This item has a lot of headlines this morning… A baker in Greenwich villiage has been making cookies called “Drunken Negro Head” in honor of Barack Obama.
Now I dunno if this guy is secretly a marketing genius exploiting peoples sensitivity to racism or what… but he has a track record of a lot of success. His bakery has been featured in shows like Sex And the City and numerous movies.
Personally I wouldnt go there =P.
Anyway I thought it was interesting.
About the author...
Jeremy Schoemaker – who has written 2416 posts on ShoeMoney.com.
Hi I am Jeremy Schoemaker and ShoeMoney.com is my blog. 99% of the post here are done by me but you will see others occasionally make guest posts. This blog is fun to write but for my day job I run several online companies.
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{ 120 comments… read them below or add one }
This guy is aware that he’s going to get some bricks thrown through his front window…right? He’ll probably make enough coin off the publicity to pay for a new window, but if his own life is priceless…
He is a marketing genius though. I understand what you mean. If someone kills him for his racism then all the money in the world will be worthless to him.
My morals are too high to use racism as a marketing ploy
Yeah dude, somehow this doesn’t look that real.
Well, Im not racist…grew up in to mixed of a community to really be that stupid, people are people.
and This guy is probably a bit of a racist BUT I guess unfortunately for me I still thinks its funny..I mean really the balls on this guy are outstanding.
I would laugh at “drunken irish cookie w/ red sprinkle hairs and a rum base” or a “crazy injun cookie” or even a “filthy mexican cookie w/ tequila”…as far as PC goes Im allowed to say that because thats my racial background..so I can say w/o a doubt that none of those cookies would offend me, and if you look back in recent history “no irish need apply” was not very long ago…and indian and mexican discrimination is still pretty rampant. But I wonder if there would be an uproar…and i know we Irish would laugh and bite right in..give me a dozen
people just need to grow up, lighten up…have a laugh…I mean some of you are suggesting he should be killed, or have his window broken, or shopped burned because he put teh word negro in a cookie…cmon it is a chocolate covered face..what would you call it? And as someone pointed out he is a french pastry chef and their is a tradition of “negre” in their cusine …the word is outdated but tell taht to the United Negro College fUnd…and as he pointed out he does seem to jump on recent news…dead goose bread is pretty funny to…I wonder if he has a website..does he need an affilaite?
That’s pure marketing genius. It’s all about the media bait. Just like link bait but bigger
It’s like that blog – Stuff that White People Like.
LOL – true enough!!!
A Black will come, shoot him and thats the end of those cookies and him.
Lol! Yeah, this guy has pulled a great marketing strategy.
lol, quite interesting.. He is definitely gaining free marketing in the name of obama
When I first saw this in the news a few days ago,the guy really did seem racist to me. He doesn’t have Holocust cookies or anything else related to other groups.
omg…I mean US is built on free speech and all but some people take it a little too far.
In this day and age to hear this…makes the head scratch.
LOL! Genius
I would like to see the data of his sales after this news published in fox news and others.
I mean thats publicity no doubt about this but this one was negative and related to food and this one will going to effect his sales.
This one is stupidity and will hamper his business.
I can’t believe that you,”Lumpy”, would find this amusing. I think that your head should be a little lumpy!!! I mean, damn how long will people like yourself continue to be an idiot about the aptitude of an individual totally based upon the content of his skin. Shame on you and the one who birth you. I really want you to think about this if it had been solely directed to you or your race. Leaving anger out, I think you would understand or I would understand why you chose a name such as “LUMPY”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a good example of when the old cliche “any press is good press” is quite wrong.
Are you joking?
You couldn’t buy publicity like this otherwise. His shop was mentioned several times as was his name. He’s a genius.
Yup, all it takes is a brilliant idea anf the guts to go ahead with it.
Are you joking?
This guy has got a massive amount of publicity. His shop was mentioned several times in this article, along with his name. Multiply that by all the news sources covering this story.
Incorrect.
He might lose some business, but for the most part, I think alot of people will go check it out just out of curiosity and to make a judgment for themselves.
the reporter never asked as to WHY they are called what they were called? why not? All he said the design was based on a caracachure (sp). Yes, he is getting some publicity, but how many customers will stop coming once the now know where NOT to go.
When a place to eat gets a bad review in the paper, the place gets media attention, but in the end, do readers decide to eat at a badly reviewed place?
