# Kool-Aid and black culture...am I totally out of the loop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 19, 2002, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891 "2002-07-19T23:19:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/21 "2002-07-21T01:00:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\* > > Actually I think that pineapple is one of the ones you can’t put in, because something in it keeps the jello from setting. > > I think. I’m not a big expert on jello. \*\* [Exac-a-dactly, sayeth Cecil](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_344b.html) ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/22 "2002-07-21T02:42:55Z")
Thank you, **Fenris**. You are permanently hired as my personal editor…you cut right to what I was trying to say. Thanks for defending me. That’s all I wanted to find out…is this an old tradition that I’ve never heard of, a regional thing, or an invention by the Fruit Growers Board of America in conjunction with Kool-Aid to start something new. And **Opalcat** you can always used canned pineapple. ---
**Author:** ![tetsusaru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f14d63/32.png) [@tetsusaru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tetsusaru)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/23 "2002-07-21T13:31:01Z")
Jim Jones was white. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/24 "2002-07-21T16:50:16Z")
OK, so what is it with Pittsburgh Dopers and Kool Aid? Other than the fact that it’s too dead hot and I need something cold and caffeine free to drink? CJ ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/25 "2002-07-21T17:10:42Z")
If I may be so bold as an African-American Doper, there is something “racial” (not “racist”) behind these ads - it’s Kraft Food’s attempt to reposition Kool Aid as a family-friendly, healthier than soda (look, it’s fruit-flavored so you can put **real fruit slices in it!** ) beverage that can make the jump to middle-classhood with the ever-growing number of African-Americans who are moving up the income ladders. Large corporations (not just Kraft, auto makers are also big in this game) are trying to make sure that they don’t lose their Black market share. Therefore, they create new ads, targetted toward Black audiences that are intended to speak to the African-Americans who are now living in sunny, suburban neighborhoods (like in the ad **Kittenblue** saw) or sending their kids off to college (another ad that’s currently airing) or looking for family vehicles to fit their nuclear family, 2 kid, soccer mom lifestyles or putting together their retirement plans. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/26 "2002-07-21T17:31:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kittenblue \* > \*\* > And **Opalcat** you can always used canned pineapple. \*\* Well actually I try to avoid gelatin when possible (I’m a vegetarian) ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/27 "2002-07-21T19:10:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tlw \* > \*\*Large corporations (not just Kraft, auto makers are also big in this game) are trying to make sure that they don’t lose their Black market share. Therefore, they create new ads, targetted toward Black audiences that are intended to speak to the African-Americans who are now living in sunny, suburban neighborhoods (like in the ad **Kittenblue** saw) or sending their kids off to college (another ad that’s currently airing) or looking for family vehicles to fit their nuclear family, 2 kid, soccer mom lifestyles or putting together their retirement plans. \*\* Here they missed (Ok, for me they miss - I’ll never buy Ford after their series of incredibly insulting tv ads) and instead of looking “multicultural,” the ad seems to be about some black family with a bizarre Kool-Aid obsession. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/28 "2002-07-21T20:00:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\*Well actually I try to avoid gelatin when possible (I’m a vegetarian) \*\* Me too, **Opal** , but I know how to make endless permutations of the horror known as “Jello salad.” What can I say? It’s part of my cultural heritage. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/29 "2002-07-22T00:02:45Z")
I read that advert to say “Look. Koolaid is not some weird mixture of unknown powders which you add a cup of sugar and some water to, Koolaid is natural. See, you can even add real fruit. It’s so yummy and healthy. Much better then soda or plain water.” I think it’s just the Ad guys attempting to make koolaid look better. I’ve never, ever heard of real fruit being put in koolaid. Of course, the only flavour I still like is the Sharkleberryfintastic (or whatever the hell it was) and I can’t buy that anymore. Even if I could still get it, I wouldn’t know what real fruit would be fitting in it. Perhaps Hand of Buddha? As an added bonus to this post, I will include the top ten rejected Kool Aid flavours (as send to me in e-mail not long ago) Drunkenberry Punch Strawberry Escargo Tastes Like Teen Spirit Toxic Yellow Surprise Roadkill Red Rocka-fishy Tuna Chocolate Fudge Ripple Picklejuice Shrimp Cocktail Sea Monkeys! ---
