Who Is Charlotte Haley And Why Does It Matter?
by Tera Warner
Not so pretty in Pink
You’ve seen them.
They’ve been plastered on cosmetics,cameras, cakes, skis, snow jackets, popsicle sticks and Kentucky Fried Chicken buckets. Those little pink ribbons that raise our “awareness” about breast cancer stand as an iconic symbol of hope, charity,and compassionate service to the women of the world.
But Charlotte Haley, if she were still around to tell the story, would have good reason to make a stink about all the pink.
Who Was Charlotte Haley?
Angered by the pain and difficulty of seeing her grandmother, sister and daughter struggle with breast cancer, Charlotte Haley sat down at her dining room table, pulled out a roll of peach-colored ribbon and started to write the following note:
“The National Cancer Institute annual budget is $1.8 billion, only 5 percent goes for cancer prevention. Help us wake up our legislators and America by wearing this ribbon.”
She would attach 5 peach-colored ribbons to her note and send them to law-makers and politicians throughout the US with a “No Donations Requested” message.
People noticed.
Self Magazine noticed.
Estée Lauder really noticed.
Charmed by her idea, Self Magazine called Ms.Haley and asked if they could work with her and use the pink ribbon for their upcoming marketing initiatives for breast cancer.
Charlotte refused to collaborate feeling it would become too commercial.
So Estée Lauder and Self-Magazine had a big ol’ marketing meeting where they sat down to discuss things (since there was no reason a humble, heart-centered woman should interfere with their breast cancer campaigns). After deep thoughts and deliberation, they decided they could keep the ribbon, but turn it PINK!
And so we have the history of how the ribbon became pink.
Kinda stinky, huh? So now that the whole, wide universe is officially “aware” of breast cancer, and owns a collection of pink things that appease their sense of duty to do something good for the world, it’s time to tell a new story. The story of how women, fed up with the marketing madness around their breasts, decided to take a bold step to inform themselves about their health and safety, then take back their health, take back their breasts and rethink pink.
And for the record, this story has a very, very happy ending.
Love, and a big, fat, blue paintbrush,
p.s. 
Our Rethink Pink Summit calls can be accessed here. Join us for a thought-provoking, life-affirming, health-boosting, breast-loving series of calls with doctors, health care professionals and women’s health advocates! This series will restore your confidence, improve your health and kick the stink out of pink.
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