obnoxiouslyfresh;c-9751633 said:
What you mean "the need black women seem to hav to be the focus?" That's exactly what the product has been since its inception. There's no reason to market directly to other women. Why? Because white hair care does not, yet they still get tons of women of color to use their product. Can't have shit to ourselves. He did all that mumbling and stumbling in that interview just to in a round about way say that white investors are changing his purpose. The commercial was fuckin stupid and that's really what it boils down to. He better figure out how to not alienate the people who fattened his pockets for years or good luck to him!
Again, if I understand that man correctly, 22 out of 30 commercials were marketed specifically for black women, so clearly ya'll are still the company's primary focus. Ya'll are pissed because one commercial didn't cater to you. I can see it being surprising, and I'd understand the anger if it became a pattern, but one commercial? Really/
And what do you mean there is no reason to market directly to other women. It's a business. Like any other business, they want to expand and grow. It's not your personal property, so why do you expect to have it to yourselves? Black people are lost. Every race can come into our neighborhoods and make money off of us and take it back to their community and build. One of our companies try to do the same thing, and the first thing ya'll do is try to tear it down. That's crazy.
Madame_CJSkywalker;c-9751842 said:
my biggest concern is/was the formula
shea moisture, as a product, has used ingredients specifically formulated for blk womens’ unique hair challenges. so assuming they changed it with the intent of attracting a larger or rather lighter consumer base is disappointing to say the least. especially considering how few hair care companies offer natural products specifically formulated for our hair
as far as the ad goes, it was tone deaf. the company is just not any company. it was created by blk people for natural hair at a time when the natural hair movement was regaining steam with blk ppl but most major hair care brands/lines were not on board. so suddenly having a company that initially championed natural blk hair have advertising that features white women, who are already over represented in the hair care market, is jarring and is going to understandably illicit a strong response
they can and have the right to focus on their bottom line all they want, but it doesn’t mean the reactions to their decision are any less reasonable or valid or dumb
and expound on this notion that blk women seem to have to always be the focus? are you speaking in a general sense? before you answer, consider first that blk women, being double minorities, have historically been ignored and disenfranchised by just about every institution of society
Well, if they are smart, they are going to make different products for different hair types, but I agree, it would be fucked up if they changed the product to accommodate others. You all would have a valid complaint then.
The problem I see is that you guys are personalizing this way too much. You're almost claiming ownership of the company just because you've supported it. That sentiment, although not uncommon, is pretty ridiculous. None of you are supporting that company out of the kindness of your heart. They've spread a message and produced a product that you like. For that, you gave them your money. Quid pro quo. And for at least part of this time, your loyalty came because no one else catered to you like that. When a better or cheaper product comes along, are you saying no black women will jump ship and go to that product? Can you say that hasn't already happened? As customers you have the right to make the right purchasing decisions for yourself. Why is it that this business has to be restricted from making those same decisions for itself without extreme outrage? Before any of you raged of this, did any of you check their books? Do any of you know whether or not this is a move they need to make to stay afloat?