In France (my home country), we have a patisserie called “tete de negre”, which can be translated by “negro head”. Delicious but quite offensive if you’re black…
Wow, and people think this is bad!
In America we have Freedom Fries
Sebstien I would really like to ask you personally why you think this type of advertisement sits well within your heart. Turn the tide momentarily and wonder if it would be quite amusing if your race was the one being pointed out and if you would have a difference in opinion. Why support stupidity. Your young enough to know to accept anyone, not by their color, but by their intelligence. But I guess stupidity is passed on to infidels who have no backbone to stand on their on two feet. So much for independtly having a brain of your own mooooorooonnn!!!!!!
You is a very genius eheheh
I heard about this cookie on the Glen Beck show yesterday. I like the one guy in the video that laughed and moved on.
He finally got the message after people threatened to burn down his store:
http://gothamist.com/2009/01/24/baker_now_apologizes_for_drunken_ne.php
Or he already got all the publicity he needs, and now he wants his old customers back as well.
Or maybe he has already got enough publicity, and now wants to make good and get his old customers back as well?
i think he should apologize because he maybe pay something expensive for his publicity
No, not genius. Extremely derogatory. These “caricatures” are reminiscent of blackface minstrelsy of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This guy is making a statement.
Maybe he should sell white choclate hooded KKK cookies too. Maybe a swastika shaped bunt cake would be a hit in his shop.
Lol! This guy’s hillarious!
Oh people make a good living by being absurd. This is nothing we haven’t already seen for thousands of years.
In the long run, it rarely pays off.
I can’t believe all of you idiots who think this is funny and “genius”.
You comedians should get with the times…
And to all the “geniuses” here, you’re dumb as dog shit… Good luck w/ IM, you’ll need it…
It is so easy to tell who voted for McCain…
He will most certainly lose lots of business, as well as most of the celebrities… why do you think he is already bitchin’ out and apologizing? It’s because he is scared for his life and losing his money… Probably more for his money though…
Hopefully most of these old racist people, and the children they taught these bad habits to, will die off sooner than later.
Unless they feel they can change…
Political Correctness is a disease.
He is silly for doing a brazen statement like that.
I can’t believe this is making the news.
I’ve seen a lot of genius marketers in my day. Trust me, there is nothing genius about this clown.
This is the reason that marketers does this crap..because they know people will pay attention to it and in the long run..it will get them more business. Just look…top bloggers are blogging about it and it is in the news. That is why I choose to ignore ignorance.
whoa! – a sensitive topic but very smart nonetheless. – Robby, your surprised this is making the news? not sure where your from but I’ve seen weirder things…lol. This guy will have some haters but at the end of the day I feel he knows or at least has a pretty good idea of what hes doing.
Yeah, he will get some publicity, and you are right, He will get business, but people who do this NEVER prosper in the long run. He should enjoy his success for as long as he can, because the well will run dry in about 5 years or less!
Im sure he is doing this to make the news, his bakery is famous now
your all just jealous !!!!
Your Message This Perfect! Who cares if he gets bad publicity or not… any publicity is good. We are talking about here aren’t we… and we do not even bake cookies… just perfect!
Why is this such a big deal? If he had made a “Drunken Caucasian Cookie” would anyone think that was raciest? This is America, offending people is not against the law. I do not agree with the man, I’m not raciest at all. I believe that all people are created equal. I don’t think there should be a “black awareness month” if there can’t be a “white awareness month”. It’s just unfair for some citizens to have more rights than others! Especially based on something as insignificant as skin color!
Some people say that “I believe in free speech and everything, but this guy has gone to far.” You can never go to far, “free speech” means that you have the right to say anything you want, there is no such thing as “too far”. As long as the guy doesn’t physically hurt anyone else, he can do what every he please according to the constitution.
I don’t agree with the guy, I think he probably intended his cookie to be raciest, but he has the right to do so, and I have the right to ignore him.
We have much bigger problems to deal with when a cookie makes headline news.
“Why is this such a big deal? If he had made a “Drunken Caucasian Cookie” would anyone think that was raciest? ”
Finally, someone on here who can think for himself…
The most sickening thing about this whole event is that our politically correct media has once again blown things out of proportion.
