The INFAMOUS “Black” McDonald’s commercials 

Amen brotha. I just said something similar. Sometimes the young generation doesn’t do their research or have enough empathy to put themselves into that era.

Sheeesh. The inconvenient truth. Having worked in ‘multicultural’ advertising and worked with brands like McDonald’s and being a black man, in 2024 it is still difficult to speak for ALL black people in marketing, and black agencies have always struggled with exactly how to speak to our communities because certain things that offend some may be the lived experience for others. It’s super hard to attach real authentic blackness to McDonald’s. Which is even counterproductive in itself as the product is killing us. But brands like McDonald’s paying black agencies is what keeps their lights on. So you do the best you can.

It’s never all good / never all bad. I think the brother was just reminding us how we broke in, and to keep questioning, challenging and evolving. It’s his right to include personal opinion in his thesis, and it’s good that we get to build upon that in comments. Great exchange!

You hit the nail on the head. Now I’m a brown first gen kid myself. I’ve noticed a subset of modern “activist” youth basically driving to eliminate the line between black or white or brown. But to do that takes away the significance of color. Singing gospel music in a commercial is offensive? Gtfo. And don’t speak for me saying I need to think “those people” are “racist” because they put that in there. This whole argument is rooted in the idea there’s shame in gospel music, speaking a certain way, or being working class. Color exists. It is beautiful. It should be represented. And I don’t care if it’s not quite right.

Said this better than any comment on here!

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve never heard anyone refer to McDonald’s as “Mickey D’s” outside of these commercials! 😂

@@Maki-00 Friends of mine heard it. They were in Chinatown, which is full of good, cheap food. And they saw a couple of teens and one of them said, "let's go to Mickey D." Sadly, that Chinatown had one.

I saw that bit too.

@@Maki-00 I have. It was pretty common in the 1990's.

@@SniffHeinkelYep

And the Black hair care ads.

@@mariecampbell3373 Some local wig manufacturers, too

I don't think most people cared. They were too busy living life and having fun to worry about this silly crap.

@@tias.6675 Well, they were noticeably absent from commercial breaks of other predominantly white shows---they were hard NOT to notice!

Don had no opinions on what ads were played during the airing of his show.

Well I reckon we WERE cringe AF back then ....ALL OF US. Watch BREAKIN. Youll see.

right. never let the bull teach you the cloth. silent west papuan genocide for u.s. gold is older than these ads. truth is the truth is useless. it's the masons. never matters. everyone wants a different answer. MK 100% complete. they'll be out burning those lodges or even asking questions Never. MK 100% complete. end of story. only papua remains.

Ah yes and once the ads stop (they didn't), the feelings that they caused, the depictions they taught, just magically go away (they don't). It's also explained in the video.

​@@blahblahblah1234blahBlacks lol

This dude is cringing over a family having McDonalds before church in a 1970s ad. What a whiner. There's no pleasing people who are dead-set on complaining.

@@2beJT You gotta admit that song was the worst. Like it was trying to bash black stereotypes over your head. Still hilarious though xDD

@@coreym162 Yeah, but I don't expect ad firms who are just beginning to consider black people to get it perfect on their first try. They aren't saying everyone should be eating McDonalds on get out of jail day. They are just trying to use the lingo of the time as best they could.

he seems to think the Calvin ad was based on racist attitudes instead of on millions in marketing research I think he's so young he thinks that 1980s ads were produced like 1950s ads

When you’re so stuck in your ways you lose the capacity to listen because you think you’re always right and those of a darker persuasion are wrong.

@@icevariable9600 when you’re so stuck in your own dimension you lose the capacity to be aware of reality because you think you’re always right and those of a human persuasion are wrong

I don’t buy anything that isn’t marketed directly to Straight, White, Upper Middle Class, Conservative, Men… Which is then culturally Appropriated by others.

@@DeadTubeSociety I know I’m gonna be sorry I’m asking this but…..what?

