Urban Unrest

09 April 2008 | Media Justice, People of Color, Politics | Ernesto Aguilar

Just a little something on media justice front.

This Absolut ad has stirred much controversy, to the point where the company, which ran the ad only in Mexico, said it was pulling it from circulation.

As you may notice, the old-school map represents Mexican territories prior to the U.S.-Mexico War, when the United States seized holdings which today comprise California to Texas. Conservative commentators and blogs, in a result shocking no one, are in a froth over it, bringing up everything from Chicano nationalism to Islam. Yikes.

Absolut’s ads, at various points, have sought to be provocative. This particular ad, however, has ignited more misinformation (historical and otherwise) and ultra-nationalism than usual.

I will spare you further remarks on this, but will add Racialicious and the Los Angeles Times have comments posted, of varying flavors.

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