Coming soon: Hip-hop Condoms

CNN reports on Hip-hop Condoms to Hit Stores. Excerpt:

But this is no marketing ploy designed to line the pockets of executives, says Harry Terrell, CEO of Common Ground USA, the condom's manufacturer. "It's a full blown effort on our part to save our community."

Terrell says he was inspired to start the grass-roots campaign when he was coaching high school baseball and one of his students got infected with HIV.

...Out of that came the birth of his company. "I took all my money out of my 401k plan. Family members and friends have invested in the company," Terrell says.

...Terrell explains that until he saw the statistics, he was under the impression that HIV and AIDS was "a white man's disease." He says "I went to the Center for Disease Control Web site and I looked at the numbers. The numbers were staggering."

...His Jimmy Hatz Web site posts the latest information: "The CDC says the number of AIDS and HIV cases is increasing at alarming rate and shows no sign of decline. African-Americans represent the highest number followed by Hispanics. In 2000, the last year for which national facts are available, more African Americans were reported with AIDS than any other racial/ethinc group."

Terrell says he wanted to make wearing condoms "cool or the 'in' thing to do."

Much respect to Harry Terrell for risking his savings to make a change in his community. Hip-hop has far too many idle talkers who sit on the sidelines talking and debating yet never follow up with actions. With that said, I do have to give Mr. Terrell some advice- those condoms are crazy corny. Just look at the picture of the package. I can't imagine any of my 3 brothers (who are the Jimmie Hatz target audience) being caught with one of those immature looking condoms in their wallets.

I think a better idea would be to have a professional understated design and name. Still market it for the hip-hop crowd, but don't make it look cheesy with graphitti graphics and such.