Is the new Old Navy commercial racist?

Yours is a totally misdirected rant. BLACK PEOPLE are the #1 culprits in degrading and insulting their own culture in media, advertising, you name it. Black Advertising agencies create the most racist ads, Black artist (singers, video ho's, etc) profile Blacks in media stereotypically more than anyone. The stuff you are talking about is a drop in the bucket, but an easy target for you to shoot at. BET has done more cultural damage the growth and brought to American homes Black ho's with no clothes shaking their asses. Black radio features songs with the N and B words left and right. It's Black Advertising agencies that create the stereotypical Black voices and images you see in McDonalds commercials for example. Why don't you take one the real culprits responsible for most of the stereotypical images that are targeted on us...do that and you'll see it's BLACK PEOPLE at the controls defining Black people in stereotypical manner, kind of like the Black Ghetto Literature books about ho's, pimps, promiscuous woman and men.....these are Blacks defining Blacks.

No! A commercial that envolve any thing black is not always racist. We as a people have to get over racism too. I saw the commercial and it was very funny.

Anonymous, I find it presumptuous and naive (and for that matter, offensive) for you to respond to this article as if there isn't ongoing discontent expressed about BET and the like by many black people. So because some "black" media outlets produce racist representations, the Old Navy add is not racist?

And the spirit of Jessie Jackson lives on. So what's the plan? Let's get a protest going and when it starts taking root you get an under the table payoff and all of a sudden it fizzles? Trust no one who is shouting from the mountain tops about trivial matters such as this. It is sad nothing else happened that is newsworthy in black america that could have prevented this foolish article from being printed. I would have preferred to read about the devastating effects of bowel cancer on 100 year old white men than this foolishness. The commercial was funny and you need to get a sense of humor.

I think it's VERY ridiculous to imply this commercial is racist. Can a coincidence be argued in the use of "Michelle" as the name of the black female mannequin? Sure... but I think it's just that- a coincidence. Michelle Obama is not he first black female named Michelle, she isn't one of very few, and she sure as hell has no monopoly over the use of the name by black females. That's just stupid, first off. Second, how is this commercial in any way degrading ANYBODY??? The writer of this article first claims the mannequins are "four white females, and two black". Well, I see two white females (one child), one latina, one asian, and two black (one child). See how easy it is to make the writer look racist? He only saw "white" when others may see other races. The point is anything can be painted to look racist if that's what you have in your head. Yes, there is a problem with the African-American psyche, and maybe you should see a therapist about yours.

I have watched and still see many commercials and TV shows with derogatory racist innuendos and many of them coming from the black sitcoms and movies with Black actors throwing the punch line. I watch commercials of Beyonce for cover girl with her blond straight hair and the white models are the same color or darker than she. If those who make millions of dollars entertaining us have no racial integrity we need not support their enterprises. One cannot fight every battle or scream about every situation but we have a responsibility to protect our image and those of our ancestors for our children's sake. Therefore start a letter campaign, began a defamation league but it should be inclusive of those images whether they are betrayed by black or white folks. Also what have you done for the community today other then cry foul... it is a question that I ask my self whenever I feel hurt by the insensitivity of others. Arsenia Hall, who was not gifted with looks, still makes dark jokes and his comments are ugly and dark. Maybe he should just make ugly jokes which would not feed into the image of America Racist history in which many people were killed for being dark yet none murdered for being ugly in looks or comments.

my brotha, i totally understand where you are coming from...............African people in this country have been so hoodwinked there is no more fight in us...........whether we are taking part in the degradation or observers of such........why not take the clothes of the white dummies........or throw a jewish one in there.................that person would have been fired!

It depends on how you look at it, I don't see it as necessarily racist, just more tripe from a low brow company with made I China tacky clothes. Want to see racist, turn on a rap video, every vile stereotype out there is in each and everyone of them.

The first time I watched it I was like huh? I think its questionable and degrading But i'm not sure if imma say its racist.

I have to say that as a Black woman I was a little taken aback at the commercial. I don't think it was racist per se, but it was extremely borderline and tacky. Would we have ever seen a commercial showing a store of black mannequins with someone tearing the dress off of the one white female one? Probably not.

True, black folk have a right to be touchy with the racist history of this country; however, somethings aren't worth getting this upset over. The commercial at best is cheesy and tacky and if you don't like it don't shop at Old Navy. Had you not called attention to this, I probably wouldn't have paid it any attention at all since I don't shop at Old Navy.

