Truth in Advertising

Kirkland WA

Description

While watching television commercials, I recorded the skin color of the actors highlighted during ads. Keep in mind that the U.S. census showed African Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population. Over several days, many commercials, 717 actors were counted: white 432, black 285. That’s 60% white, 40% black. Counting separately during the super bowl, the count was: white 187, black 132. That’s 59% to 41%. Pretty consistent. It seems many advertisers have chosen, for what-ever reason, to present an altered reality, giving the impression that almost half of Americans are black. So much for truth in advertising.