The Era of ‘Woke’ Brand Activism Is Over
In May 2019, Gillette released an ad on Facebook just in time for Pride month. It featured Samson Bonkeabantu Brown—a Black Toronto artist and trans man—learning how to shave for the first time. “I went into my transition just wanting to be happy. I’m glad that I’m at the point where I’m able to shave,” Brown says in the video; later he’s seen shaving as his dad smiles and encourages him from behind his shoulder. “Don’t be scared. Shaving is about being confident,” Brown’s dad says, repeating,