First, thank you Oooookay. I couldn't read the whole post and if a person can't speak their mind about what they find harmful here then where. Even if we don't agree with each other is it necessary to put one another down? Especially on what some might see as a minor issue. I support those who are finding a way to express their anger and frustration through this media and in front of this community. Even if I don't agree, unless of course it's harmful. Please do consider that you could not exchange that brown mannequins for the white ones and even get on the air. Secondly, in my life I've seen the brown-skinned girl get called out by the white girls or women in their circles over, and over and over and this commercial not only says it's okay, it says she doesn't mind. I know brown-skinned men and women who stay away from groups of white men because... We may not be directly offended by this image, but what about the kids out there. If just one of the white mannequins would have been naked it would have made such a difference. It is so clearly an attack on Michelle Obama and they just wouldn't have done this to a white first woman. I shop hard to avoid cheap-child-labor-clothing stores - I know I'm fortunate for that and now I feel great about avoiding ON over the past few years. Thank you Tolu

Give me a break!! I just have to put this in the somebody's a little too sensitive category. If there was no Black mannequin in the commercial, I guess that would be racist too. Sheesh!

Got "False Outrage"? The only outrage here is your blinding rage over absolutely nothing! CHILE PLUHEEZ!

Well some of us here are a weee bit HYPER-SENSITIVE aren't we? The only person I can imagine thinking this commercial as racist is someone who walks the streets everyday obsessing about race and only seeing a person's color. Come on! Of all the more pressing issues facing the black community in this economy you get outraged by this? If you want to get angry about race I suggest you watch a hip hop video.

With valor we fought and died in everyone of this countries wars, invented most every modern convenience used today, and yet it took well into the sixties till we could even drink out of the same water fountain, eat at the same lunch counter, or even vote! Less than fifty years ago they use to lynch a black man for even looking at a white girl, rape a black woman or child without fear of reprisal. not to mention you still like to drag us behind trucks and you idiots have nerve enough to say "oh those blacks are just too sensitive we gave them a black president and we let OJ get away with killing a nig lover ahh we aren't racist".

Irregardless of race, what message is this sending? What is the significance of riping a womans clothes off in a public department store. In all, this commercial, like that of the clothes sold at Old Navy is tacky and in poor taste. However, I feel I need to address the previous comments from Adam and tjr. I'm sure these individuals would know about hip hop videos since White males in sub-urban America are the largest consumers of rap music. Instead of pointing the finger at other groups maybe you should concern yourself with white female exploitation. Have you heard of Girls Gone Wild, Playboy, the Bad Girls Club, Rock of Love, any southern rock video with artists like Gretchen Wilson who sings about being a redneck woman, the Blue Collar Comedy Show, the Man Show or the pantyless Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Lindsey Lohan? Deal with your own problems first before you point the finger at other groups.

Well I don't feel it's neccessary a racist message but definitely INAPPROPRIATE. However, We as aAfrican American people has and will always be a punching bag for angry white folks especially since Obama has become President as if we're still trying to prove something to white america. And we do not need to at all

In today's edition at HuffPo. There are 2 articles one is tilted "Townhall: Michelle Obama is a Bitch, Get It?" by Burt Prelutsky and this from a Christian owned company...JESUS! and The other one is Radio Host Tammy Bruce who Calls The Obamas "Trash In The White House" you can visit HuffPo to read and or listen to the articles

The Old Navy Ad is definitely in poor taste but racist...NAH. But I don't have a problem with us speaking out on it neither

Those folks can be angry if they want but we got this for the next 4 and possibly 8 years. And OH YEAH OLD NAVY is about to go out of business any damn way. Gap is about to fold em up. AIN'T KARMA A BITCH

