American Red Cross apologizes for poster some call racist
The American Red Cross issued an apology Monday for a water safety poster that some suggested had a racist message.
The cartoon poster showed children playing in a swimming pool. Nearly all of the white children’s activities were labeled as “cool,” while the children of color were depicted acting in unsafe ways and were labeled “not cool.”
KUSA-TV talked to Margaret Sawyer, who first saw the poster in Salida, Colorado, and then again in Fort Morgan, Colorado.
She said she first thought it was outdated – that it couldn’t be a recent poster.
A Red Cross spokesman says the posters have since been removed and more appropriate material is being developed.
