Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Greenville

    Columbia is the largest city in South Carolina, but the third largest metropolitan area. Greenville and Spartanburg between them form the largest, and between them is a large and busy airport. For some reason, Greenville Spartanburg Airport (GSP) is running radio ads in Columbia at least, and presumably throughout the state, featuring what I could call ostensible African-Americans. That is, it sounds like white actors trying to sound like African-Americans. Greenville is very white, and very Republican; I don't know if this just reflects their attitude about the rest of the state or what.
    I guess the nicest reading that can be put on this bewildering string of ads is that at least it shows a welcoming attitude towards African-Americans. Of course, a welcoming attitude extending only as far as the fastest way to leave might be considered a dubious welcome, but at least they're mainly advertising themselves as a quick way to go on vacation. So you're also presumably welcome to come back. The spot that makes me crazy is the one where a black female college student says, "Catch you on the flip-flop." Sooo, a person born in the '90s is using '70s CB lingo. Uh-huh. If you're going to be this weird, GSP, at least tighten up the writing and the acting, huh?

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