22 Dec RushCard, Lease The Wheel, and Redefining “Support Ebony Company”
On October 12, Russell Simmons’ economic product RushCard Prepaid Visa (given by MetaBank) suffered a “glitch” which has lead to lack of use of funds for huge number of clients. Prepaid cards in many cases are employed by lower-income clients that are unbanked, those who usually require that money like…yesterday. Appropriately, RushCard users tend to be more than a small mad at “Uncle Rush” Simmons. We don’t have RushCard, but I’m one particular individuals peeved at hip-hop trading in on appeal to simply help fleece the indegent.
I recall the very first time I heard a Rent the Wheel advertisement. I became located in Atlanta, driving be effective, as soon as the voice that is familiar of arrived through my speakers.
My very very first idea: Is this Negro hawking leasing rims that “crush those mom that is little pop music wheel shops within the hood??” No economic consultant worth his salt would tell Chris Bridges it is best if you hire a couple of dubs. But there he had been, on metropolitan Atlanta radio (The “People’s” Station), telling other Ebony people to do exactly that. I will guarantee you that spot didn’t operate on channels aimed toward primarily White audiences. It’s a typical online marketing strategy: find somebody familiar to a residential area to market items back once again to that community.
Authenticity offers. But what occurs whenever authenticity lends it self to the facet of capitalism that preys on those at its rung that is lowest? You have got Simmons disingenuously pledging to pray for their business’s victims just as if that fixes the damage done.
Praying, not having to pay? Okay, Uncle Rush.
There is nothing inherently unlawful or immoral in regards to the fees which make prepaid cards like Russell Simmons’ an idea that is bad.