Racism in Chicago: Give examples. (Calumet City, Marion: approval, rain, Asian)

[baileyvpotter]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

I try to keep in mind the old adage of "be careful how you treat people on the way up, because you'll meet them again on the way down."

Great quote.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

That reminds me of this:

R.J. Reynolds
Objectives. The purpose of this study was to describe RJ Reynolds (RJR) Tobacco Company’s strategy for targeting African Americans, as revealed in tobacco industry documents and magazine advertisements.

Methods. The authors searched industry documents to determine RJR’s strategies and analyzed magazine advertising during 2 periods: the time of the launch of the company’s Uptown cigarette (1989–1990) and a decade later (1999–2000).

Results. RJR’s efforts to target the African American market segment existed before and after Uptown, and the company’s strategy was largely implemented via other RJR brands. Advertisements featured mentholated cigarettes, fantasy/escape, expensive objects, and nightlife.
Conclusions. To help all populations become tobacco-free, tobacco control practitioners must understand and counter tobacco industry strategies.

I read somewhere that the shade of green on Newport packs is a color that is supposed to be visually appealing to young black males.. But if only black people smoked Newports, I'm pretty sure profits would plummet.

[Chi-town Native]

And then there's this.

40ozMaltLiquor.com :: Cool Colt

Ever have Cool Colt .45? It’s essentially menthol cigarette-flavored beer. After some recent research, I discovered that the good people at the Heileman Brewing Company created Cool Colt after failed attempts with “Rib Tips and Fried Chicken Colt .45,” Anheuser Busch’s “Government Cheese King Cobra,” and “Illegitimate Baby Makin’ Thunderbird Wine.”


Now just hold on a second, before I get back to the story, forget all about vintage advertising prints depicting African-Americans in a tar baby-esque manner. Even forget about Aunt Jemima in a do-rag. Cool Colt .45 has to be the most insulting, despicable, racist product in history.

It was malt liquor.

Named after a gun.

That was flavored like menthol cigarettes.

And was sold primarily in urban neighborhoods with a high population of African-Americans.

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by A2DAC1985

Someone saw me going outside to smoke a few weeks ago (I know, I'm a terrible person). They asked what I was smoking, I showed them (a stereotypical "black" cigarette brand) and they said, "That is sooo urban".

Was that a racist comment?

I don't think it was racist but it was silly.

When someone speaks of urban culture I think of buildings, sidewalk cafes and trendy neighborhoods. Not a race or a subculture of a race. But that's just me.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

And then there's this.

40ozMaltLiquor.com :: Cool Colt

Ever have Cool Colt .45? It’s essentially menthol cigarette-flavored beer. After some recent research, I discovered that the good people at the Heileman Brewing Company created Cool Colt after failed attempts with “Rib Tips and Fried Chicken Colt .45,” Anheuser Busch’s “Government Cheese King Cobra,” and “Illegitimate Baby Makin’ Thunderbird Wine.”


Now just hold on a second, before I get back to the story, forget all about vintage advertising prints depicting African-Americans in a tar baby-esque manner. Even forget about Aunt Jemima in a do-rag. Cool Colt .45 has to be the most insulting, despicable, racist product in history.

It was malt liquor.

Named after a gun.

That was flavored like menthol cigarettes.

And was sold primarily in urban neighborhoods with a high population of African-Americans.

Every gas station in America sells Newports though. Passing through white rural areas in the Midwest on road trips, the thought never went through my head, "oh damn, I might not be able to get Newports around here". I quit smoking though..

[glass_of_merlot]

You learn something new everyday. Didn't know blacks had their very own cigarette brand..lol
I used to smoke in HS. I smoked Marlboro light.

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 4

[Atlanta_BD]

All of my white friends smoke Marlboro or Camel cigarettes. None of my black friends smoke.

[Drover]

All my friends in high school smoked the same brand: whatever brand their parents smoked.

[urza216]

I smoked for 5 years. I smoked Newport shorts. The first cigarette I ever smoked was a Camel. The second one was a Newport.. It was just what the person I was bumming a cigarette from was smoking.

[Atlanta_BD]

This conversation about cigarettes does make me wonder why things that black people do is stereotyped as negative but the things white people do isn't. Do all black people who smoke, smoke Newports? No but a lot do. My dad, sis and nephew smoke Newports. They are the only ones I know who smoke those. Why is black people smoking Newports equate to being a negative "black thing" but white people smoking Marlboros isn't?

It's like the black people and the fried chicken and watermelon nonsense. I've never had a white friend (or Asian for that matter) who doesn't eat fried chicken or watermelon. Everyone loves fried chicken. Who the heck doesn't love fried chicken?! When we have catered events here at work (or at any job I've had) and there's chicken or watermelon, the white people are eating it just the same. So what gives? My first job as a teen was at Popeye's in Calumet City. We had plenty of white customers. Why was that made into a negative stereotypes against blacks?