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News & ArtsWednesday, August 26, 2009
International Black to White
Posted by Charles Mudede on Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 11:35 AM
The BBC reports:
Software giant Microsoft has apologised for editing a photo to change a black man's head to that of a white man.The picture, showing employees sitting around a desk, appeared unaltered on the firm's US website.
But on the website of its Polish business unit the black man's head was replaced with a white face, although the colour of his hands was unchanged.
The BBC contrasts the images:
Old black man to young white man. Evidently, Poles are cool with Asians.
This post owes everything to Ben.
4
Charles, not sure if you know, Eastern Europeans really don't like black folks too much. In Chicago, I have come across numerous occasions where Poles and Serbs dislike speaking with black people I work with, especially when the black people are necessary in approving/authorizing work that the EE's are doing or trying to do. Maybe it's disproportionate b/c of where I work, but I can't think that the numerous encounters are pure chance.
5
Here in Kent, Slavs, Poles, Asians, Blacks and others mix freely.
Come see our Mural of Many Cultures on display at the corner of 240th and 104th on East Hill.
Come see our Mural of Many Cultures on display at the corner of 240th and 104th on East Hill.
6
I'm not against changing the people to reflect the look of the target demographic... I'm assuming the African American population is very small. But it is odd that the Asian got to stay.
8
i read about this this morning and had a disgusted reaction, but i was not able to see the photos.
Now that I can see the photos I have to wonder who even noticed that in the first place? There is not nearly the contrast I pictured in my mind upon reading about it. I SO would not have even noticed. Someone was tipped off: "Hey! I think I saw that same ad but with a black guy in it."
Now that I can see the photos I have to wonder who even noticed that in the first place? There is not nearly the contrast I pictured in my mind upon reading about it. I SO would not have even noticed. Someone was tipped off: "Hey! I think I saw that same ad but with a black guy in it."
9
@6 Duh, it wouldn't be African American in Poland, it would simply be African or Black, as Poland isn't in America in case you weren't aware.
12
A popular bar had a new robotic bartender installed. A guy came in for a drink and the robot asked him, "What's your IQ?" The man replied, "130." So the robot proceeded to make conversation about physics, astronomy, and so on.
The man listened intently and thought, "This is really cool." Another guy came in for a drink and the robot asked him, "What's your IQ?" The man responded, "120." So the robot started talking about the Superbowl, dirt bikes, and so on.
The man thought to himself, "Wow, this is really cool." A third guy came in to the bar. As with the others, the robot asked him, "What's your IQ?" The man replied, "80." The robot then said, "So, how are things in Poland these days?"
The man listened intently and thought, "This is really cool." Another guy came in for a drink and the robot asked him, "What's your IQ?" The man responded, "120." So the robot started talking about the Superbowl, dirt bikes, and so on.
The man thought to himself, "Wow, this is really cool." A third guy came in to the bar. As with the others, the robot asked him, "What's your IQ?" The man replied, "80." The robot then said, "So, how are things in Poland these days?"
13
@4, as an AA, I had an experience about 7 years ago interviewing for a temp biotech job in bothell: The two women who interviewed me were of EE origin. They acted very fearful throughout the interview--eventhough I wore a suit, tie, and poindexter glasses. I guess these issues extend beyond chi-town.
15
@9 Your silly logic will get you nowhere in comment-land. Also, don't forget that - as W reminded us on countless occasions (I can count the occasions, but he can't) - Poland was our ally in the War on Terror through thick and thin, so they're kind of like an honorary America.
16
4 I can attest to that being true, tho the cases I've know and personally experienced have been of African Americans being the ones in need of assistance of a service which an eastern European has been employed to do. In that sense its more grievous than the cases you commented. The treatment and dislike on their part have been well palpable.
17
@ T: I am looking at the hand and it just looks like a tannish hand. It does not contrast with his white complexion to the extent that I thought it would after reading about it without having seen the pictures. I would not have noticed.
21
An older black man is just as unlikely to be sitting in a business conference room in the US as he would be in Poland.
22
It's so totally awesome how people are attacking racism here by making sweeping generalizations about Eastern Europeans.
23
#22, I see people attacking racism, and people making sweeping generalizations. Not really anyone doing both.
25
I was peripherally involved in a photo shoot for an IBM international ad campaign. The shots were generic conference room scenes like the one in the Microsoft ad, with a few people sitting around a table. A large cast of multicultural models were there, and the photographer shot hundred of pictures of the same scene, but with every conceivable color combination carefully arranged to suit various international ad markets. Some shots were all white people, some were white + Asian, some were Asian only, some were only people of color, some looked like a U.N. committee. Advertising people are very color conscious, because consumers are very color conscious (even if they won't admit it).
30
MS probably did this due to a good number of their Polish market that they're targeting being racist. Having been to Poland myself (I'm black btw), Poland's known to have an active Neonazi community thriving throughout the country. I've met a few Africans living in Poland while I was visiting and they've told me the crap they go through there. I've also experienced racism among the locals as well while I was there. Keep in mind that not all Poles are racist, just a few that give the majority a bad image.
31
" It's so totally awesome how people are attacking racism here by making sweeping generalizations about Eastern Europeans."
We're just not forgetting Poland.
We're just not forgetting Poland.
32
Hey I know a few other blacks that've had the same experiences in Poland throughout the last 40 years. The Polish are known to be xenophobic. For example, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/488671…
As for the rest of Eastern Europe, check out the BBC and do a search for "russia racism"
As for the rest of Eastern Europe, check out the BBC and do a search for "russia racism"
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