Sisters Supporting Sisters: Procter and Gamble Unveils “My Black is Beautiful” Initiative

Friday Sep 21, 2007 – By Clutch

Did you know that 77% of black women are “concerned” about the way they are portrayed in popular media while another 71% believe they are portrayed in a more negative light than any other racial group in the country? What’s worse is the fact that 69% believe that impressionable teens are negatively influenced by these images of black women portrayed by media.

As part of a recent study by Procter and Gamble in partnership with ESSENCE Magazine, these disturbing statistics clearly indicate that it’s time for a positive change.

Enter P&G’s newly launched My Black is Beautiful initiative. P&G has always been at the forefront of recognizing and celebrating beauty and the African-American community. The My Black is Beautiful initiative underscores this commitment by giving black women, from all generations and walks of life, an outlet to actively engage in conversation about not only what is beautiful to them, but what is beautiful about them.

A movement created by, for and about black women, My Black is Beautiful is committed to igniting a national conversation that will not only change how black women are viewed by popular culture, but also how they are viewed by themselves. Empowering women with the confidence to fully embrace the strength and beauty they were born with, the My Black is Beautiful initiative includes the following key elements:

My Black is Beautiful Discussion Guide, designed to encourage the facilitation and participation in My Black is Beautiful conversations in their local communities as well as to explore various issues surrounding black beauty.
My Black is Beautiful Action Grants, to be awarded to community-based organizations that are dedicated to the health, education and empowerment of African-American young women, while also honoring leaders who have made extraordinary contributions.
Dedicated, Socially-Networked Web Site where women can more learn about the program, share their thoughts, interact with others and more.
My Black is Beautiful Conversation Tour that will visit U.S. cities to actively engage women in a weekend of festivities and inter-generational learning opportunities (dates and venues TBA).

As a call to action, Clutch Magazine is encouraging women to visit www.myblackisbeautiful.com to share their thoughts on the initiative and let their voices be heard.

The My Black is Beautiful movement is supported by a wide array of Procter & Gamble’s leading brands, including PanteneÂ® Pro-V Relaxed & Natural, Cover GirlÂ® Queen Collection, OlayÂ® Definity, CrestÂ®, SecretÂ®, TampaxÂ® and AlwaysÂ®.

Heather D. says:

September 21, 2007 at 12:21 am

Great Initiative. But, I would think that P&G would partner with different magazines, blogs and websites to help with the movement. Not just Essence, most of us read Essence, due to legacy and habit but most of us don’t CHECK for Essence every month. But, we do check online for sites like Clutch and top blogs everyday. It would be a smart idea to partner with a network of African American sites and blogs to really spark a discussion. Essence is a great start, but will not deliver the results that a GROUP of sites would deliver. Kudos to Clutch for delivering the info though.

↑ Reply

Devin says:

September 21, 2007 at 12:24 am

@ Heather D. – I agree! Companies run to Essence for everything Black women which is great and I applaud them for this campaign – they should also run to the blog world and online mags like Clutch and YMIB to really get to the women that are my age. I LOVE the concept and message and will check it out and spread the word!

Nia V says:

September 21, 2007 at 12:27 am

I heard about this earlier this week! This is a great program – and I hope that it really sparks a change – but, it take a village to get the word out and hopefully Essence can pull this off and spark a Black is Beautiful revolution! Oh – good to see Clutch and Essence working together – great match!

Black Queen says:

September 21, 2007 at 12:33 am

Those stats are eye-opening! Wow! Will check out the site now. This will definitely get people talking. I think they should host a bloggers conference with top blogs and sites for AA women and talk about action on how we can stop or help with these issues. Like like Jena 6 – bloggers/online media made a change – a site can’t do it all – I agree at least it’s a start!

Spelmanite says:

September 21, 2007 at 12:41 am

Great campaign! I applaud Essence for trying to start a conversation. Thanks Clutch for posting the info – first time I have heard of this. I’m excited!

