M2-Pre-Task

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1.) WHAT IS THE PRODUCT BEING ADVERTISED?

Charcoal Donut is the product being marketed in the advertisement poster of Dunkin’ Donuts.

2.) WHAT DOES THE ADVERTISEMENT SAY ABOUT THE PRODUCT?

For me, it indicates that the Charcoal Donut’s color is comparable to the featured lady’s black
body and face makeup. By highlighting her thick, vivid pink lip color as well as her intricate
beehive-style black hair, which is a prevalent style of hair for women of color, it became evident
that the chocolate doughnut was being likened to a dark-skinned woman. Although, the authors
behind the marketing campaign may not have intended it that way.
3.) WHAT MESSAGE DOES THE IMAGE IMPLY?
For me, the advertisement poster implies racism, which is among the social issues that
manifest itself in a variety of forms and afflict societies in today’s context. It also insinuates ‘black
facing’ wherein a non-black individual applies dark makeup to resemble a black person. A colored
person may find the imagery insulting due to their long histories of racial oppression stemming
from slavery — the era of racial supremacy that dehumanizes people of color. The period wherein
their forefathers were told that their race was inferior due to their complexion. Hence, juxtaposing
a chocolate doughnut with a non-white person in an advertisement is inappropriate.