They just started having black people in every one of their commercials. Now the rest of industry has followed suit. Not saying it's good or bad, just an observance. You'd be hard pressed to see any commercials now that don't have a black person and if they're mixed even better to the industry!

@@Wolf-qh2lk it’s not the presence of black people in the commercial that makes it targeted. It’s the use of specific black celebrities and imagery that appeals specifically to African Americans that makes it egregious pandering. Like Lil Yachty driving in a low rider through the McDs drive through.

@@Wolf-qh2lk They are also primary characters in practically every American movie or TV series from the past 10 years or so. Ticking the Diversity Box is nice and easy. Not always sensible -- and quite often clearly artificially inserted -- as is the case with a show featuring 19th Century black British aristocrats... but it's easy, and inclusive.

me, i was always immediately struck by the cretinous nature of quantifiable envaluation. money is wrong, pretending the masons don't exist to put their dingdong in you is wrong also. heads fing up holmes.

@@Wolf-qh2lk Hollywood and the advertising industry have known for years now that the safest bet to get around 'certain people' complaining about lack of representation, is to have a pretty exact Representation Formula or Quota. You will not find a mainstream American movie or TV series made in 2024 that does not feature The Diversity Quota. There absolutely will be a black female scientist or some other such unicorn, presented like it's the norm.

or a great sign of how far we’ve come 🤷🏾‍♂️

your perception is screwed up. did OJ do it? and look at what had to happen to Cosby, for the state to get a confession out of Cosby. did he really do it? or is it done to make you think a certain way.

Whether you like it of both men were icons for their time. And will always be referenced when certain topics come up.

@@jeremylawson6648 Well said, Jeremy!

Add r Kelly and you have an unholy trinity lol

EXACTLY!!!!

Like Church's Chicken? Then try black churches... We had an old white councilman that would go around to all the black churches to get a meal every Sunday...

That’s why the ad stands out! It’s funny… Like McDonalds is so good, even your grandma would be thrilled to go. They’re selling a product, not producing a documentary on the black experience.

Same. That's one thing I'm thankful for, both my grandma's were wonderful cooks and they never took us kids to McDonald's. They cooked dinner every day and insisted we were there to eat real food. Grandmas were the greatest generation. But our Boomer parents often took us to McDonald's. It was big in the 80s. When we were kids we were brainwashed by McDonald's and the corporations ads "happy meals" to think the fake "food" was something we should eat when it was really really bad for us. I went back to grandma's ways and don't take my kids to McDonald's. I don't want them addicted to the fake "food."

This, I agree with!

Thanks George HW Bush

Don’t discern this “creator” understands such sentiments! 👍🏿 You go Calvin ✊🏿

Gettin' paid, gettin' paid!

Now Calvin is on welfare paying child support for three kids, just went to get a pack of smokes because he found out a 4th is on the way plus he’s got three warrants. The nature of the black will always come out.

WacArnold’s

No where I'm from. We always clowned those stupid ass commercials. And no they weren't like the entertainment that we enjoyed back then.

Ok, I am not the right color for this discussion, but this is a pet peeve of mine. First. You enjoyed them. You cannot speak on behalf of the every black person, especially pre internet. Drop the we. Second. Something being fair for its day is worth noting but that doesn't change the fact it's wrong.

@@thepinkestpigglet7529 Exactly

@@user-cs1pi8zg1n Facts

@@thepinkestpigglet7529 are you arrogantly whitesplaining to a black person they shouldn't be saying "we" when talking about their circle because "you know better?"

💯

and this is the part that Garrison doesnt understand about these commercials because he wasnt born yet...

@@LoopGawdTV Agreed. His peculiar interpretation is because he's from a different time and generation. McDonald's did similar ads for everyone, not just black teens. I distinctly remember ''work at McDonald's ads'' for white teens, for latinos, and even one for senior citizen retirees. When he talks about the ''Calvin'' ad's message about getting started on a positive path, he's wrong to assume it was racist. It was based on the franchises in heavily black neighborhoods having trouble hiring teens and the market research showing it's because they thought it was lame and uncool to work fast food. Besides, the responsibility pitch was really for parents to encourage their kids to get an after-school job.

