Gapkids - Racially Insensitive?

By now, most of you have probably heard about the GapKids "racially insensitive" ad. While most people saw nothing more than a group of young girls posing in their GapKids clothing, a least a handful of race-hustlers saw something far more "sinister". In the controversial photo, a white girl is seen resting her arm on the head of shorter black girl. Seems innocent enough, right? But, as we know, when there's black and white involved, the imagination of the malcontents begins to run wild.

So, in this particular case, they looked at the picture from all angles, trying to weave the best story possible. In the end, their imagination led them to the brilliant assertion that the white girl was using the black girl as a prop (or a "piece of furniture"). My initial reaction was, "You've got to be kidding me." But before you could say "Get Reverend Al on the line", the Gap pulled the ad and followed up with an apology to those who may have been "offended".

Instead of issuing an apology, the Gap should have told the "offended ones" to f*ck off and get a life. Sure, it may have ruffled a few feathers. But, in my opinion, it would have also sent the message that they had done nothing wrong or deceitful. By issuing an apology, the Gap played right into the race-baiter's hands by essentially admitting that they were guilty as charged.

Oh, and for what it's worth, the two girls of interest in this ad are actually sisters. That's right, a little white girl and a little black girl with the same mother living together in perfect harmony. Imagine that! Maybe instead of spewing bullshit, the race hustlers might want to at least acknowledge this? Or better yet, celebrate the fact that not everyone is a racist.

Ironically, there was a similar GapKids ad from last year that featured a black girl with her arm resting on a shorter white girl's head. But no outrage about that one. The only thing you hear is crickets (which is the way it should be, in both cases).

Nothing to see here folks. Let's move along.....

This is all unfortunate for the Gap because, aside from their apology, they did nothing wrong. And there certainly wasn't any racism. The people who try to find racism in every little thing are just as bad as the racists themselves. I wish companies would start standing up to these bullies. When they cave in, like the Gap did in this case,  it only empowers the race-hustlers to keep doing what they do....

kw