From a marketing perspective....I think 'urban' is one of the most all inclusive marketing terms for African American culture and those who associate themselves with various facets under the term
Depending on what lens you're wearing urban could mean many things...
- people living a city vs rural area (not the black connected term) - right - hip hop culture - half right - a segment of people that identify with a lifestyle or culture that could be influenced by a dominant group (in this definition...urban culture in america is influenced by black culture) - perfect
Alloy marketing came up with a term called Urban Hustler...it very much fit where a lot of things are going with a certain segments of AA culture...check it out
It's a matter of semantics and forum if you ask me.
Hashim Warren
· 1 year ago
The word "urban" is a marketing term that should be used only when you're doing business with another company.
When you're speaking to end users, you should never use that term. You shouldn't use "black" either. Just create content that speaks to your audience, and they will catch the hint without anyone being excluded.
Markus
· 1 year ago
@Mecca I guess my problem with the word "Urban" from the marketing perspective the fact that its not a clearly established word. There's so many definitions, it makes defining your content's mission so much more difficult.
Example: Imagine if Black Enterprises was Urban Enterprises or Ebony Magazine's Goal was provide a unique and engaging forum to explore the impact of the world on Urban People and the impact of Urban People on the world.
Would they have had the same impact?
@Hashim I agree great content and great conversations will find a great audience, but from the marketing perspective, defining your audience internally and externally is very important especially with websites where content is user generated or has some specific social networking goals like Black Planet.
BTW Check out Wikipedia's definition of urban culture.
Ryan B.
· 1 year ago
"Mr. Mecca" & Hashim,
You both nailed it without offending or excluding anyone.
In the mean time let's focus on what's really important: Obama's Election, encouraging Youth to attend College, fixing the economy, coming together so that we can receive more RESPECT from the Mainstream Blogosphere, etc.,
Great post Markus!
8thlight
· 1 year ago
It's not a euphemism for black as much as a euphemism for certain people of any color, but primarily black, who have an affinity for a certain type of lifestyle or culture associated with the city. It just happens to be that blacks make up a majority of the fan of that lifestyle often.
But, then again, what would you make of Urban Outfitters? That's not very black.
carla
· 1 year ago
I think one of the the relevant factors is that 'urban' is also a eupemism for hip, cool, stylish and entertaining now too. It is truethat not all black people are urban and there is an age when you might no longer be comfortable being associated with the hip and urban culture associated with the youth. It's also true that as black people we're still fighting to be seen as more than the all singing, all dancing, stylish entertainers. We're still shouting 'hey wait a minute! We're alot more than that!' snd it seems at times we're not being heard. The truth is we're a diverse and complex people with a whole lot more to offer than music, dancing, creative language and baggy clothes. I have to say though the urban culture that has become associated with our inner city black youths is nothing for us to be ashamed of as a people. We are colourful, interesting and dynamic. We've set trends in fashion, entertainment and popular culture in a way that no other racial group has.
8732
· 8 months ago
IMHO, the term "urban" portrays street, i.e. urbanwear means streetwear. And it doesn't necessarily mean urban portrays "black". Though they are great examples for urban culture especially in urban wear.
All Comments
Depending on what lens you're wearing urban could mean many things...
- people living a city vs rural area (not the black connected term) - right
- hip hop culture - half right
- a segment of people that identify with a lifestyle or culture that could be influenced by a dominant group (in this definition...urban culture in america is influenced by black culture) - perfect
Alloy marketing came up with a term called Urban Hustler...it very much fit where a lot of things are going with a certain segments of AA culture...check it out
It's a matter of semantics and forum if you ask me.
When you're speaking to end users, you should never use that term. You shouldn't use "black" either. Just create content that speaks to your audience, and they will catch the hint without anyone being excluded.
I guess my problem with the word "Urban" from the marketing perspective the fact that its not a clearly established word. There's so many definitions, it makes defining your content's mission so much more difficult.
Example:
Imagine if Black Enterprises was Urban Enterprises or Ebony Magazine's
Goal was provide a unique and engaging forum to explore the impact of the world on Urban People and the impact of Urban People on the world.
Would they have had the same impact?
@Hashim
I agree great content and great conversations will find a great audience, but from the marketing perspective, defining your audience internally and externally is very important especially with websites where content is user generated or has some specific social networking goals like Black Planet.
BTW Check out Wikipedia's definition of urban culture.
You both nailed it without offending or excluding anyone.
In the mean time let's focus on what's really important: Obama's Election, encouraging Youth to attend College, fixing the economy, coming together so that we can receive more RESPECT from the Mainstream Blogosphere, etc.,
Great post Markus!
But, then again, what would you make of Urban Outfitters? That's not very black.