This columnist called the 1st Lady a B*tch ,Bert Prelutsy writing for an Evangelical Christian website Townhall .Copied comment below: Here's something from his current offering: Take Michelle Obama...please. Every time I turn around, there she is on a magazine cover. Now, normally, like the Mafia, I lay off the spouses, but inasmuch as this particular spouse attended the same racist church as her hubby for 20 years, I'll make an exception in her case. After all, in spite of the fact that affirmative action got her an Ivy League degree and a $7,000-a-week salary and, moreover, has sent billions of dollars for no particularly good reason to Africa, she insists this is a mean country. The burning question in my circle is: if the First Family gets a female dog, will she be the First Bitch or will she have to settle for second place? Get it? Because "bitch" had two meanings! Ah, Christian-sponsored humor. That's not just funny. That's Jesus funny. Weird that Burt Prelutsky doesn't work more. Because that "take my wife... please" bit is also pure dynamite. Must be ageism. Naturally, the left-wing media is now trying to convince us that this James Brown-look-alike has all the allure, glamour and fashion sense of Jackie Kennedy. She's not pretty, for heaven's sakes! She's black! She's a black bitch! You can read the rest at Townhall. The Internet home of culture warriors Dennis Prager, Bill Bennett and Michael Medved. (Who have all, by the way, written about Barack Obama's horrible, shocking association with that racist hatemonger Jeremiah Wright. Who called America an ugly black bitch. Oh wait, he didn't.) (They've also all written columns bemoaning how angry and mean liberal humor is.) If you read Burt Prelutsky's columns, you'll see that he isn't a racist; he just has a lot of thoughts -- I mean a lot -- about how black people should behave. If Langston Hughes had talked about black people as much at Burt Prelutsky does, someone would have told him to sit down. Here's another Burt Prelutsky column from Townhall: If we were a racist society, Oprah Winfrey, your fairy godmother, certainly wouldn't be a billionaire; she'd be fetching someone's mint julep. And Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice wouldn't grow up to be secretaries of state; they'd be sweeping out the stables. And Will Smith and Denzel Washington wouldn't be movie stars; they'd be in the fields picking cotton. That's awfully big of us, letting Denzel Washington rise so high above his station. Thanks, Burt. Thanks Townhall. (Cross-posted with Stormfront.) The executive editor of Townhall is Hugh Hewitt. His current column is about how terribly offended he was when Barack Obama made a joke about the Special Olympics: We should hope President Obama makes more than apology. We should hope he makes good. By getting me a julep. Now, if there's one thing I hate worse that playing gotcha with a joke that goes wrong, it's using guilt-by-association and high dudgeon to score cheap political points. But I gotta ask: Should we hope Hugh Hewitt apologizes for publishing sad old Burt Prelutsky? How should he make good? Oh, the Christian broadcasters who own Townhall, the site that says Michelle Obama is a bitch and Will Smith is lucky he's not picking cotton is Salem Communications. You can thank them here. Michelle Obama Burt Prelutsky was a TV writer a long time ago. Then he aged out of it and became a crank. This wasn't one of those major loses like Steinbeck. Now he writes a column for Townhall.com, the popular ... Burt Prelutsky was a TV writer a long time ago. Then he aged out of it and became a crank. This wasn't one of those major loses like Steinbeck. Now he writes a column for Townhall.com, the popular ...

I am usually very sensitive to things in the media that are racially insensitive or degrading to us Black folk including many things that my friends often don't see. But when I first saw this ad I was pleased. The Black figure is presented as an object of desire. She is HOT and everyone wants her. She is dark skinned and obviously there is a Michelle connection here. Why not celebrate a dark skinned black woman being elevated to a higher level in the eyes of our society? Just because we are not used to seeing dark skinned black women fawned over as sex symbols does not mean its a bad thing. I think the black woman is singled out in this ad for her positive traits and viewed in a celebratory way rather than a degrading way. At least I hope that's what the people who made this ad were trying to do.

I didn't see the commercial as racist or funny nor did I even realize that the mannequin was named Michele and if I had I wouldn't have linked it to the First Lady. I think you're stretching this commercial a bit too far. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, though.

This commercial is borderline but no worse than stuff we see/hear on BET, Steve Harvey, etc. Black people have always and will continue to play into stereotypes for financial gain. As Hattie McDaniel said, "I'd rather play a maid than be one." As long as we place a higher premium on getting paid than integrity, it's hard to blame other people for merely doing what we do to ourselves.

OMG. Were my parents racist because they named me Michaële? I am sure you would find something ridiculous and absurd to implicate them, just like you found something ridiculous and absurd in the commercial to accuse Old Navy of being racist. Why don't you use your time for a good cause, like volunteer for something useful or fight real racism???

OMG. I am very perplexed by these comments! Yeah, I am sure that the lynch mob will chase after Old Navy if the dress were to be taken off a white mannequin. (Key word: MANNEQUIN). Quit whining about a stupid non-degrading commercial and get a life! Then again, any publicity is good publicity. Old Navy should thank your self righteousness, as misguided as it may be. Did you cry racism when you didn't get picked first during gym class?