You damn fool we’re talking about people who have been appressed, inslaved, denied, and denied the right to be recognized as a human being. You mean you still don’t realize why they should have a month about contributers who had a hand in abolishing these tyrantatical hardships. If only the tide was turned!!!!! Wake up man and really stop looking at what’s present and look at what’s past. Then and only then can you answer your own question and really be judgemental about the stupidity potrayed by this pastry owner. No wonder he is where he is because the heat from the oven is getting him prepared for his soul’s destiny.
It’s “oppressed”, not appressed you idiot.
And by the way, lots of races have been oppressed throughout time, not just African Americans. Try reading a history book or two. Hell, if anyone should be complaining, it’s the Native Americans who were almost exterminated.
It’s time we stopped this “guilt” felt by everyone else regarding previous generations treatment of the black people and go about our lives.
You damn fool we’re talking about people who have been appressed, inslaved, denied, and denied the right to be recognized as a human being. You mean you still don’t realize why they should have a month about contributers who had a hand in abolishing these tyrantatical hardships. If only the tide was turned!!!!! Wake up man and really stop looking at what’s present and look at what’s past. Then and only then can you answer your own question and really be judgemental about the stupidity potrayed by this pastry owner. No wonder he is where he is because the heat from the oven is getting him prepared for his soul’s destiny.
Jeremy,
Do not agree with this type of marketing. Even though I’m not yet profitable online, I do not want a ‘long-tail-bad-reputation’ to make a fast buck at the expense of potential customers. Bad idea!
I’m trying this: http://www.metricmentor.com/go/?discount=3619
on my free blogs to see if I can generate enough money to make it to Affiliate Summit East 2009.
Thanks for thehelp at Affiliate Summit West 2009!
Respectfully,
Nicholas Chase
http://www.twitter.com/nachase
Very bold idea, remember any publicity is good publicity!
Are you guys serious? You think this is smart ha ha ha. Lot of people need to get a grip and realize this is not 1950. Any press is good press hugh? I tell you what go in about 2 or 3 weeks and ask this guy what he thinks; not to mention he lives in a liberal area. This is one of the dumbest things you could do not even mentioning the despicable nature of it. I would love to read that this guy was laid out by someone offended by it, and find out how much he likes that publicity.
It seems pretty obvious he’s out to offend people. If he had just called it the “Obama cookie,” no one would notice. After all, caricatures of Presidents are all over the place.
But he intentionally used inflammatory terminology here. It may backfire on him.
You know who the real smart guy is? It’s Shoemoney! This post will get lots of views because of the title he has chosen.
Words like negro, terrorist, Hitler are strong words. Words people are really, really careful to use. So people think, why the hell is our good old Shoemoney using this for the title? Then they are relieved to see that they are actually not his words but of a stupid marketeer…
It’s kind of like Fox News. Use strong words that other people say. Punished them for their behaviour, but still have these sentences on your website..
This marketeer is by no means a genius. A genius marketeer is someone that attracts publicity with something everyone would love to do as well. People like Richard Branson, Donald Trump, Steve Jobs. These guys are genius marketeers..
This guy is just used by people like Shoemoney and Fox news to attracts visitors by quoting the stupid words he uses, so they don’t have to. Kind of like Palin or Joe the Plumber or Michael Jackson at the moment. They also get lots of publicity, but I’m pretty sure they are not that really happy about it.
Brillient, just brillient.
maybe we can say, don’t judge somebody by his appearance.
True, it’s a marketing tactic. Notice how we took “notice” of him? It’s a great marketing ploy, but a very dangerous path to thread.
Take a look at this article:
http://www.linkbaitarticles.com/self-marketing/want-to-get-famous-take-sides/
This is so very his marketing strategy. In fact, I’m starting to think of getting too controversial for the sake of links or getting famous (or infamous), but I’m so chicken-sh*t of the consequences.
This guys got to be one pound short of a bakers dozen, right?
This post by Shoe is a disgusting pathetic desperate ploy for attension. What a friggin ass clown.
Well he definitely got his business some attention. I’m wondering how much backlash he will end up getting because of this though.
Well… he managed to get featured on the blog… but there’s no law against being a dumbass.
When I first read this headline I was like… waaassss up wit’ Shoe today, but I am glad you explained. I dunno know if he’s a marketing genius either, and I don’t like his tactic here, but it’s working.
He’s a douche. And Shoe is flirting with douchedom with that linkbait headline.
Sorry, I’m calling bs on this one.
People may disagree, but if an African American was the owner of the store it wouldn’t be considered racism.
African Americans wouldn’t go there in this country.
