It’s about time! Honey Maid is the latest, since Cheerios and Coke blazed the trail over this past year, on prime time with commercials that feature an honest portrayal of 
what is becoming the true traditional make-up of the American family. The commercial shows gay, minority and tattooed families as the featured individuals collectively enjoying their products.
Any marketers who have played a part in developing TV commercials, videos, collateral, direct mail and the like, have long run with the edict from higher-ups….”now make sure we show some diversity!”
I have become quite adept at pointing (and often chuckling) at the obvious, token diversity images scattered throughout todays marketing. I can just hear the client dictate, “Make sure we show both a male AND a female. And be sure to throw some color in there!” It’s a farce, but it’s been reality in the marketing environment for more than the past decade.
The attempts are usually very obvious. And tend to look forced, if you ask me. But it is the way of a world that is struggling to embrace our ever changing demographic consumer make-up.
I applaud Honey Maid, Cheerios and Coke for embracing the melting pot that is America. And hope that this bodes well for the retirement of “token diversity” and a future that is more honest and authentic for American marketing and advertising.
