NAACP Stuck in Aging Marketing Modes

The NAACP buries the N-word, ignoring the opportunity to freely distribute photos and video across the web, thus turning what could have been a great opportunity to package and spread their message worldwide in a form sympathetic to their cause rather than relying on mainstream media to package it for them.

What a weird situation.  A widely hated word that was gradually being driven out of the white community is revived by black youth and artists.

For example, despite having come up with plenty of stupid reasons that it was ok to keep using it, my last close relative stopped using the N-word years ago cause his wife drew the line.  I personally do not associate with white people that use the N-word in my presence and that's quite viable at this point in time.

I can't draw that line with black people because I would have to get out of hip hop.  To be honest, it wasn't a term I heard regularly since my childhood until rap brought it back.

Yet, if you're going to mount a campaign against the N-word and you're not going to bother with intelligent usage of new forms of media, I have little sympathy for your efforts.

Here's the thing, many bloggers wrote about this event, often dismissing its relevance, who might have been happy to run a photo or video if it was readily available.  When someone runs a photo that you've produced, your message often trumps their message, even when they're being critical.

Where are the YouTube clips?  Where are the shots of Kurtis Blow?  Where are the other rappers like Master P and Chamillionaire who've been making public statements about such issues?

If the NAACP had quickly posted footage from the event along with videotaped messages from folks like Master P and Cham, those clips would be everywhere by now, even on sites that were making fun.  And that would not only promote the campaign but promote the NAACP at a time when its very relevance is being widely called into question.