hugging, Earth Hour honoring, recycle bin condo association watching, 15-year vegetarian. Minus California maki rolls and the occasional Filet o’ Fish (my only two weaknesses), I haven’t eaten anything that had parents since 2005. But still, animal rights organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) make it so hard to defend them.
As much as I want to put on my cape and step to the front of the line, sticking up for all the good things they do (like help me find cruelty-free perfume), they love to remind me they don’t have enough African-American people on their staff. I used to know one black PETA employee, but she was terminated for not showing up to a meeting. I don’t know how important the meeting was, but I damn sure think black folks at PETA should never get vacation days when this company comes up with a new marketing idea.
Here’s why I believe that black people should be required to work during all of PETA’s marketing meetings. If they’re not there, then nonsense like this reaches the public eye.
I have discussed cultural appropriation at length when it comes to marketing ideas. I have talked about why it is important to represent a product honestly, understanding exactly who initiated those “new” product ideas.
Recommended Read: “Cultural Appropriation: How to Not Lose Your Loyal Audience ~ The case of Shea Moisture”
But this PETA ad is about the laziest way to pay homage to former quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Not only does it miss every possible amount of footage related to racial profiling and police brutality that it could have used. It somehow decides to #AllLivesMatter the situation by ending the commercial with an #EndingSpeciesism hashtag.