When I first saw this commercial, it did cause me pause, but I did not think of it as racist. I did wonder why even though there seemed to be mannequins for a few of the races, Asian, White, African American, and Latina that they would use the mannequin depicting an African American woman to be the most boisterous out of the group, and to be the one who would be chacterized as the person without the most clothing in the end? The name Michelle only allows various inferences to be made. I remember immediately thinking,"Gosh, I don't find this commercial to be tasteful at all." I think I made a connection at first to the first Fist Lady in the White House, Michelle Obama. But as I said, inference could be made to this fact. In closing, this commercial is neither racist or funny. I believe that many of us have lost our sense of humor and at times take things out of context, and project what we conscientiously are thinking. In having seen the commercial a few more times, I either change the channel or shut off the t.v. now, I just don't watch it. Not so much out of sight out of mind, but just because something comes on television to be shown to all, doesn't make it correct or right. I realize the mannequin is of color, a darker color. The fact that her name is Michelle does cause me to wonder if they aren't somehow portraying to the people who view the commercial, a possible resemblance in our First Lady Michelle Obama, and if this is the case, it is in extreme poor taste. Until we are able to get our minds away from our thoughts of negativity, and think only of the positive, we will forever try to make a connection out of things that should be deemed innocent. I have noticed more African Americans stepping up to the plate, more selection of newscasters who are either female or male, but African American, more commentators, more commercials depicting African Americans I am sure this is because we now have an African American President and First Lady in office. I just wish it would come naturally and people could allow that yes, having a person of color in anything is right. After all we this is 2009 not 1964! We've come a long way, with a long road still ahead, but at least allowing EQUALITY into the mix OR SCHEME OF THINGS is alright to do. In closing, allow me to just say that . . . Racism is one of the most revolting things within the vicinity of humanity. It haunts our past, many times degrading the future. The causes of racism aren't known to the majority of humans living on earth, however, a good fraction of them express it. In order to cure racism, or at least minimize its affects on humanity, we have to examine the root causes. What are the possible causes of racism? Why are some people racist? Where does racism come from? Some of these questions can be answered here: Stereotypes One of the most common causes of racism is stereotypes. Through television, through radio, through the internet, through music, through books, and the like, the potential for stereo- types to build are a definite possibility. When a person, especially one that is very young, is exposed to stereotypes of a specific group for the first time, quite possibly that person will assume all are that way. Likewise, when a source is constantly displaying negative things about a particular race, then that will affect the overall opinions as well. Unfamiliarity Another very common, and probably the most common cause of racism is unfamiliarity. People fear what they do not know or understand. If someone hasn't grown up around a particular race before, then there is more of a chance the person can be racist toward that particular group. Not all the time, but when the person has already been fed negative stereotypes, and does not have the actual real life experiences or the education or even a work experience with at least one within the particular group, then the chances of racism are increased. This is why it is important for children to be around other races at a young age: to ensure they get their minds used and adapted to being around them, and also to help counterbalance any false stereotypes they may encounter in the future. SELFISHNESS Selfishness is another obvious cause of racism. Humans are sometimes very selfish creatures caring only about their OWN at the expense of others. If individuals aren't taught how to respect others, then the potential for the person to become racist is increased as well. This is why you will find that most caring individuals aren't racist. Neither are they sexist or anything else. GENES-ENVIRONMENT The last and probably the most surprising cause of racism is biology and genes. We are all made different biologically and genetically. Our physical environment can affect our biology and therefore in many causes, affect our minds. This does not mean freewill and choice are not options, but that individuals' potential for racism could possibly be increased though similar genetic traits of parents and other environmental factors. Just as some people are more prone to getting heart disease, arthritis, or whatever when passed down through their parents genes, so some people are more prone to becoming racist. This should not be used as an excuse that racism has to persist, but more of a better chance to cure racism biological rather than thinking it can only be done by other means. Those are the 4 main causes of racism. As previously stated, racism is one of the most revolting things that paralyzes humanity. To cure racism permanently, we must first address the root problems, which are: stereotypes, unfamiliarity, selfishness, and biology aspects. When we cure and address those things, we will cure racism as well. By talking about racism, we open the door to wanting change in America. Children are born with purity; with no predetermine hate of other. Therefore, we can conclude that racism is at best a learned behavior and it is born when a person has a uniformed opinion about someone based on skin, color, religious practice or other foolishness. Racism is a somewhat uncomfortable subject, yet it is a problem that must be addressed because it will not go away if left unattended. We are all affected by the rotten milk that is racism; it's cancer that eats away at the hearts of America. A closer look will reveal that racism is displayed in the school, workplace and even the church to name a few. Because of our inability to look beyond skin color, we often miss out on meeting some people. The true nature of a person cannot be determined by the color of their skin, but who that person is in addition to the outside, but on the inside. A point of interests is that racial prejudiced is not just a black or white issue, its a universal problem and the affects are felt around the world. Hate crimes are on the rise even right here in the United States and with the election of a black president things are expected to get ugly and worse. Stigmas have been put on a variety f different races. We can love one another without putting stipulation or expectation of reward for our good deeds always waiting with extended arms. It's as if you are not really like this or like that in general and you choose to isolate other species with different nationalities. We are scared of the unknown and things we don't understand. We as a people can’t be tolerant of others who are not like us. A person can always feel when they not welcome. We have people that would pretend they really care and are concerned, but in truth really don't give a darn. We are supposed to be a higher class of species based on the fact that we are White and American, but many of us in American act like a lower class of people. I believe that people should take a stance of this and try to learn from our past; if we choose not to, we are doomed to repeat the sins of our forefathers. It is a shame that we as people don't get to know the person without judging them because of their differences. Life is too short to make exceptions or take chances? The time is now to teach our children that love has no boundaries(many men and women in the younger generation, seem to be taking a chance and are finding this out. Love is when you are able to say you are sorry with forgiveness AND compassion. We might not like what the other person has done in their life time, but we are still supposed to love them for whom they are and have become faults and all. We all will often come short, but we are to suppose to be able to learn from our mistakes. Sometimes that is not the case for some people, but still we love them for who they are. This is what is going to separate YOU from the others – your ability to love and love whomever regardless and with no stipulations, although you know a little about what the other person is about. For you this means that you are still learning and growing. We must ALL BE SLOW about drawing conclusions along with reserving judgment on life's storms until we know the whole story. Spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9 Oh how true this verse is. Thankfully I am not quick to anger. God has given me a lot of patience over the years. Those times when I have hit a boiling point, although few in nature, yet still provoked to tendencies of getting upset over minute things, when it is all said and done, I feel foolish for allowing myself to get to that point. A lot of needless things are said when we are disappointed, angry, careless, or just getting upset because something didn't go as planned. Things happen; many things that can scar not only those around you but also yourself as you beat yourself up for allowing foolishness to fall from your tongue. Next time you feel yourself getting to that boiling point . . .STOP, Take a Breath and Pray before you speak. Often times we say the most foolish things when we are angry and if we could just stop in the heat of the moment and pray, most likely we will be able to stop before the point of no return. God will put the right words into your heart and dissipate the anger allowing you to speak the correct words or perhaps silence you all together. Often times the best way to extinguish anger is to leave certain things unsaid. Prayer: Lord give me the patience I need to keep myself from getting to my boiling point; help me to leave unnecessary things left unsaid. Lord anger does belong in the bosoms of fools; help me to stay out of the foolishness. Lord help me to recognize my anger and to realize when it is time for me to stop and pray before I proceed with any actions. In your precious son's name. Amen.

