I think not. With these dramatic increases in both income and business buying power comes the need for marketing and advertising focused directly toward the African-American markets. Many of the traditional marketeers to the African-American community are no longer welcome. Several cigarette manufacturers have always focused a large part of their advertising budgets towards the African-American population to the dismay of the black medical community. Boycotts and court injunctions as well as educating the African-American population have resulted in a lessening of the impact of this negative marketing.
Cigarette smoking is on the decline in the black population as it is in the general population.
Sales of alcohol, especially of the target marketed brands, is on the decrease in the black community. This type of stereotypical marketing will no longer work on the larger portion of African-American citizenry. We must be aware of the sensibilities of our marketplace. It may not be appropriate to cater to any one segment but neither is it right to offend another. As marketing professionals we must double check what is considered taboo culturally and ethnically.