Yeah - I'm white but grew up in the ghetto where my friends growing up had dreams to deal and die young. Just seeing messaging on TV that I could work a normal job and have a decent life gave me hope. I don't think those ads were bad at all.

I really appreciate this conversation, and everyone's perspective on it. This McDonald's commercial angle plays a small, but important, part in the much larger conversation. But as far as the interpretation of Garrison, I think this is a case of someone born in a different era, taking a snapshot from a bygone era, and poking holes in the assumed morality of the people who lived in those times. It's easy to do I'm sure (especially while standing with both feet grounded in this 'new and morally improved' era). For the heck of it I watched a bunch of 60's and 70's McDonald's commercials and noticed something they all had in common. No matter whether they depicted white or black families the people all seemed to act in cheesy 'stereotypical' ways. You could chalk it up to racism if you want, or perhaps just understand that these are commercials. They are fairly low budget, probably don't hire the best writing and acting talent hollywood had to offer, and commonly made white people look goofy and happy and black people seem cool and hip, etc. What do you guys think? Am I off base here?

Traditional church families are way more sophisticated than that 🤣

@@visualspark6308 unless McDonald's started making salmon patties and cheese eggs I missed it

Lots of people black and white do that. Or Golden Corral afterwards,

I know people who go to McDonald’s for coffee and breakfast before church. I’m sure that’s not everyone, but it does happen

Really, the idea of anyone having McDonald’s breakfast before church on a Sunday is asinine, tbh lol (Yeah, I’m a McDonald’s hater.)

I envy you.

Ah yes, the black community before integration. 🎩🕺🏾🪩🏡

That is why They made it THE commercial ! Here Have some pain & guilt & God with your Sin ! Just to taste it up a bit. even Better than THE real thing, Come take our diabetes things. & we will enslave you more than we ever did in THE cotton fields!! All For Macdonald's Kentucky Fried Chicken & a Pizza Slut !

@NicoleHeaston Thank you! Amen! McD.'s should be closed on Sunday.

@@jeffreyreeves9854why?

I agree, it was not just blacks who were over exaggerated or who were negatively portrayed in commercials, I remember it was youth in general much of the time. Us Gen - X'ers were often portrayed as being lazy, idiotic or over use of slang ..this was true for Whites just as much as blacks..but in a different way. Think of air head surfer or skater dudes.. 😒

Exactly This is further confirmed by the fact that a Black agency (Tom Burrell) made the Calvin ads They were basically following the trend used for creating characters at that time Trying to make him cool for the kids and unfortunately over time it looks hokey and over performed. And since it was done to appeal to Black audiences there’s a racial edge to it because the over performed elements were done to appeal to black audiences

Think Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Family Matters, the WB Network in general, Living Single, In Living Color...early 1990's television in general had lots of art imitating those stereotypes from the 70's and 80's.

Keep in mind that there were presumably focus groups of black people that were seeing these ads before they aired. The whole thing is just really complicated in terms of trying to distill a neighborhood into something that could be shown as a backdrop for one person's story over the course of about 90 seconds.

That’s cool and all but it’s 2024 so we must be offended since it’s read just racist now

McDonald's didn't have to seek out a black ad agency or approve it.

Then they are racist against themselves and need to be prosecuted for black on black discrimination.

A black snake is just as dangerous as a white snake. A lot of the predicaments we're currently in are because not all skinfolk are kinfolk and many people would rather be at the right of D'evil than be in its path. And whtes had to approve these commercials.🥴

@@nitrous36 the way you worded that, makes it sound like you approve and blame McDonald's at the same time.

What was the "crying Indian" selling?