Tolu you are NOT being overly sensitive. Do not listen to the white-washed complacent posters here. This Old Navy commercial is dripping with disrespect for black women. So out of all these mannequins, shanequa (or michelle--hmmm coincidence? no) the black mannequin is the only one who has her clothes violently taken off? And she loves it because after all, black women just loveee showing off their naked bodies in public and to the world like oversexualized whores. If they would have had a Jewish woman on there, talking with a NY Jewish accent, who gets her clothes stripped off in front of her family while everyone oogles at her, don't tell me that the Jewish people wouldn't be in an uproar over their portrayal in the commercial. I really can't believe that some black people don't see a problem with this. WTH

O-K. I must say I am confused. What does the 1st Lady have to do with this commercial. Was it implied that the mannaquin represented her? I don't perceive it to be racist, just stupid. However, each person is entitled to his/her own opinion.

I'm with you on this one Deena and Sandy because regardless of what ethnicity you use the commercial is just in poor taste and I stand by my original comment that it is also cheesy and tacky. This is not complacency on my part. I just feel that their are other priorities to get upset about.

I find the majority of these comments interesting. Many of you express complacency in regards to the commercial. While I agree it is one small stupid commercial, it is also one of many ways women of color are depicted in derogatory and stereotypical ways. I have noticed that there are more commercials staring black people recently, which is a step in the right direction, however the actors in the commercials are usually neck swiveling loud mouths, or "mammy-esque." So, I think it is our responsibility to speak out against any injustice we see no matter how small or trivial they appear. If you add up all the "small stuff" it can become a very large and significant pile of racist crap. So, Tolu keep writing about the injustices you see. Make people see what is really going on. Keep educating our people (who apparently need to be reminded of our history from time to time). Black women, we need to fight against these racist stereotypes that have evolved from slavery. White people created the stereotype of the Jezebel to ease their conscious, while they raped and beat us. White slave owners reasoned that black women were naturally promiscuous and over sexual, therefore it was ok to rape us. In fact we wanted it. There are many other stereotypes that come out of slavery and are still present today. The very saddest part of this is that many black women internalize these stereotypes and act accordingly. Take the "video vixen," Karrine Steffans for example. So, in conclusion fight EVERY racist injustice you see no matter how small or trivial they may first appear.

