'Racist' water safety poster prompts apology from American Red Cross

[Morphine Prince 109,645]

The American Red Cross on Monday apologized for a water safety poster many have deemed racist after it depicted mostly minority children doing “not cool” things in a public swimming pool.

The poster — titled “Be Cool, Follow the Rules” — shows more than a dozen cartoon children playing in a pool. It points out five instances in which children are engaging in “not cool” activities, like running around the edge of the pool, pushing their peers into the water and diving. Four of the fictional rule-breakers are either black or Hispanic children.

“We deeply apologize for any misunderstanding, as it was absolutely not our intent to offend anyone,” the Red Cross said in a statement. “As one of the nation’s oldest and largest humanitarian organizations, we are committed to diversity and inclusion in all that we do, every day.”

The nonprofit humanitarian group said it has removed the poster from its website and Swim App, discontinued its production and ordered all swimming facilities displaying the controversial poster to take it down. “We are currently in the process of completing a formal agreement with a diversity advocacy organization for their guidance moving forward,” it said.

Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/super-racist-water-safety-poster-155438909.html

 

[KARMA 1,022]

and the fact that they use "Cool" as the word 

[BlondeQueenOfGGD 25,454]

So they're implying white people follow the rules and blacks and Hispanics break them.. also mess at them for shading Demi 

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

Most likely an oversight. I wouldn't even have noticed if it wasn't pointed out to me. On closer inspection I see the pattern but there's also a black female lifeguard lecturing the kids and one of the white guys was doing a "not cool" thing too.

I can see why some people may be irritated by this, but I find it misplaced.

I mean really. Were they supposed to be mindful of the skin color diversity of people doing cool and uncool things in an ad that's about pool safety?

As someone who is frequently stereotyped in imagery, people need to realize that getting outraged over something as trivial as this runs counter to the supposed ideal of skin color being irrelevant. 

People keep making it relevant, no matter their position on the issue, and no matter the agency of the situation.

[LePetitGAGABLover 21,234]

LMFAO. What a bullshit reason to get mad

[Goosey 3,017]

WHY DID THEY APOLOGIZE?

 

I hate these phony "apologies" from companies, politicians and celebrities every time someone is offended. 

Instead of apologizing they should point out that there's nothing wrong with the poster.

 

It’s Time for Celebrities To Apologize—For All Their Apologizing

"The onslaught of fake outrage and insincere apologies is doing nothing to make our society a more compassionate, forgiving or understanding place. We are simply being trained to doubletalk and lie to avoid trouble."

[teo 609]

This poster is so not racist, it's like a Benetton ad. This is some tumblr bullshit...

[StarMom 497]

there is no asian, so do you mean is it racist for asians? Huh? 

 

 

[Loyalty 3,904]

Well some people can get offended by things like this. Especially because of the racist comments made in the media about black and Hispanic people who are always deemed to be doing something wrong. So how would you feel? 

[Aesta 109]

the poster is itself offending.

it looks like a 90s tabloid that doesn't makes any sense

[Brian Ryan 1,468]

I don't see it as racist. I guess if all of the bad signs pointed towards all the whites and one black. It would better for society. I almost got ripped on facebook for not seeing the obvious racism. I had to watch the news video to see the racism. Not everything is racist.