As advertisers, we are often asked to come up with creative campaigns that appeal to a broad range of ethnicities, which could mean anything from tailored materials translated into different languages or simply including images of people representative of a specific race or culture. Cheerios’ recent commercial featuring an interracial married couple and bi-racial child has kicked up a firestorm of controversy, fueled by incendiary and hateful comments.
In this video, kids were asked to watch the commercial and to comment on it. The disclaimer at the beginning reads, “The insights of children about these issues can give incredible insight into where our society really is and where we are headed as people.”
Upon first viewing, none of them can tell the interviewer what’s wrong with the spot. When it’s pointed out that many people are upset about the mixed-race couple, the children display genuine confusion. Kids as young as 4 understand that love is love:
“It’s just the color of their skin, what matters is if they’re nice or mean,” says one.
“I thought Martin Luther King spoke against this and fixed this already,” says another.
“[Marriage] really just depends on their heart and if they really love me.”
“Underneath it, you’re literally the same. You have organs and a heart.”
One freckle-faced girl named Morgan says simply, “Some people just fall in love like that.”
Cheerios may be good for your heart, but these kids dish up some chicken soup for the soul.
Source: YouTube (The video is part of a Fine Bros. series that has kids, teens, and elderly people react to viral videos, news stories, or trends.)
Sherry LeCocq
Public Relations Account Manager
Mood: Universally connected
