The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1941-09-06
All Crap-Shooters Aren't Black

THERE is trend in advertising which bur-
lesque pictures of Negroes focus attention the
product advertised The Shell Oil company is portrayed
the picture of little colored boy eating slice of water
melon to represent the Sweet Performance of its prod
ucts while Gulf Oil company recently pictured aliga-
tor chasing fleeing Negro youngster to impress the pub
lie that Gulf gasoline gets "Of With A Jump A large
shoe blackng manufacturing firm potrays the picture of
Negroes head advertise their brand of goods and the
latest along this line advertisement by of
local concerns operated by propreorS of German descent
In the August % issue Of the Detroit News the Kern's
Department Store Of this city carried rather unusual and
Objectionable ullAedged advertisement which say the
least was unfair to colored citizens.
The advertisement illustrated by picture of
two young coored boys PLAYING game Of dice. On the
floor the dice where the boys kneelng.
rabbits foot, while horseshoe protruded from the hip
pocket Of one Of the youngsters And here's the the
advertisement began:
Don't gamble. This is natural Throw away
your horseshoe kiss your rabbits foot goodbye
Founders Sale will be your good luck charm tomorrow
and for weeks TO come
This is clever advertisement from an artistic point
Of view and il doubtless caught the imagination ofmany
white customers hut opinion any business
that is secured by holding up rdicule any racial
gous group is not profitable business Public good will
is an Invaluable asset 70 any business establishment and
often goes further than financial credit: but good
against but the harmful influence such pub
lefty remains the and tends prejudice the public
The Kern's advertisement to which refer, in all
probability, not designed with any malicious intent
against our race but the harmful influence Of such pub
Lefty remains the and tend 10 prejudice the public
against This kerns advertisement for example will
lead many citizens conclude that all Negroes specialize
dce-shooting and gambling This not the case Fur
thcrnprc has monopoly gambling with dice.
This form Of gambling cenures-od and is INDUCED in
hy manr indiN duals in all lands.
Let MS also n passing not the only super
s'itious peoplc Saperstition is universal weakness
aneng millions. white We'll colored. Ii is not
common for white to carry rabbits foot a buck
other charm in his pocket nail horse
shoe over his door why do get credit for carrying
all the hoodoo charms"
II is Just unfair for kerns Department Store hold
pconc up nc public Of dice gamblers and
supcrstop believers in rabbits feet horseshoes and
er magic charms would be for Negroes TO adopt the
unfair a. tde that stores operated by Germans
friendly 30 oar and sympathetic with Hitler policies
For Us to hold such a biased attitude against Kern's
or any oncr business operated by individuals of
German descent would be unjust and undemocrac for
we know maj there are many German Americans who
friendly toward our race even among those who do not
advertise in Negro papers cater 10 patronage.
We sincerely hope that this trend in advertising.
whcd hold, Negroe, 10 rdicule and and which
Is being frequently used by leading white firms
"ill be discontinued Such publicity is against the best
interest Of Negroe and cannot too emphatically con-
denim It.