“Like the African Baobab Tree, which nourishes the community with it’s leaves and fruit, McDonald’s has branched out to the African-American community nourishing it with valuable programs and opportunities.”

Can someone please tell me what a Baobab tree has to do with culture and life in the United States?

And how many people of African decent have ever eaten Baobab fruit or even know what the hell a Baobab Tree is? I feel bad for the actual Africans being nourished be this tree if it’s fruit is compared to McDonald’s food. Does the Baobab Tree clog arteries and rob the body of essential vitamins and nutrients too?

Not to mention, the girl in the in the video is easily less than 50% recent African decent anyway. The whole concept is retarded.

Doodiepants.com wrote something up about it as well.
http://doodiepants.com/2009/08/25/mcdonalds-website-just-for-people-with-darker-skin-365black-com/

I snortle.

A: I’m using one of them right now, to read your stupid website.

As for the pre-fab debate, I’d agree with TheBrummell that it’s necessary to be fast and cookie-cutter because that’s how the McDonald’s package succeeds: it’s overarching (HAH!) transferability is why it is a national and *global* phenomena and how it makes its profits. Every chain store or restaurant operates under this format, from Barnes&Noble to Starbucks to Wal-Mart to The Olive Garden. The customers depend on knowing what to expect no matter where they encounter the place, and this dependability makes the corporation capable of operating anywhere in *and out* of the U.S.- I know I’ll get basically the same experience if I go to McDonald’s in Dublin, GA or Dublin, Ireland. It’s about having the best format that will reach the most consumers, ergo achieving the highest profit margins possible.

Um, yes? So what? They’re a corporation, that exists to make money for its shareholders.

And how does “restaurant built very quickly” translate into “not creating roots”, anyway? Would they be more culturally relevant if they handcrafted each restaurant using local artisans, but then end up selling the same food? Why is pre-fab bad?

Other than pointing out the absurdity of the McDonald’s ethnic websites, what was your point?

I cannot be moved; it’s the tree I am.
I’ll recognize achievement and encourage growth.
I’ll provide for celebration and festivity.
These are my people and my block and
whatever we take from it, we have to put back.

And by the way, “McDonalds is a mighty bobble tree” made me laugh.

http://web.archive.org/web/20050327052932/http://www.mcdonalds.com/usa/fun/365_black.html

You can see that the phrasing is a lot different, very subtle, and unfortunately built in flash, but it ALMOST makes sense.

Two months later the current page appears (May 21, 2005). Someone at McDonalds said “I don’t get it, my mom doesn’t get it. Listen, my mom not only doesn’t get it she doesn’t see ANYTHING. Where are the floating words? Simple it up, and put McDonalds in it. Like, McDonalds is a mighty bobble tree.”

GORGEOUS? How much is McDonalds paying you? SHEEEESH

I once heard a story about McDonalds.

They pre-fab the inside of a new franchise so that there is as little on-site construction as possible. Just to see if they could do it, they poured quick drying foundation Friday morning and worked around the clock through Sunday night.

They opened with full service including the current promotion, hot meals, employees, and no glitches Monday for breakfast.

It seems the mighty tree of McDonalds wants to spend its time harvesting profits and little time creating roots.