**Author:** ![l1I235](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@l1I235](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/l1I235)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/30 "2002-07-22T00:11:13Z")
I agree with **tlw**. At press time, the ads that are in my opinion, doing the best job of this are the Lincoln Navigator ads. (The one where the best man leaves the ring on the running board). As for kool-aid, I don’t drink it at all. I drink Hawaiian punch. With no fruit in it. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/31 "2002-07-22T00:24:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kittenblue \* > It just seems odd that they are only doing this in commercials that feature black families. If they wanted to encourage everyone to slice fruit into Kool-Aid to make it seem wholesome, wouldn’t they target everybody? I’m not trying to jump on your case here, this is an honest question. Do you automatically assume any time you see a black family in a commercial that the product or idea they are selling isn’t for you? Seems kinda odd… ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/32 "2002-07-23T00:59:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mouthbreather \* > \*\* > > I’m not trying to jump on your case here, this is an honest question. Do you automatically assume any time you see a black family in a commercial that the product or idea they are selling isn’t for you? Seems kinda odd… \*\* Yes, when similar ads for the same product have a single cruical difference. ALL the black family ads feature fruited Kool Aid, ALL the white family ads feature fruitless Kool Aid. What is this fruit/no-fruit distinction that Kool Aid is making? Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/33 "2002-07-23T01:34:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\* > > Yes, when similar ads for the same product have a single cruical difference. ALL the black family ads feature fruited Kool Aid, ALL the white family ads feature fruitless Kool Aid. What is this fruit/no-fruit distinction that Kool Aid is making? > > Fenris \*\* Yes but aren’t the black family ones just the newest ones? I mean, I hardly ever watch tv (in fact, it’s a miracle I’ve actually seen these commercials, I’m usually left out of these discussions) but they haven’t made any white/fruitless ones since the black/fruit ones, have they? Maybe if the fruit thing works well then they will have a white family with fruit in their kool-aid next time. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/34 "2002-07-23T01:55:31Z")
I don’t thing so…I think they’re concurrent. And I’m not positive that they don’t have white families with enfruited Kool-Aid. But I’ve yet to see one. In which case, there’s gotta be a reason that they think that white families prefer unenfruited Kool-Aid. Perhaps it’s a conspiracy!!! :eek: Fenris ---
**Author:** ![WV\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@WV\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WV_Woman)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/35 "2002-07-23T03:45:20Z")
Never heard of putting fruit in Kool Aid. I did notice something while working at Mickey D’s, though. About 90% of the time, when I had a black customer, they’d order that Hi-C orange drink. Rarely did I get a black customer wanting a Coke. (The other 9% of the time they wanted Sprite.) _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/36 "2002-07-23T05:01:53Z")
When **I** worked at Mickey D’s, my AA cow-orkers favored half-and-half Sunkist and Sprite! I tried it too. It’s great: has a real zing to it. But for the sake of my teeth, I usually stick to diet whatever. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/37 "2002-07-23T05:57:32Z")
You noticed that too, **WV\_Woman**? I thought it was just a regional thing in Ohio. Little kids and black folks were our primary buyers of “orange” and Sprite. (I know the stuff is technically “Hi-C Orange”, but everyone always just called it “orange”.) ---
**Author:** ![DairyMary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@DairyMary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DairyMary)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/38 "2002-07-23T14:58:33Z")
[http://www.vegsource.com/joanne/qa/qagelatin.htm](http://www.vegsource.com/joanne/qa/qagelatin.htm) You can make vegan gelatin. COME OUT ALL YOU MARY’S! Dairy Mary ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/39 "2002-07-23T15:07:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mouthbreather \* > \*\* > > I’m not trying to jump on your case here, this is an honest question. Do you automatically assume any time you see a black family in a commercial that the product or idea they are selling isn’t for you? Seems kinda odd… \*\* No but it does come off as odd when there are no black people in ads for specific products. Have you ever seen one of those emotionally manipulative DeBeers “Diamonds are Forever” TV ads with a black couple. I never have. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891/40 "2002-07-23T16:20:33Z")
But **astro** , aren’t most of the people in the DeBeers ads just shadows? Kind of hard to tell the race there. At any rate, the company is Dutch and there aren’t a lot of black people in the Netherlands anyway. Maybe they just re-dub the Dutch ads for the US market. As to the OP, I’m wondering about the Kool Aid Guy. Does he have to drop orange slices in his head before he crashes through the walls of a black family’s home? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kool-aid-and-black-culture-am-i-totally-out-of-the-loop/119891.md?page=3)