The remake of Annie stars Quvenzhané Wallis, but you wouldn't know it judging by Target ads. In-store ads for the retailer's Annie-inspired clothing have been whitewashed, leading more more than 8,500 people to sign a petition for Target to remove the ads and apologize to Wallis.
Girls of all ethnicities are featured in the lookbook for the Annie clothing line, and Wallis herself attended the line's launch. But for some reason that diversity hasn't translated to the actual adds. The petition asks if this has to do with some people threatening to boycott the film for casting an African-American actress as Annie.
Your recent Annie ads and in-store displays depicts a misleading depiction of the movie as it shows a Caucasian young lady opposed to the star of the film—Quvenzhané Wallis. Though the model is quite professional, she does not speak to the relevance of the movie or main character. When the original Annie came out, everything was about Aileen Quinn or a character/person that emulated her ... why not now Target? If you can show it online, show it in ALL of your stores with multiple signage with different girls not one!
...Why does African American actors have to beg for respect, especially as it relates to advertising? When does it stop? Target it should stop now with this petition! Despite most beliefs, African Americans are capable of portraying more than drug dealers, pimps, and other bastardized portrayals of our culture. Gone are the days that African Americans sang or read lines from behind the scenes while our counterparts lip synced and was viewed as the stars. Quvenzhané Wallis earned that role and we demand your respect.
Target has yet to respond to the petition, but we can't imagine it will stay silent. These advertisements completely disregard the spirit of the Annie reboot and impede the self-esteem it's created for black children whose worth is rarely depicted in the entertainment industry.
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[via The Root]