Shonda Washington says:

September 21, 2007 at 1:09 am

Love this! It’s about time! We do care about what others think about us and most of the time we can’t change it – I think this is going to ignite our fight for true and respectable images in the media.

autumn says:

September 21, 2007 at 1:36 am

This is long overdue! I’m glad to see a company like Proctor and Gamble care enough to create something like this. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. Hopefully it won’t be a good idea that just fizzles away and then disappears. Keep us posted on the events coming up. I’ll definitely be there with bells on!

Chloe says:

September 21, 2007 at 7:51 am

Black womens self esteem isn’t created in a vacuum. We are inundated with negative images and stereotypes that are generated by white controlled media outlets. If P&G really cared about the mental health of black women, they’d try to effect change within these white dominated media industries and dissuade them from disseminating derogatory messages. The responsibility to correct the wrongs lies with them, not with us. P&G needs to engage Madison Avenue first and us second. Take the solution directly to the source.

crystal says:

September 21, 2007 at 8:37 am

I was thinking about doing an event series like this at my school. The concept was to get sistas together to talk about the state of our community and most importantly, what we can do to demand respect from music artists, the media and anyone else who tries to degrade us from day to day. I still plan on doing these events and appreciate Proctor and Gamble giving me a backdrop for those discussions. i’m really feeling the manifesto and will post it on my mirror to read each morning.

Lena says:

September 21, 2007 at 9:35 am

I’m torn on this. I tend to think like Chloe above. Frankly, if P&G wants to have an impact on negative media images, a good place to start would be denying advertising dollars to media outlets that routinely disseminate those images, or at least flexing their economic muscle to encourage more empowering images. It’s all good to have a tour and Website for us, but changes also need to be made in the boardrooms of television networks and publishing companies.

Mlle Smith says:

September 21, 2007 at 12:25 pm

While this is a great initiative on the part of Proctor and Gamble, I do agree with Chloe, that they are, in a sense, “preaching to the choir”. Though there are definitely many among us that actually NEED to be “preached to”, they could also bring about change by bringing this message to others, as well – not just the Black community.

I find it ironic that Essence Magazine was involved in this study, seeing as they allowed their beauty director, Mikki Taylor, to appear regularly as a “judge” on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School…a show that clearly exploits and perpetuates negative, stereotypical depictions of Black women.

tremaine says:

September 21, 2007 at 12:48 pm

This is a good idea and a great way to encourage people of color to branch out and give opinions of ourselves, as well as continually uplift ourselves too. I am also in total agreement w/ Lena and Chloe. This is a stepping stone to what could be even bigger and should be; but if we truly want to change the images that are portrayed, a lot more will have to take place.

Maxine says:

September 21, 2007 at 5:29 pm

I agree with the statements above – this just looks like a ploy to increase sales for P&G to act like they really care about why “My Black is beautiful”. Black women know they are beautiful – it’s the non-blacks who don’t know – start a campaign to target them. None the less – thanks for the site and trying to pacify your black consumers. We see marketing & sales strategies a mile away.

Mes Deux Cents says:

September 22, 2007 at 11:19 am

It sounds like a great concept.- I just checked the website and the first thing I noticed was BET was being promoted. Why? BET is a major part of the problem along with other Viacom media outlets like Paramount “Who’s Your Caddy’ Pictures and VH1.

I agree with Maxine, this is just marketing by two White companies Essence Magazine (owned by Time Inc.) and P&G.

I think the real movement to take our images back has been going on in the blogisphere for quite some time now.

Rhoda Moore says:

November 24, 2007 at 12:48 pm

For years I have watched commercials and TV shows and felt like the images of black women were usually unflattering. I applaud this movement and would like to say thanks to those who are behind it. It’s about time the media realizes the beauty in black women just as it does when it comes to all other women.

zeda perkins says:

December 1, 2007 at 2:45 pm

I think this is absolutley wonderful. I am planning my first orientation in a couple of weeks to introduce the women I have invited to the conversation group so that I can answer any questions any participants may have and lay the ground rules for upcoming meetings