“Heinz Faces Backlash: Controversial Ad Dismisses Black Culture Days After Fatherhood Debate!”
Heinz faced significant criticism for seemingly erasing Black fathers during the UK’s Black History Month
Image credits: nelsabbey
“Admittedly I had to look a few times to ensure I wasn’t seeing things,” Nels wrote of his experience seeing the ad in The Guardian on Tuesday (October 8). “I wasn’t.”
“Where was her father, whom the average person – looking at her – would assume to be Black? Nowhere to be seen. Not at the top table. Not anywhere.”
The stereotype that Black fathers are largely absent and “deadbeat” is not supported by real data.
In fact, studies, including one from the Centers for Disease Control, show that Black fathers are as involved—if not more so—in their children’s lives compared to fathers from other racial groups.
Image credits: Thunder 104.5 WGRX
Black fathers, whether living with or apart from their children, are active in daily caregiving, such as helping with meals, bathing, and reading to their kids.
Although a higher percentage of Black fathers live apart from their children, this is often due to structural inequalities rather than a lack of involvement.
Studies also show Black fathers place a strong emphasis on providing both emotional and financial support to their children, The Washington Informer reported in 2014.
“The stereotypes we inherited from yesteryear are yet to be updated and are crowded out by statistics that don’t paint a full picture,” Nels explained.
Heinz also released a new advertisement, this time reminiscent of Blackface
Image credits: Thunder 104.5 WGRX
The author concluded: “But let this be a lesson. From advertising to TV to reality, what must always be remembered is that Black girls, like Black boys, have fathers too. Keeping Black men off the table does no one any good.”
