Have ya’ll heard? Twitter has been going ham on Shea Moisture*, calling for world wide boycott because the new ad campaign used by the company featured a white child (see above).
Now, I am going to keep it all the way real and tell you there is no way in the world I am boycotting Shea Moisture because of white children on an ad. Their beauty products, oils*, scrubs and masks are everything for my hair and skin, and a white child on a phone doesn’t change that.
I know this is a tough topic: just last year I was pissed at Carol’s Daughter for selling their soul to L’Oreal, but after hearing Lisa’s thoughts on her decision; looking at the situation outside of my feelings, and completely from a business perspective, I understood it.
There is no business out there with the goal of remaining stagnant, capturing more and more market share will always be the ultimate goal. Dove tries to capture the hearts of the curly haired black girl and Shea moisture might be trying to appeal to a white audience that just might love their product line, like we do.
In retrospect, it isn’t a big deal; does the ad take away from the quality of the product? Does it mean that you or I can no longer benefit from it? Of course not!
Shea Moisture* might be family owned (and black owned), but they never had any intention of only marketing to black people. Could they have used a black or Hispanic child in their ad campaigns? Sure they could have, just as many brands that are considered ‘white’ use black women in their ad campaigns to ad diversity to their product line.
If a company that wants to really expand and capture greater market share they cannot color themselves as either black or white which is what the bigger issue is, it could be very limiting for them. If more people and by people I mean all races, do not buy the product how can they expand and keep giving us more amazing quality stuff?
Check out the view on Twitter:
“Yeah like I’m sorry who is their target market ? I’m just wondering here.”
“tryna expand that market I guess smh.”
“they are dead wrong for this sh*t.”
“Nah I feel some type of way why not cast your kind unless ya investors
white.”
“I don’t feel like popping off so I’m going to pretend she’s Black with a full body birthmark.”
“The sharp shift in marketing is jarring.”
Then on the other side of the coin:
“The thing is,
@SheaMoisture is a superior product that works for everybody. They haven’t sold out just because Whites buy it.”“This why y’all boycotting shea moisture? -_-.”
“Wait.
@SheaMoisture is in Target, Walgreens and more. They can’t have ANY white people in their ads? :-o.”
I am not mad: are you?
Editors Edit:
Shea Moisture released a statement this morning regarding the backlash:
We came across an image of a little girl with a puzzled expression that we imagine our #SheaFamily has when they run out of product, so we shared it with you. No ad. No agenda.
As a certified minority-owned business
We hope you continue to join us in celebrating
Seriously… they do make other products. They’re baby line is used by everyone. Again people want something to complain about.
They market to ALL races not just blacks. So tired of this crap!
That picture is cute. I’m sure people of all ethnic backgrounds can benefit from their products.
This is true, my boys are biracial and I have used the products in the past. Some people are just out of control.
Next black people will complain about white people using Vaseline! This is dumb. In case you haven’t realized, black people aren’t the only people living in Africa. So now only Africans can use shea butter?
Lmao
Lol @vaseline
Lol! I ‘m not trying to offend anyone here. A lot of black hair products got their start from petroleum, mineral oil (aka vaseline). It doesn’t make me any less black because I don’t use typical hair grease just like it’s not going to make a white person more white for using Shea Moisture products or pure shea butter.
You’re complitly right!!
You know what? Sometimes black folk need to sit they azzes down somwhere and speak only when it matters! I bet half of yall complaining but can never make it to the polls when it’s time to vote! I don’t really care for their products, but this is ignorant!
Smh it’s crazy how some African Americans act. So bias upon things like this but will be the first to complain if it was the other way around. I didn’t hear Caucasians complain about an African American Annie
You didn’t??? I did. It was a whole page dedicated to them complaining about Anne being Black.
No I definitely didn’t see that.
They most certainly complained about the black Annie, I’m not sure how you missed that….
Well I didn’t see it, I saw posts about how there was a white ad advertising an Annie inspired clothing line in target and how there was an uproar because Quevenzhane wasn’t on it. But at the end of the day, African Americans make bias statements like you say Caucasians were for the Annie movie and how it is portrayed in this article above
I don’t blame them because if the tables were turned we would be in an uproar about changing Annie.