You guys have to be really kidding me. Wrong is simply wrong. BLACK OR WHITE!!!! You don’t make fun of a person solely based upon their color or the content of their skin but by the aptitude of their mind and intelligence. A third grader could see through the smoke you’re blowing. Have some backbone and stand up for what’s right. The promotion is BS and you know it. It’s time out for overlooking your inner feelings and trading them for whomever you’re appeasing. God never sleeps nor slumber remember that Stephen
Good marketing idea.Infact I recommened this to all marketers.
I admire his marketing talent, but his ethics are a bit questionable. As much as I want to make money, I wouldn’t want to offend an entire race doing it.
What marketing talent? He’s an idiot. He would have been richer just making an Obama cookie. There isn’t enough KKK in New York to buy a Negro Face cookie.
Why not Happy Negro Face cookies? Or Elated Negro Face cookies? Or why not just a chocolate pastry with a 2 red cherries in the middle cookie? NO! Shame on Fox for putting this dumb shit out into the public.
I should do a site called “TheGoldenBrick.com” and have people bid on the brick I personally put through his window. The winning bidder get’s their ad on the brick. Now thats marketing genius. I can kill two birds with one stone. HAAA!
Also, Shoe out of all things to post about, why this? You have some racist tendencies?
This reporter said there is a line between freedom of expression and racism. What an idiot.
Every American has a RIGHT to express themselves, even if what they say is stupid and racist. This man is not breaking any laws. He is most certainly exercising his freedom of expression.
Actually its a little funny, when you think about it that so many people have already commented on that guy’s cookies and no one has eaten them yet.
i think he is a marketing genius , but this maybe make a bad relationship with the others but he can be richer and more publicity
good marketing strategy…follow the current hot trend…hehe
This is an obvious form of racism hidden under the veil of humor. Yes, he’ll make more money, but I personally wouldn’t use such a strategy.
Yes, It’s a marketing tactic but we seem to forget that there are two sort of publicity. Bad one and Good one.And this one was a bad one because not only he’s getting threats but people are also boycotting his store.
Anyways, what did we really expect when Obama got elected. Did we really think USA was going to change in one day? Racism was going to leave the country, please, there is always racism and it does not matter where you go. There’s even racism between Black….that’s the world that we are living in.
You know what they say… any publicity is good publicity. He may lose some customers but he will gain so many more. He may be a poor excuse for a human being but he’s probably laughing all the way to the bank. Figures…
This was HILARIOUS! As others have said, publicity is publicity.
I bet he loses more customers than gains customer. he’s not link baiting for a website man..
I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t gain customers. Website or no website, publicity is publicity.
Sometimes the best marketing is controversial marketing.
That reporter, Arnold Diaz, is a trouble maker, and he makes the latino people look bad.
Your Message http://www.facebook.com/wall.php?id=500087174&banter_id=577918949&show_all#/video/video.php?v=1081895841577
i was in the store. he is an ass.
God forbid someone doesn’t go with the Liberal flow – so much for free speech eh? Looks like you can say what you want as long as everyone agrees with you – the moment someone has an independent thought the thought police turn on their sirens. If you’re so concerned about who says what, go stop rappers from calling white people crackers and black people niggers. Oh no – you can’t do that because, well, ummmm – what was your reason again?
To all you that think marketing at any cost is acceptable.
Why don’t you check out the video of him checking voicemails people left about burning his shop to the ground?
Cookie / No sale is worth your life.
Taking advantage of racial tension for marketing purposes, NOT COOL>>
“Cookie / No sale is worth your life.” I agree..
You guys are crazy and do you realize New York is one of the top 3 or 4 liberal cities in the US if not the top. You think he is going to gain long term customers from this? So many people need to know their demographics. If he did this in Arkansas or George, but New Greenwich come on guys get a clue LOL. When the five minutes are up the only people left will be those offended and that will never go back.
great strategy promotion…..well different and unique
This is a form of advertising that would raise not just eyebrows but guns.
I was wondering why the moderator of this blog didn’t post my comment from another post. I was asking if what Shoe would say about a blog entry that says: John Chow is Dying?
Here’s the link: http://www.linkbaitarticles.com/link-bait-articles/john-chow-is-dying/
Pretty risky move and he should have seen some of this bad press coming. To cancel it out, he should have made some sort of white cookie!
This is just hilarious, I’m not sure what to really make of it, pure marketing strategy or making a certain statement.