The Old Navy commercial wasn't racist it was just in poor taste. Actually, they were trying to give some people a little taste of "Brown Sugar." Bad ads just fade away if we don't comment on them.

i get so sick of black people claiming inequality and racism in 2009. truth be told,most blacks hang out with blacks and most whites hang with whites and most asians hang with other asians and the same with hispanics and any other race.most people of ANY race hang with others of the same race and don't intermix!!! interracial dating and interracial friendships are in the minority and probably always will be and it's just plain the way it is..a fact of life and normal!! the blacks that complain about the old navy ad reminds me of a black friend i used to have.yeah,used to!!i never saw the rebellious side of him til one day he happened to see an article in the paper that had to do with a black man being chased in traffic by the cops and arrested.my friend made the statement that the cops wouldn't have treated this guy the way they did if he was white.i read the article and his view was total nonsense!! after a few more comments like this he became a past friend!! remember the phrase "you can take a black person out of the ghetto but...." i shouldn't have to mention the rest of the statement.people know exactly what it means and it's true!!unfortunately!! it's a fact of life,regardless of what began the process!!

Well, I think there is nothing wrong about getting mad about these things -- it's the only way anything has ever improved in society. However, one just needs to be sure that the anger is directed to the right place -- in this case, ON (and it seems as if the author is doing that) and not toward whites in general. Now that anyone is able to protest, write letters, vote, etc., there are numerous ways to express one's opinion and help rid oneself of anger and put it to good use -- changing things. The author of this article has done just that. I am appalled by all of the other white people who say that nobody should be crying racism in this day and age. Just remember all of the things that were happening during the campaign. I think ads should avoid the possibility of racist accusations, as well as connotations such as Michelle, our first lady. To me, obviously the one getting the clothing ripped off should have been white in order to avoid the accusation. Duh, ON. By the way, I am a white woman.

Jesus CHRIST. SHUT UP. Cry me a river. Maybe if you spent the same amount of time rebuilding the black community and their values that you do scrutinizing harmless clothing commercials you wouldn't have anything to complain about. Stop blaming the white community for your shortcomings. Barack Obama is in, you won - and now you're out of excuses. Take responsibility for your own life, and starting focusing on the things that really matter.

are you kidding me? its a god damn commercial .. grow up! no ones picking on the "poor black people" so get over it. I don't pity ANY of you black people, when really you guys are the raceist.. and I knew someone would pull out the slave card. typical.. typical f@#$%*! comment from you people. get a life. and a real job. stop sucking off the white peoples money with your god damn welfair.

A. it is a clothing commercial...yacky, cheesy...yes, B. what does Barack Obama getting into office have to do with this?? also...newsflash...Barack Obama is half white... I guess that makes him EVERYONE'S president....

This commercial is not racist at all, and if you can find something racist about it then you should probably stop over analyzing commercials.

This is so stupid. Does anyone really have nothing better to do then to play the "race card" over every little thing including tv ads?!?!?!?! P-A-T-H-E-D-I-C

Again...this is really bothering me...to know that a group of people have nothing better to do then to continue to gripe and complain.... Seriously.... if there was a "White History Month"....we'd be racist.... if there was a WET (White Entertainment Television)...we'd be racist.... what more do you want? "Tamieka wit 8 c'ren is already getting welfair from tax payers because she's on drugs and doesnt know who her "babby's daddy" is... so stop with the racist card....get "your people" to stop degrading themselves in their music... AND SUCK IT UP! It's a commercial bitches! Cry about something more important... there is after all global warming... a war in the middle easet...

I am a white male with two white children and two black children. We do not have the luxury of double standards in race communications - we must be colorblind. The fact is, when someone is LOOKING for racial offense, they will find it. I have CLOSE friends of many backgrounds and I say with great confidence, the black community is SO enslaved in their wounded bondage they have NO abilty to see beyond themselves. You can acknowledge the realities of the greater hurdles blacks face (ad-nauseum), still they will point out that you can NEVER understand. That is their hill to die on and they will stand on that hill and scream 'til they are on their death bed. If any of you think for a second the black community will ever look inward for solutions you are living a fantasy. Victimization is waaaayyy to profitable. Self accountability and self-reliance is much to hard. The victim industry is always hiring. Others must make their way in the real world through education, self-policing in their communities and sustaining of strong two-parent families. None of these attributes are prominantly featured in the victim handbook.

Nice idea glover, but, in the real world color matters each and every day of the year, right or wrongly so.

oh please im some african and some idean and other stuff so im not races.BUT REALLY DONT TAKE IT SOO SEROCALLY ITS A COMMERCAIL! WHO CARES IF ITS RACES OR NOT!ITS JUST A COMMERCAIL!

