It’s easy to get all abuzz and up in arms and other angry, huffy things when the Internet can show you a billion things a day, but is this one of those things worthy of a tirade, or is it just a thoughtless, not so smart ad layout? So we posit the question: “Is This Racist?”, Dove Body Wash edition.

In the photo, the natural left-to-right progression laid out by the “before” and “after” shots of skin close up could lead the eye to think that three women in the photo could also follow such a progression. In short, that a Black woman’s skin could morph her into a Latina woman who could in turn change into a White woman, points out copyranter.

“Visibly more beautiful skin,” touts the ad, which some might say means white is beautiful and if you scrub enough with Dove body wash, your skin color will change. But I’m inclined to think, and I hope I’m right, that Dove is really saying any woman of any color could get lovely skin instead of rough by lathering up with this wash. Either way, whoever approved this ad should get a thump on the head and a “What were you thinking?”

What do you think?

Dove body wash turns Black Women into Latino Women into White Women [copyranter]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.