Glib Gurl
Well-Known Member
Re: Just when I thought I was out, They pull me back in- "Sex and the single black wo
I actually think both of these theories fit together . . . they're marketing to us because it's clear we have mass purchasing power, but at the same time they're putting us down and attacking us because that's what marketing is all about - creating an insecurity that can only be remedied by some product (whether it be a magazine article or the latest beauty fix).
Just my $.02.
Ever since the Obama's took office, the media has gone into overdrive bashing black women/relationships.
They are so afraid that we will recognize our own power, and overtake them.
Bluntly, nope...White America has little to fear on this account. However...
I've said this several times before, but here's a good place to repeat it!
Mrs. O, Susan Rice, Condi, Desiree Rogers, etc...are visual representatives of BW of a certain class/income (professional/educated/single/high power married/no-few kids)) that are being specifically targeted for marketing purposes. IOW, BW's money is now where it's at! To date, this group hasn't been particularly sought out in the past, for many reasons...racist and otherwise, BUT now they can't be ignored.
(For fun we can even put Nene and the "Housewives"/balla/celeb girl crowd in this convo too...they have $$$$$$$$$$$ and they spend it too.)
The existence of a previously untapped group w/ growing affluence, education, and disposable income is too good to pass up, esp. given BW's well known desire to be "seen" as opposed to "invisible". I have nothing against BW being specifically marketed to, on the contrary, but it's HOW it's being done that bugs me. (Y'all happy now? We're being seen alright! There's a thing about being careful what you ask for cuz you just might get it!) Be it the lonely BW meme (tons of books/tv/cosmetics/fashion), the "expand your options" crowd (see how many are NOW selling "Date a WM" books :scratchch ), OR the totem pole-bottom of the barrel meme...it's all about $$$$$$$$$
If BW feel "undesirable" they can go buy X products to make themselves feel/become more so...if they feel lonely, they can join online groups and go to expensive restaurants,...they can date/marry a non BW = more disposable income between them...if they are too fat they can spend at gyms-diet foods, etc...feel me now?
It really bothers me that so few BW make the connection between this "sudden" coverage in the mainstream media (it's been all over the Black media for decades) and the economic aspects of it. There's money to be made by someone or else they wouldn't bother. It saddens me that so many BW seem to take this stuff to heart too. Know when you're being hustled sistahs!
The fact that "The Ecomonist", of all rags, decided to jump on this bandwagon surely proves my theory MIGHT have some merit after all, if I may say so myself!
I actually think both of these theories fit together . . . they're marketing to us because it's clear we have mass purchasing power, but at the same time they're putting us down and attacking us because that's what marketing is all about - creating an insecurity that can only be remedied by some product (whether it be a magazine article or the latest beauty fix).
Just my $.02.