Naomi Campbell Plays the Race Card; She Needs More People

In case you haven't heard, model and world-class Blackberry chunker Naomi Campbell is trying to get black people to boycott Cadbury over an ad she calls "hurtful and insulting." The ad in question?

Cadbury is facing the prospect of a black consumer boycott after it compared Naomi Campbell to a chocolate bar in a new advertising campaign.

The supermodel – hardly known for taking things in her stride – is incensed that Cadbury used her name in the strap line to promote its new chocolate bar called Bliss, accusing the company of racism. The ad says: "Move over Naomi – there is a new diva in town."

Yesterday Campbell revealed she is considering "every option available" after Cadbury, owned by the US giant Kraft, refused to pull the ad campaign, which ran in newspapers last week: "I am shocked. It's upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women and black people. I do not find any humour in this. It is insulting and hurtful."

Disgust at the ad prompted members of the public to complain to the campaign group Operation Black Vote (OBV), which has called for Cadbury to apologise. OBV's Simon Woolley said that without an apology, the "only recourse black people have is not to buy its chocolate". He has written to the American civil rights activists Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to ask them to mobilise the country's Afro-American population. "I want them to know what their parent company is doing in Europe. I've asked them to support us."

Mr Woolley said that, for black people, being likened to chocolate was as bad as being called a golliwog. "Racism in the playground starts with black children being called 'chocolate bar'. At best, this is insensitive, and at worst it demonstrates Cadbury's utter disregard for causing offence. Its lack of apology just adds insult to injury. The Eurocentric joke is not funny to black people. (source)

Yes, ladies and gents, Naomi is supposedly pissed because she was compared to a chocolate bar.

I say supposedly because we as black people are no strangers to comparing our various shades to delicious treats. Caramel, cafe au lait, toffee, mocha, chocolate... Shoot, at one point in my life I would only refer to myself as cioccolata amara, which is Italian for "dark chocolate." (Don't judge me.) So for her to say that this is offensive... Yeah, not so much. I enjoy being called chocolate (except when it was the creepy custodian who used to call me "chocolate cake." *shudders*) Usually it's said by a significant other in admiration of my sweet creamy goodness smooth, melanin-rich skin, not defamation of it. So that's out.

The only reason I can fathom that she'd actually be upset is the use of her name (because really, what other Naomi came to mind?) along with the diamonds. I don't know if the diamonds were just in the picture for the imagery of luxury that a "diva" would be accustomed to, or if it was a tongue-in-cheek reference to the blood diamonds that Naomi received. And hey, she's entitled to be a little miffed at that, but to drag others into it? To claim racism and ask Sharpton & Jackson to lead some type of protest for you? Child, please!

Another case of frivolously playing the black card. As a commenter on OHN stated, "If race cards were a game of Spades, we'd be down to holding some sorry azz hearts. STOP THROWING OUT ALL THE GOOD CARDS!"

 

What do you think about the ad? Does Naomi Campbell have a right to claim the ad is racist? Will you be boycotting Cadbury?