So what.. even if they did complain about Annie and numerous other topics… should we complain about Shea Moisture putting this little girl on an ad?!…. its absolutely petty. It turns into prejudices and racisms… we have to push past these mindsets. #startsomewhere
African Americans make up approximately 13% of the people in the U.S. Shea Moisture would be foolish not to market to others. Get over it people!!
Stupse *goes back to finishing my twist out with my shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie*
Wow I only like 🙂 2products out of the whole thing …I thought we was supporting her grandmother legacy from Africa I know her grandmother is rolling over in her grave ….what a damn Shame ….
No she isn’t. Stop making a big deal out of nothing.
Yea rolling in her grave for having a beautiful white baby on an ad !! Get real RACISM
OF ANY KIND IS DEAD WRONG
People in this world can go from 100 to zero real quick.. Boycotting Shea Moisture for using a race outside of african-american to promote their line? Really? This line is made for a hair texture, an alternative to body cleasing and what ever other products they sell, NEVER to a particular race or minority. People need to chill, sit down and stop the hate.
Sit down and be quiet
Caucasians use their products as well…it speaks to a good product line if it can be used by people from diverse backgrounds
THEY SOLD OUT TO LOREAL.
Nooo only black people can use their products
i don’t see any blacka on any white company hair dye, i wanted to buy some from the grocery store, but all the stuff i assumed was for white hair, because that’s all on the box. If some blacks want to boycott i agree with them. It’s their right. And personally I think Shea MOisture product suck anyway!!!
You are right. Some of their products aren’t that good for certain hair textures (not good on kinky/coily, low porosity hair). If using their products, you may have to add other products to make it work.
People really? Come on now
I think they did sell to a white investor because I commented on a sale Post like as long as she’s moisture stays black I’m a happier camper and no reply but they reply to everyone’s comments lol just a thought maybe I’m wrong. .
Why lolv
I get it. This is a different day and age where anything goes and everthing is accepted, just saying. Thank God for Dr. Martin Luther King and others.
Get over your self people, America is not just about black and white. What about the
I still love Shea Moisture raw shea products. The products work, that is all I care about!
No its not dumb it’s about race it’s about having a place on the earth that really sees us as humans too and not a thing or object we feel let out of life and joy and robbed of out past and the ad says black hair not quote unquote white hair …that’s all ….so stop making us feel like we can’t express what should be ours to have.
Really? God didn’t make Sheabutter for just blacks. There are white people in South Africa and most parts. What should be ours to have is our crooked leaders ruining our lives her. What should be ours to have are our lands. You all African Americans get yourselves down to Africa and see for yourselves.
And those whites are ruling those Black Africans because you let them rule you.
Answer this is does she look black I don’t care if this little sweet girl is on a ad but come on be real she’s not black African .
And as far as our land as you a say you go …..I believe u
Stupid most of their customers are brown skinned
It’s all about the money.
Well maybe it will be half priced at Walgreens ! Can’t wait ‘
It’s all about money. I don’t care if you black, white, green,blue or purple, I’m going to market my products to all races!!!!!
This is so stupid. Like other races don’t use Shea Moisture
When you think about it, some Caucasian and Asian business owners who have made it obvious that they don’t particularly care for Blacks don’t complain that we patronize their businesses because it is how they grow their wealth, so I see no problem with a Black owned company marketing to them. The way I see it, limiting your growth potential because “they’re white” is not very business savvy.
Soooo who is being racist in that country!!!! Black Americans are the new racists!
White people can’t use our products! And they also aren’t allowed to tell us we can’t use theirs! At least…that’s kind of what I’m hearing.
So what about my Black and white blended daughter? Can’t I use sheabutter for her hair cos her dad is white? In case you haven’t noticed, sheabutter is so cheap here in Africa, Ghana that most people are even shy to use it.
a child is not”white”just as another is not “black”I am not sure none of you as seen a “WHITE” child.let’s not be color blind
Load of bull….I’m sure I seen black people on ‘white’ products. Kmt!
R u for real?????? People are so dumbbbbbbbb!!!! Yea boycott a great product cuz there’s a beautiful white baby on it great idea … Racism in any form is DEAD WRONG
This is passed just silly, this is, dare I say it? Racist. Yep. Some black people act like a few social injustices (not the burdens and triumphs of our ancestors and elders, but us today) are reasons to act like donkies. Can we move passed this foolery?