@@eeddieedwards3890 More like Crying Sicilian ;)

@@katamarigirl93 Truth! Iron Eyes Cody was a Sicilian American actor who specialized in portraying American Indians. I saw him at the Sears store in Hollywood, Ca. back around 1987 and he was wearing a similar outfit (right down to the moccasins) that he wore in the "Keep America Beautiful" PSA that first aired back in the early 1970s.

​@@eeddieedwards3890 he was "selling" the proverbial "Hope for Change."

But I bet all your friends came by for "the hookup". What chu kno bout dat? If you don't recognize that term then you weren't Calvin.😂✌🏾

The entire video was about why we should care and how it’s not “just a … commercial.” You seem to relate to the points he made very accurately but your initial statement kind of diminishes as to why it’s important to recognize it as more.

@@bjt81366 No. I didn't hook anyone up. I wasn't raised that way. If there was an employee struggling, I'd give them a burger before an 8 hour shift. No one should work around food on an empty stomach.

@@micahg.230 Another view would be that @fakshen1973 assigned little importance to those types of commercials because he or she was an independent thinker who wasn't going to blindly accept what the television presented to him or her. Or better yet, spent little time consuming television.

For something to be a stereotype does not mean that it never happened/happens, it means that it is overly favored in place of what else is also going on, and it usually shows one to two-dimensional characters. He mentions, if you listened, that there are other stories, but somehow those don't get shown.

Yeah, right 🙄 Can you say? Propaganda

What’s so positive about a company that employs people they clearly care nothing for but to be servants. You’re talking as if Calvin became CEO or something

You ain't black FOH

I just made a similar comment. Born in 1979, lived in Brownsville Brooklyn when the Calvin ads came out. They were great, and needed to be seen at that time. You can get a job, you don’t have to hang out on corners. It was real.

Thank you ! That was a very good point.

I grew up in Chicago too ❤️

i'm welsh in tucson for 44 years i want to bbq the lot. merdeka papua i said merdeka papuaaaaaaaa! oj simpson was a cover for MKULTRA child rape verdict delivered on same date. my congrsswoman took a bullet for me. i'm pissed as fuck.

I had never seen that! I'm betting it has been banned!

@@jasonrodgers9063 its probably pulled from syndication, but it's on the dvds. they are hiding from civil war soldiers and disguise themselves in black face

Dave Chappelle's version of the commercial still gets to me. "Baby. Baby's cryin."

Calvin could still aim a bit higher than flipping burgers

Calvin was doing better than so many are today- of all races

@@noodlebrains2689 Everyone has to start somewhere. My first job was in fast food and I'm white.

A teen just 16? Wow, it must have been easy for you but I remember most aiming higher jobs in that time required applicants to be at least 18. Nice try.

Exactly. And McDonald's sued a woman who created a festival for charity called Mcfest but she was using Mc from her real name. And they sued Scottish people claiming only McDonald's corporation could use the name despite it belonged to other people's family for centuries

@@tw8464a very evil world

So? Dont eat it:

@@jackmehoff5201 100% Agree. Complaining about a fast "food" chain not being moral is like complaining about one corner prostitute or drug dealer not paying taxes. (The Founder was not an entirely true story for those out there who believe Ray Kroc took gross advantage of them.)

I got to defend Tyler a little bit.. He does have doctors, lawyers, and teachers in his shows and movies.. but yeah, he can be a little stereotypical at some times..

​@@kenrickeason, a little??😂😂😂😂

He absolutely took notes....why I'm not a fan....not the 🎯 audience

@HuigffGjiih Mr. Chocolate vs. Teddy Perkins. CAGE MATCH!!!

@ronbzoom8531, lmfao, funniest comment i've read in quite awhile, & so true!!! I've never been a fan of Mr. Perry's stereotypical images of his own people!

lol they exist for a reason and are just observations of your "people's" behavior

Funny, Minorities were played into the stereotypes until the 1990s..

Peter O'Toole was nominated for awards as Othello in blackface in the 80s.

