People Are Whining About Commercials Being “Too Black” Now
By Hayley Armstrong: Voice Actor
Some people think there are just “too many Black actors in commercials now,” and they’re demanding to know why.
Yes. This is a whole thing. Many citizens are concerned.
“Hello, 911? I just saw some Black people try to break into a commercial”
What ever shall we do.
Let’s talk about it.
Recently, I was minding my Black business, and went to update my website.
(When updating, I’m able to look up terms that everyday people search that my website might rank for)
Google search console showed me one of the most popular queries:
“Why are there so many Black people in commercials now?”
Now, I understood why google would consider that a query relevant to what I do, but since it didn’t really fit my niche, I ignored it.
However, as time went on, I started seeing variations of that same question:
“Blacks In Every Commercial”
“Are Blacks Overrepresented In Commercials?”
“Why Is Every Commercial Black?”
“Where Have All The White Actors Gone?”
“Too Much Diversity In Advertising”
“Why So Many Blacks In Commercials?”
“Too Many Blacks On TV”
There are some queries that are just….. “Too Many Blacks"
Period. Not, “on TV” or “in commercials” but just… too many Blacks.
And those are just scratching the surface of similar results with more malicious intent.
I think of myself as a pretty level headed person, but waking up to check my website’s keyword opportunities and seeing that question pop up a new way, every time became too much.
So, I decided to write about it.
And before you say “proof or it didn’t happen,” tell me exactly what you typed into google to land yourself here, and then we can talk.
But let’s talk anyway.
Because I’m curious… what’s really bothering you all about a slight increase of Black actors in commercials?
Most people don’t even pay attention to commercials enough to notice things like that, but for some reason, this change is bothering enough of you that you’re googling this question every day.
My theories:
A false belief that when Black actors are in commercials, it’s only because companies feel like they have to align themselves with Black people and causes due to an outside pressure forcing them to be “inclusive” or “diverse.”
This idea among people in non-Black communities that Black people are “stealing acting jobs” or planning some sort of widespread “Black media takeover.”
People thinking things like:
“This is taking jobs away from white actors!”
“This is why white people can’t get work!”
“Blacks are over-represented in commercials! Black Privilege! There’s too many Blacks on tv!”
But historically, why haven’t any of you asked this question:
“Why Are Commercials So White?”
*Looks around*
*crickets*
Why did no one ever ask that? Why was it only when the actors became Black that people started asking “why are there so many of these people in commercials? we gotta do something about this, this is a crisis”
White actors have dominated commercials (and most media) in the US for as long as there have been commercials, and this country claims to be a melting pot of diverse races/cultures, so that never should’ve been the case, but it was.
And no one ever pointed it out.
But the second an ad comes on and the actors are Black, it’s:
“Boo! End wokeness! Make commercials great again!”
-Side note: “make anything x again” is just poorly veiled code for make it “white” again. I hope we all see that now.
But, come on.
Jake from State Farm can’t hurt you, white people. Relax.
You still have “Flo, the Progressive Girl.”
You’ll be fine.
No one’s trying to replace you.
Your spot at the front of the line is under no real threat, rest assured.
But if you are one of those people getting online, or in reddit forums asking why there are so many Black people in commercials now, maybe take a moment to ask the same question, but about white people.
(Or ponder why it is that you’re quick to question Black actors, but not white.)
Black people still don’t appear in commercials as often as white people, but the few times they are included, people demand explanations for their involvement.
As if there’s some unfair reason that a Black actor was chosen over a white one.
As if white nepotism isn’t the biggest handout facing the entertainment industry, but sure, non-white diversity is the issue.
Maybe the Black actor was better for the part.
Couldn’t possibly be that, right?
The frustration without basis or knowledge makes it seem like it’s wrong or weird for Black people to be in commercials or on television, at all.
Meanwhile, white people can be in every commercial and not have their presence or the amount of them in commercials questioned or noticed.
It’s okay for Black people to just be in commercials. They don’t need your approval to be there.
Over-analyzing and being suspicious when Black people are in commercials while accepting white people in commercials as the default, sends the message that…
“white people have every right to be wherever they want, so them being in all the commercials makes sense, but.. like, why do Black people need to be here?”
Why do Black actors and Black people owe you explanations for their presence?
By not questioning the over abundance of white people in commercials, we perpetuate the concept of whiteness as normal and anything not white.. abnormal, or unworthy of accurate (or any) representation.
Racial bias is at play when people only ask that question when the actors in the commercials are Black.
We’ve all endured the same brainwashing and conditioning that taught us to view whiteness as “traditional,” “standard,” or “American.”
The fact that people are even noticing that there are more Black people in commercials proves that Black people being in commercials was rare, to begin with.
But for some reason, inquiring non-Black minds have to know the sinister, gnawing, undercover, top secret reason why there are so many Black people stealing camera space in their precious Hulu ads.
If you’re racist, just get the ad free plan. Problem solved.
It’s not that deep.
There are Black actors in commercials now to help more accurately reflect the diversity of the country, and world in which we live.
If people of color had always been in commercials as often as white people, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
But the fact that people find it strange to see even a few more Black people than “normal” in ads and commercials shows that Black people weren’t being let into commercials until recently.
(Much more recently than you think)
How messed up is that?
So, I’ll leave you with this:
IF… If there are more Black people in commercials now, it’s a way to make up for decades of race related gatekeeping re: Black actors in commercials, because you know what the truth is?
There have always been too many white people in commercials.
Always.
But we grew to expect that, and what should’ve been treated from the start, as unbalanced casting, became the standard.
White actors in commercials became normalized.
We were conditioned to not notice whiteness in commercials, and that’s why Black people being slightly more visible in them now seems like “too much.”
What is really a correction of a long standing inequity, feels, to white people, like an over correction.
It also only seems like “too many” Black people are in commercials now, because at no point have you seen as many Black people in commercials as white people.
You still haven’t.
If this amount of Black people in commercials is bothering you..…
When Black actors actually start appearing in commercials as often as white people always have, then you’re really gonna lose your mind.
Food for thought.
I hope, in the future, that fewer people ask why Black people have the audacity to exist in certain spaces,
and instead ask why, in a nation that is losing its white majority, are white people still the dominant faces in our ads?
