Yes these are offensive but I find them interesting. Thanks for sharing!

This is an example of an ad that is racist because of connotation, not intent. The other modern ad in the OP is basically just mocking feminism which is obviously offensive in intent but as someone in marketing, I can at least on some level understand how the first ad would be put out (they had other versions of the ad with white men, the specific version with the black man was taken out of the series and scrutinized) even if I have no sympathy as any marketer needs to be aware of social implications.

What year was the Chlorinol ad ran in? I'm a little shocked at some of them tbh. A little disgusted, actually.

Thank goodness the society has changed

I wouldn't use that slogan in association of any African American depicted, period. Too risky but the guy who wrote this line prob didn't realize that. The "re-civilize yourself" positioning was probably developed in a board room before anything happened, and then later it was decided to feature and African American to seem "inclusive (and get the demo), then the backfire occurred. The graphic designer who created that depiction of an uncivilized black man with an afro is likely different than the guy who came up with that slogan and initial idea. It's weird, a lot of agencies (especially the ones with big clients) still have very segregated roles so the different elements in combination that make this ad offensive were probably pieced together by different people and at different times. I think that's a part of the reason why this ad slipped through the cracks despite being clearly offensive.

The fairy soap one omg

The Chlorinol one.

Wow

This one made me laugh a bit.

Chlorinol

It is really interesting to me to have a look at these images of old ads and i find it quite great howthe american socio culture have greatly changed in the last 60 years. And what is astonishing to me is how the arab culture was ahead of this racial discrimination in comparison with america where as the western stereotypical view of arab women as oppressed its far from true and its quite the opposite really and it has been since forever that racial bigotry and discrimination is a big no no here since arab countries are often strictly religious an the religion here stress on that 'theres no difference between a black guy and a white guy except for their levels of faith';the arab scene had almost non existent problems of such

Excuse my bad english

Thank you vin for this thread!