@@billiealexander3480 You mean Lawrence Olivier in 60s? Shakespeare traditionally has color-blind casting, I watched a Black McDuff in MacBeth play, and Denzel Washington was Don Pedro in Much Ado, and Hiroyuki Sanada got awards for the Fool in King Lear, sure they didn't use whiteface makeup and black/yellowface shouldn't be used either.

... but the criminals were the colonists... I mean, that was the history...

My parents also had gollywog toys from the 70s, a character that resembles blackface depictions. They gave them to us as children, although they thought nothing bad about them. Today the character is seen as racist and no longer used.

Who are you? You don’t speak for black people

@woodbuglauryn Exactly. These inexperienced, overly sheltered, never-experienced-any-racism young people are ignorant and obnoxious.

Well you were wrong

@@sageex3931 I love that you have to be voted upon by the majority to speak with any sort of opinion regarding a racial demographic. That's solidarity, brother.

@PlayStonkers I say that cause you Don't speak for a whole group of people that's why it's simple.

Would you have preferred New Kids On The Block?

​@@p0llenp0nyMaybe Cassius Clay saying "this new spicy chickum sammich floats on my taste buds like a butterfly and stings my appetite like a bee! Go get you some!"

Refresing change from murder hoes and fast stacks.

😂😂😂😂😂, NOT THE "DIDN'T REMEMBER THEM AT ALL" 😂😂😂😂😂😂

@angusorvid8840 Thank you for your testimony.

All this may be true… But did you get his point?

@@geekmeee no please tell me, I’m Just so dense. Yes and I shared my point. He’s not the only one with one.

@mariestinson3284 thank you it was during a bad time in history when gang violence was running rampant. So stuff like this was positive. Minstrel? What the hell? This kid is overthinking this.

Calvin is not a stereotype but an archetype of the at-risk teenager who benefits from the character-building that comes with getting a job and taking on adult responsibilities rather than hanging out on the streets getting into trouble with his loser friends. While it is a bit of an exaggerated fairytale it's not exactly minstrelsy.

It would seem some people on this thread both missed the point AND bought the stereotypes. 🤦🏾‍♂️

The "Devil made her do it!"🤣 Flip was hilarious!

100%, and Don't forget the hugely popular song from 1981 "Get Down On It" by Kool & The Gang that was a play on the phrase "Get Down".

Soul train had a bunch of McDonald's and other commercials which were full of black people. No his show arsenio mentioned McDonald's introducing their mcrib sandwich, he thought the wanted to attract more McNegroes

You literally can't win either way. You're either promoting harmful stereotypes or trying to whiten them up lol. And you're correct. I doubt black people at the time gave a flying eff about any of these ads.

*THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!* 🙏🏾 And those Mc. Donald's commerce weren't even that bad.... all Millennials do is complain about shit. If McDonald's had zero commercials with BLACK FOLKS in it.... then we be complaining about that!

Very true. Meanwhile "In N Out Burger" just fled Oakland California because of the rampant crime. Food deserts, pharmacy deserts in the 10 most dangerous cities in America which are majority Black and Majority Black run but talking about ancient "racist" McDonald's commercials are the problem. The victim card still pays I guess.

@brotherted9212 Good points. I am a historian and I know from being on a college campus that most Liberals and Feminists have their bills paid and are desperate for something to complain about.

Excellent commentary. I swear, being black is exhausting (from our own community no less)

me too !!

That damn Jesse Dollemore! Jesse is a good man and tries to do what's right even though I disagree with him a little bit sometimes.. I still sub to him..

@@kenrickeason he is a good man. I also dii I sadder sometimes but that’s not a bad thing.

You're damn right they do. Stereotypes don't pop out of thin air. They're based on real behavior that started all of them, let's not forget that.

McDonald's food is shit.

So eloquently well put👍🏽

I know right!

Well you ain't black according to this guy. lol

I love this, man. haha

Up until 1997. Worst year ever for the Black identity and respect.