I'm black. And really, I don't even see this commercial on television that often, and when I do...it doesn't phase me. I don't think anything of it. It doesn't offend me. It's too miniscule to offend me. However, what is offending me is some of these comments and I'm compelled to respond and enlighten certain people whose ignorance is showing. To: Dennis Teel "truth be told,most blacks hang out with blacks and most whites hang with whites and most asians hang with other asians and the same with hispanics and any other race.most people of ANY race hang with others of the same race and don't intermix!!! interracial dating and interracial friendships are in the minority and probably always will be and it's just plain the way it is..a fact of life and normal!!" I'm not sure where you're from and honestly, I really don't care. However, this statement of yours is laughable. Like I said before, I'm black, and I have a large group of friends consisting of black,white,asian, AND hispanic people. We all hang out and have fun and race doesn't matter to us. Next time, get your facts straight. And the whole "you can take the black person out of the ghetto" statement that you made, it doesn't even deserve a real rebuttle because it's such an ignorant statement. To: Maren McLaren I liked your statement; all but one part. "To me, obviously the one getting the clothing ripped off should have been white in order to avoid the accusation." Really, it should not have been a white women getting her clothes ripped off. It should not have been a black woman, an asian woman, an indian woman, or any woman. When you really think about it, it's degrading no matter what race it is. To: buckley "Maybe if you spent the same amount of time rebuilding the black community and their values that you do scrutinizing harmless clothing commercials you wouldn't have anything to complain about. Stop blaming the white community for your shortcomings. Barack Obama is in, you won - and now you're out of excuses." If you took a step outside of your little bubble, you would realize that the black community is being rebuilt and we do have values. Do you know how many black people are doctors, lawyers, scientists, etc. And really, it is certain white people's fault for many shortcomings in the black community. Notice how I said CERTAIN white people and not the entire white community. The CERTAIN white people who long ago went to Africa and made blacks slaves. They raped Africa and left when they felt they had nothing left to take. They killed the men. Raped the women. Enslaved everyone. You think I'm pulling the race card? Go pick up a history book. To: No Name "no ones picking on the "poor black people" so get over it. I don't pity ANY of you black people, when really you guys are the raceist.. and I knew someone would pull out the slave card. typical.. typical f@#$%*! comment from you people. get a life. and a real job. stop sucking off the white peoples money with your god damn welfair." First of all, No Name, learn how to spell. Second of all, You are contradicting yourself big time. This statement is one of the most racist comments I ever heard. If you did your research, you'd know that the majority of the people on welfare are white. And, good that you don't pity us. We never asked for your pity. We don't need your pity. We are a strong race. We have lives. We have jobs. Obviously, it's you who does not have a life if you come online just to TRY (the keyword is TRY) and insult people. To: cmac "also...newsflash...Barack Obama is half white... I guess that makes him EVERYONE'S president...." I totally agree. "Buckley" up there who said "Barack's in office...you won." We all won. He's half white. He's one of you too. To: :) "This is so stupid. Does anyone really have nothing better to do then to play the "race card" over every little thing including tv ads?!?!?!?! P-A-T-H-E-D-I-C" Learn how to spell. It's "Pathetic" not "Pathedic" To: :) (AGAIN) "Again...this is really bothering me...to know that a group of people have nothing better to do then to continue to gripe and complain.... Seriously.... if there was a "White History Month"....we'd be racist.... if there was a WET (White Entertainment Television)...we'd be racist.... what more do you want? "Tamieka wit 8 c'ren is already getting welfair from tax payers because she's on drugs and doesnt know who her "babby's daddy" is... so stop with the racist card....get "your people" to stop degrading themselves in their music... AND SUCK IT UP! It's a commercial bitches! Cry about something more important... there is after all global warming... a war in the middle easet..." Your whole comment is worth criticism. Really, every month is white history month. A lot of channels are white entertainment television because a lot of the time, you will never find one black person on that channel. Like I said before, the majority of the people on welfare are white. And do you not watch the news? "Octo-Mom." 14 Kids and has no money to pay for them. YOU'RE paying for them. Go bash her instead of bashing people whom you know nothing about. And what about your people who degrade you guys in their music? Britney Spears dances half naked on stage. When she does it, it's fine. If a black woman did it, she's criticized by the likes of you. And not all black music is degrading. Listen to Musiq Soulchild, India.Arie, Brandy, Alicia Keys. We have a lot of positive music whether you want to believe it or not. While your people, like Asher Roth, sing songs like "I danced my face off and had this one girl completely naked." -------------------------------------------------- Racism of any kind makes me angry. It doesn't matter who it's coming from or who it's directed to. I don't know any of you who have commented on this and in the case of a lot of you, I'm really glad that I've never been unfortunate enough to meet you in person. But a lot of you need to get a clue, and step outside of your bubble. If you're looking for how black people really are, don't look on television because first of all, it's not always rappers degrading black people, but "white" shows too, and no doubt they've probably brainwashed a lot of you. Don't go looking in the "hood" or the "slums" like you probably do, look in your own neighborhood, look in the suburbs, look in ritzy areas, and see how far our people have come.