Blacks complain about racism from whites…but they being racist themselves. Making an uproar about a non-black child in their advertisement is stupid. Why cant they have other races use their products? I can admit it is a shocker at first, but then i can truly say i dont care. White owned products have us in their commercials so why cant we? Its really dumb and its a Child for godsake…. Why is grown black adults making this child be in the middle of a race card ideology and no you didnt attitude!? Good job Shea Moisture i will continue to buy your products
Black ppl so ridiculous. It’s about business and they have the right to expand their market. God forbid white ppl braid their hair or sung hip hop….Besides we use all white ppl shit but yet you don’t see them boycotting that weave off our heads or all their products. White ppl knows how to do business and get rich. At the end of the day I love me some Shea moisture and the only thing that can make me stop using their products is if it don’t work on my hair no more
I really don’t pay much attention to Instagram. I saw a FB article that showed at least 6 similar post all using Caucasian kids. I’d like to know if they have similar post using black kids. The article implied that they didn’t,but I don’t know.
So what?
there are so many other things to complain about and that needs our attention other than a hair product and a picture.
Racism will never die for this very reason. I had no idea that this was a “black product” until reading this. I just thought it was a product for whoever would benefit from it. I’m guessing there are hundreds of other products I shouldn’t be using that I’m not aware of… decay of our society continues
Complaining of a white girl being used in an ad for a product that is assumed to be mostly used by black people is RACIST.
Who cares this is not about race this is buissness
There is nothing wrong with brands trying to diversify their customer base. And in this case it makes perfect there is a relatively small black hair care market and by selling more widely it will help the business grow. The issue with the ad is that it appears from the outside they have just slapped a white girl in. It’s very much like when a token black person is in an ad.
They need a much better strategy on how to grow their business with this new customer type without alienating their existing loyal customer base. But anyone who suggests or doesnt want to see black owned businesses growing successfully including getting some of that white dollar is a fool.
I am of the opinion that they are saying something here. Normally no people on their ads to a pale pale white child/children with no curls in sight. If black people dont even want to use black people in their ads then…no words. But even if they use the most snow capped of the Nordics to sell their products every shipment is goin to the ethnic section of the store and no amount of “curly” or “frizzy” is going to change that. Jima jema hungara gizani is a good name shines in the dark so they dont need to cater to white people because a great product will sell itself just as it did for Sofi Tucker without trying to bait others intentionally.
I am of the opinion that they are saying something here. Normally no people on their ads to a pale pale white child/children with no curls in sight. If black people dont even want to use black people in their ads then…no words. But even if they use the most snow capped of the Nordics to sell their products every shipment is goin to the ethnic section of the store and no amount of “curly” or “frizzy” is going to change that. Jima jema hungara gizani is a good name shines in the dark so they dont need to cater to white people because a great product will sell itself just as it did for Sofi Tucker without trying to bait others intentionally.
If you think what they did was so bad – go ahead and “shoot the golden goose” then we’ll see who feels so good about their hair and being “self-righteous….. Damming comments started by users can have the same effect as a lynch party. Same s*** – new coat I guess… The rule of business is:
if you have a problem – whatever it is tell them (the company) …by mail, by phone by letter. More often than not; companies value and appreciate your comments and feedback in their strive to grow and meet your needs and having benefit of your feedback is a jewel in their crown – If you like what they do, then then share it with your friends…. That’s the deal people that is the deal…While Customer maybe king or queen nobody said anything about lynch parties or executions…..
If you think what they did was so bad – go ahead and “shoot the golden goose” then we’ll see who feels so good about their hair and being “self-righteous….. Damming comments started by users can have the same effect as a lynch party. Same s*** – new coat I guess… The rule of business is:
if you have a problem – whatever it is tell them (the company) …by mail, by phone by letter. More often than not; companies value and appreciate your comments and feedback in their strive to grow and meet your needs and having benefit of your feedback is a jewel in their crown – If you like what they do, then then share it with your friends…. That’s the deal people that is the deal…While Customer maybe king or queen nobody said anything about lynch parties or executions…..