To: Rob Singer, Senior Vice President of U.S. Marketing
Tell Ancestry.com Their Commercial Is Offensive to Black Americans
I am asking you to pull the "slave to business man" commercial from TV. I find it offensive. This commercial is insensitive to the history of Black Americans. As an institution, I ask that you be more sensitive to people of color in this country.
Why is this important?
Ancestry.com created a commercial where a man says "I was afraid as an African American, I knew where my family history might end up...my grandfather was born a slave but died a business man." The implication here is that ancestors of slaves should be embarrassed of this history. (Watch commercial here: http://youtu.be/WQQ9gjBby10).
This commercial is insensitive, and the implication that anyone should be ashamed of their families' past is unacceptable. Slavery, poverty and struggle are a part of our history as Americans. Ancestry.com needs to pull this commercial from the air. This method of marketing is offensive.
This commercial is insensitive, and the implication that anyone should be ashamed of their families' past is unacceptable. Slavery, poverty and struggle are a part of our history as Americans. Ancestry.com needs to pull this commercial from the air. This method of marketing is offensive.