The petition
Washington Mutual has begun a new marketing strategy in recent years. They have begun to air commercials that feature a group of white bankers being portrayed as crooks and not looking out for their clients interests but rather their own. Meanwhile, there is a black man, badgering the white bankers by asking them questions pertaining to banking suggestions that would be attractive to customers as they openly reject these suggestions. With this in mind, the commercial is showing prejudice towards white bankers as being crooked and immoral, by making it seem as if all they are concerned with is greed. As a white man who has worked on Wall Street, I find this commercial appalling and degrading towards myself and every white man I have met in the financial industry. This commercial shows racism and prejudice, and promotes hatred amongst white males in the financial profession. Further, it promotes division amongst races instead of unity. It is unfair and unjust that these commercials continue. So, I am drafting this petition and bringing it to the attention of Washington Mutual to have these commercials removed with a public apology towards all white men in the financial industry and asking all people to boycott Washington Mutual.
Also, please click on the links to the right as they are the commercials I am referring to which undoubtedly illustrate this.
Just an update on June 6, 2007 - The following is a response from WAMU after several attempts for them to recognize the issue at hand:
Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you for your comments on our new advertising campaign.
Our ads poke fun of old-fashioned banking - through stodgy bankers - to
make the point that Washington Mutual has a legacy of standing up to one
of the oldest, largest, stodgiest industries in the world to champion
the needs of the consumer. Stodgy bankers" are fictional and are not
intended to reflect any actual person. At Washington Mutual, we
recognize that todays banking profession is diverse in terms of race,
age, and gender as is our companys workforce. In fact, we have been
nationally recognized by numerous publications as an employer of choice
for women and minorities.
I have forwarded your comments regarding the advertisement. If anyone
was offended by our light-hearted approach, we certainly apologize.
- This apology neither suffices nor settles the issue at hand. I will continue to take further steps to promote our cause.
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