Always you will find someone to hold back USA. Why is that? This man is not a genius people is stupid people.
It should send back to Italy where is come from. Because Belisconni say the same joke about President Obama.
It is time to show the respect for american people: Because it is own President of country this man insult all us. This mean he has not respect for all of us. What next?
Come on people be proud to be american stop say genius when people say thing or doing stupid thing…
Jonclaude I agree with you man. the jackass definitely knows what he is doing. and he’s taking advantage of racial tension for marketing purposes which is NOT cool !!!
I’d like to make 100 idiot racist cookies and shove them up his wazoo!!!!
That guy would have never made the news or anything if he had a drunkin cracker cookie for G.Bush. The only thing that makes it racist is the fact that you were told it was. Stop being idiots.
hahhahahaha@all the people getting their panties bunched up over this…
Get a sense of humor people!!!
If you can’t laugh about shit like this then you’re too damn uptight!
Negro coock it’s cool
Wow… what a way to get some free PR. I guess you just have to be thick skinned, I am sure this will attract people on both sides of the issue.
Nate
1. People are way to sensitive
2. I love being drunk
3. they are called Negro cookies not slave cookies, give the guy a break
4. I love being drunk
5. did I say I loved being drunk?
Like it or not, this man can do anything he wants.
But, he can’t avoid the consequences – both wanted and unwanted.
Diaz is a douche and he needs to shut his cock-holster. That baker makes all kinds of crazy cookies but all they mentioned was his dead goose bread. This is media bias at it’s finest.
Racism in reverse. Now anything slightly negative even in the slightest (not this case) but any and OMG prople that would have LAUGHED before are now appalled.
Ask yourself, would any of the OMG reactions in the video have occured before they jumped on an Obama bandwagon?
Would the video have even been made a few years ago? If if did would it be here? Would it be getting it’s 103rd comment right now?
agreed. If they were drunken caucasian faces it wouldn’t even be newsworthy.
Well, Im not racist…grew up in to mixed of a community to really be that stupid, people are people.
and This guy is probably a bit of a racist BUT I guess unfortunately for me I still thinks its funny..I mean really the balls on this guy are outstanding.
I would laugh at “drunken irish cookie w/ red sprinkle hairs and a rum base” or a “crazy injun cookie” or even a “filthy mexican cookie w/ tequila”…as far as PC goes Im allowed to say that because thats my racial background..so I can say w/o a doubt that none of those cookies would offend me, and if you look back in recent history “no irish need apply” was not very long ago…and indian and mexican discrimination is still pretty rampant. But I wonder if there would be an uproar…and i know we Irish would laugh and bite right in..give me a dozen
people just need to grow up, lighten up…have a laugh…I mean some of you are suggesting he should be killed, or have his window broken, or shopped burned because he put teh word negro in a cookie…cmon it is a chocolate covered face..what would you call it? And as someone pointed out he is a french pastry chef and their is a tradition of “negre” in their cusine …the word is outdated but tell taht to the United Negro College fUnd…and as he pointed out he does seem to jump on recent news…dead goose bread is pretty funny to…I wonder if he has a website..does he need an affilaite?
This guy is just stupid baahhh
NEGRO is not the “N” word.
Is it the National #### Collage Fund??
I really can not see this as racist, I mean if you do that’s fine but really, it’s only a cookie.
The guy is obviously a jerk-why even bother with him? The country has biggers problems:
1. The economy has tanked
2. gas prices are fluctuating
3.The price of scotch is crazy
4.Does anybody really know how Google prioritizes sites?
5.Bad schools
6.Bad roads
7.I haven’t been laid in 2 weeks
Do we really have to deal with this jackass?
He only did this for attention and to increase his sales.
Rock on Dude!!!!! It is a country of free enterprise, so if that’s the way he wants to celebrate his presidency, so be it!!!!
He is an idiout if he thinks this isn’t racist. He tried to compared it to the dead geese cookies, like they are humans, and said that his inlaw is a minority like that matters when he isn’t even of the same race. To even mention that proves that he thinks about that sort of stuff.
Good marketing idea!! got everyones attention. It’s sad how much political correctness has impeded such thought process.
A great way to increase sales is to do something controversial…How is this guy doing today?
Good question, how about a follow up on if this guy survived?
Give thanks to god they invented bark shock collar. My personal dog has learned his or her lesson and I ultimately have peace.