@@coreym162 Curious, what happened in 1997?

@@edsanville Probably the effects of gangster rap changing how Blacks behaved.

I'm a Black American and I did not speak like that in the 80s and 90s.

Yes, but it's arguably even worse than that. The lessons we can learn from the world's reaction to the Nazis would be far more useful if we don't skip to the holocaust and look at what things were happening earlier in the process with the information that was available. If things have gotten to the point where the death camps have been built and people are just then starting to think that perhaps putting people into ovens might be a bit too far, you've already lost the battle. And really, even just drawing up the plans is probably too late to stop it from happening. Same goes for slavery, Jim Crow laws and all the rest. If you look at it knowing what the result was, you miss the lessons that might avoid something equivalent happening in the future.

Lmao wow. No, maybe Calvin would have been going to college. There ain't no life in fast food. Working fast food would probably be the thing that makes you start selling drugs instead

@@cxri9454 There ain't no life in fast food? There damn sure no life in selling drugs.

Except a lot of black people don't live in the "hood" and didn't then. The commercial wasn't the worst, but there were still problematic elements, like making it look like people in underprivileged areas don't work, and it's a miracle that one of them does. But I can see your point, but then make commercials without all the stereotypical "black" additives too.

Got 1 😂😂😂😂

You're not wrong, it's called shrinkflation.

DYNOMITE!!!

"My name is Florida! Florida! That's the name of a state! Why is my name Florida? Oh, Lord!"

Family Guy reference 🤭

Good Times, Sanford and Son, All In the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude; Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman...

@@davidmitchell6873 - J.J. (James Evans, Jr. aka comedian Jimmy Walker)

Yep!

B.s.

I heard one the other day (I stay next to Montgomery, Alabama) on the radio, and I just busted out laughing at how stupid and ridiculous the ad was.. I get that they want black people's money, but all you have to do is just show an ad of people eating your foods.. That's it.. No stereotyping..

This video reminds me of a job I had. This older White man would say "Good Morning" to everyone else. I was greeted with "What up, G !!" I quit.

@@supme7558 nope

interesting

Bookworm growing up. TV didn't interest me. My significant other always had tv on watching westerns. Those shows were so sexist. Women shouldn't be allowed to vote. It was okay to spank your wife. Folgers coffee ads--the newly wed wife who just couldn't make coffee. Now that he has passed away, I will never hear one of this shows again. Books and music.😉

@quercusrubra3633, yes, that's a great current example of minstrelsy in advertising!!! I didn't even think of it, until you pointed it out!!

@@JanicePritchett-vf3fx Books??? Your grammar is so poor you better just stick to music.

i don't want to be mean here - but i think a lot of people don't realize a "stereotype" is also based on a MAJORITY of a specific archetype... ok yes, it 'broad brushes' the rest of the people that are not a certain way; but a Stereotype is always based on how a majority of people have experienced some specific archetype pattern, in any setting (sociological, biological, etc.; that is, how people act, how people look/sound, etc.). it is always something that has been seen or has occurred with a majority of people in that specific archetype setting. that is literally why it is called "stereotyping" [note that this does not mean that all stereotypes are positive, or should not be changed because they are negative, but it means that a stereotype is always based on a majority of occurrence]

..... Jesus Christ is the only hope in this world no other gods will lead you to heaven There is no security or hope with out Jesus Christ in this world come and repent of all sins today Today is the day of salvation come to the loving savior Today repent and do not go to hell Come to Jesus Christ today Jesus Christ is only way to heaven Repent and follow him today seek his heart Jesus Christ can fill the emptiness he can fill the void Heaven and hell is real cone to the loving savior today Today is the day of salvation tomorrow might be to late come to the loving savior today Holy Spirit Can give you peace guidance and purpose and the Lord will John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Mark 1.15 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Hebrews 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Jesus

It nearly always is with people with way too much free time on their hands and a need to complain about everything.