Systemic Racism of the UNICEF Germany's Ads Depicting Children in Blackface

April Larson, Minnesota State University, MankatoFollow

1st Student's Major

Communication Studies

1st Student's College

Arts and Humanities

Students' Professional Biography

April Larson is a sophomore at Minnesota State University, Mankato majoring in Speech Communication and Political Science. The research was conducted for a speech for the Minnesota State University, Mankato‟s Forensics Team. April Larson has been an active member of the Forensics Team for the past two years.

Mentor's Name

Rachel Droogsma

Mentor's Department

Communication Studies

Mentor's College

Arts and Humanities

Abstract

In the summer of 2007, UNICEF Germany released four ads containing the use of Blackface. However, neither the German population, nor UNICEF Germany found the use of Blackface insulting or racist when in fact Americans, who have the history of Blackface Theater, were appalled at the display of white German children with mud on their faces, portraying Africans. Through the use of Joe R. Feagin's theory of systemic racism, this paper rhetorically analyzed whether the UNICEF ads should be considered racist outside the American experience of Blackfacing and Blackface Theater. The analysis revealed the UNICEF ads are racist under the systemic racism theory.

Recommended Citation

Larson, April (2008) "Systemic Racism of the UNICEF Germany's Ads Depicting Children in Blackface," Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato: Vol. 8, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56816/2378-6949.1076
Available at: https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/jur/vol8/iss1/6