Red Cross Apologizes For Racist Pool Safety Poster
The Red Cross has issued an apology for their racist pool safety poster saying it was a “misunderstanding.”
John Sawyer blasted the humanitarian organization via Twitter after he spotted the offensive poster at The Salida Pool and Recreation Department in Colorado.
https://twitter.com/JSawyer330/status/745075509047005184
On the poster, all of the children following the pool safety rules are labeled “Cool,” and all of the children breaking the rules are labeled “Not Cool.”
Ironically, all of the black kids on the poster are breaking the rules and labeled “Not Cool.”
Here’s what the Red Cross had to say:
The American Red Cross appreciates and is sensitive to the concerns raised regarding one of the water safety posters we produced. We deeply apologize for any misunderstanding, as it was absolutely not our intent to offend anyone. As one of the nation’s oldest and largest humanitarian organizations, we are committed to diversity and inclusion in all that we do, every day.
To this end, we have removed the poster from our website and Swim App and have discontinued production. We have notified all of our partner aquatic facilities requesting they take down the poster. Our organization has emphasized to our partners and on social media that it was absolutely not our intent to offend anyone and apologized for this inadvertent action. We are currently in the process of completing a formal agreement with a diversity advocacy organization for their guidance moving forward.
Misunderstanding, eh?
How many eyes reviewed this poster before it went to print and was distributed?
What’s even more crazy is this poster would still be in rotation had John not put them on blast!
Welp. I’m “cool” on the Red Cross.
Your thoughts?