I'm really tired of people like Kay who always say.. pull out a history book. Kay, I think you need to read a history book. BLACKS sold slaves. Blacks owned slaves, and sold them to make more money. This is always left out by the black community and white community. "The embarrassing fact of history, is that the Europeans did not have to use any force to obtain these slaves. The slaves were "sold" by their black owners. There was no need for the slave raiders to risk their lives or venture into the jungles of Africa, they simply purchased the people from African chiefs and Muslim slave traders at the coast. Almost all of the African slaves transported across the Atlantic were captured and sold by African rulers and merchants. Almost 200 years after the British outlawed the slave trade in 1807, slave raids and the sale of slaves in Muslim markets continues in countries like Sudan. I'm sure those black owners raped and kill children too. What I find so interesting is that the black community omits their own peoples part in slavery. It is their OWN people who continue to this day to sell their own race into slavery with the help of the Muslims. Its not white Americans. In fact, Kay, take a look back into history and see the key players in freeing slaves. You might find it surprising. I'm not part of that history, never enslaved anyone, so I really take offense to blacks who claim every white is a racist based on the history books. Welfare. 38.8% of the welfare rolls are whites., but whites make up 72% of the general population. Blacks come in a tight second at 37.2% of the welfare rolls, but only make up 13.5% of the general population. Kay, it doesn't do you any good to look at the welfare numbers until you compare it to the overall population of ones race. Whites have such a small percentage of their OVERALL population on welfare. Blacks have a LARGE percentage of there population on welfare. The bigger question is not how many of each race is on welfare, but WHY and HOW do we make this country a better place so NO ONE has to ask for basic needs assistance. Kay your just as much a racist as you claim everyone else to be. Overall I think the black and white community continue to argue about things that happened in the past. Move on... people are mean, rude and nasty. It has very little to do with race.

TOLU this is stupid its is in an old navy store the 1st lady has nothing to do with it and its just a commercial. just cause we live in a racist world does not mean that people are racist if there are 4 white people and a black couple, are friends.

Look sir, I am a raciest and this commercial is not. If they wanted to make a racist commercial they would have had her wearing a 100% cotton shirt, fresh picked. And they would have ame her Shanequa Washington. And made some reference to fried chicken(which is one stereotype that offends me because crackers love chicken to).

Honestly, the "race card" argument is totally irrelevant in this situation. The commercial seemed benign to me. There are REAL racial injustices that goes on in this country and we need to reserve these kinds of arguments for where they're needed! -Black Man

dude the black family LIVES at the store. why dont they have a home?

Dudes. Not racist at all. CALM DOWN.

This isn't racist. You know what the commercials are? Stupid. Just plain stupid and annoying, and they should fire whoever made them and hire someone more creative.

FYI its not 4 white women its 2 white women, a latina, and an asian, and a black one so chill and stop reading into things jeez...if you wanna make it racial how about turnin into somethin positive like um....the black one got her clothes off cause uhh sistahs got the best curves there ya go feel better? hurray for positive racism so stop making yourself miserable by thinking every one is out to get you cause of your race enjoy life and laugh once in a while..sometimes a commercial is just a commercial . of course racism still exists buts its also because of ppl that insist on focusing so much on the left over bits of racism in the world that arent exactly helping in the fight to exterminate it entirely. As a latina i of course find myself as the victim of the occasional moment of racism but you know i refuse to let it bring me down because if i do the people who actually are tryin to bring me down would have succeeded. dont be a part of the problem be a part of the solution and learn to let things go and not read into things that arent there

i think that it is the black peolpe that bring that black poelpe down. ex..that N word that black poelpe use the word as a word but let the white man say it we get upset. y??????? we allow that word to b used freely we make it seem ok to use. video with sex rap drugs that makes us look dum...peolpe that are not black see this and say ooo that is how they are.....and we as black poelpe see the white poelpe as clean and respectful. i am part of both worlds hood middle class i learn to carry mayself with respeact from both black and white i knw what is right and wroug the ? is... as black peolpe do you knw who you are as a person and do you knw how to get respect true respect the AD for old navy is dwn grading to the black women but look at it a puch to stand up and change whats around us

Of course you are going to view it as racist. You are black and that race isn't portrayed in the commercial. However, I don't view show or commercials that don't show white people as racist. Grow up already and quite with this racist bull. Not every commercial, movie, TV show, is going to meet your requirement of 50-50 because that just how things are. I'm not saying this because I'm racist, I'm saying it because there is just as much racism against white people as there is against black people. Everyone just needs to either accept the fact that that is how our little world is or they need to do something about it making sure that everything is equal for everyone not just their race. Racism is an idea that was created by man, so it can be destroyed by man as well. Work on doing that instead of trying to make an OLD NAVY COMMERCIAL racist. I'm tired of all the complaining and then no action to follow. Grow up.