Best-Selling Author Sophia Nelson Says Summer’s Eve Ad Perpetuates Stereotypes Against Black Women

July 20, 2011 - PRLog -- “If I had not seen it with my own eyes, I would think this was some kind of late night joke,” said Sophia Nelson, author and women’s advocate. She continued:

“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing as I watched the new Summer’s Eve ad. I was shaking my head in disgust – once again. The image of the Black women has been maligned once again in a sexist, degrading and insensitive manner. I am shocked. Time and time again, even when we have this amazing woman – First Lady Michelle Obama – as a symbol of grace and success – marketers still want to perpetuate the same old stereotypes. Now they equate a black woman getting her hair done to talking care of her genital hair and keeping clean. WOW!”

Nelson’s statement comes on the heels of last February’s Pepsi Super Bowl Ad portraying the “angry black woman” stereotype by kicking, slapping and abusing her mate, and throwing a can and hitting a young blonde haired white woman.  

“Now, we have this Summer’s Eve ad (http://summerseve.com/vpower/ad-campaign/lady-wowza) which uses a talking hand suggesting, among other things, that black women are spending too much time on hair on our head and not on our “wunder down under”.  

“Not only is the ad repulsive, but it’s yet another example of the stereotypical portrayal of black women that is completely inappropriate and unnecessary.  The ad preys on tired, overused themes that clearly illustrate that there are just not enough people of color, certainly black women, in the room when these ads are being produced. That in itself is outrageous during a time in this nation’s history when black women are running major corporations, universities and conducting groundbreaking medical and scientific research.   Yet, at the same time, black women are under siege at every turn – in commercials like this, reality TV shows and in corporate America. I just don’t get it.

“Enough is enough. We deserve better. Summer Eve’s ad firm – and the many others in this country – need to wake up. They need to stop taking the easy way out. They need to throw away all those stereotypes in their efforts to target who they “think” black women are or how they “think” we act, and actually, talk to black women. Hey, better yet, hire black women to create these messages! They’ll find we’re a sophisticated group who stands proud on continuously building our image up.”

Sophia A. Nelson is author of the best seller (over 10,000 copies sold since June 2011), “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling the Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama.” Go to Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3...)  to order your copy today.

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