Black, White and Spot Color

Days ago in the midst of the hubbub a few, I received an email from a reader in the cheap seats I could not leave my head:

I am an African-American with an MBA in Marketing. I was in the advertising area about 6 years. I have been in numerous interviews with key agencies in New York by a charge to the service for some time without success.

In each interview, Human Resources staff and services account people constantly tell me of their commitment to diversity in the industry and within their own agencies. But when I look around these Organizations around the world, In addition to the janitors, is white.

My question is why is it so difficult for many people color to move towards a market for advertising agencies in general? Latinos considered the largest minority in the U.S. and the combined purchasing power of African Americans and Latinos, is the tendency of the pigment less liable to change? Why is it the first place?

I felt a little honored that he chose to tell his story. But how would he respond?

Because O'Cracker Whitey, I am only a few years and some cheese not a great white man to me same. As far as I can sympathize with the frustrations of job search kids, I can not wear shoes.

I have no easy answers for him, but I guess that asking a bit.

Consider first the history of the advertising business. Advertising agencies in the early days were based on relationships. By Randall Rothenberg "Where the Suckers Moon", which illustrates how stores like J. aged Walter Thompson looked like country clubs – only one type of wasp, so that clients feel comfortable that his account was safe hands. All this began to change in the '60s with such agencies as DDB, initiated by the Irish and Jewish boys boys. While companies U.S. evolved, advertising has been, too.

But it remains a business relationship – read and you will see many ups Adweek more to change jobs to work with people who worked in the past. This tends to keep outsiders, uh, outside. It's a cycle that perpetuates itself over the years.

I also believe that the larger agencies, including Big Ones New York, would have more resources to find, recruit and train more minorities. But according with this reader, which can not be the case. And if New York is more diverse in the city, what hope is there for advertising agencies, for example, Denver or St. Louis?

Never been in the position of having to hire someone. I was involved in interviewing people, and I will never forget, after a manager arrived at the Asian Art interview and my creative director, later said: "Well, there's your diversity." As if we could balance out Honke Asia 30. But you have to start somewhere, right?

In addition, a more diverse workforce in an advertising agency will result in another major change in culture internal. Advertising people tend to be very loose lips and politically incorrect in the meetings and conversations. What is easier to do when you're not afraid of offending someone in the room. In other words, the more diversity means more sensitive monitor. A bit has the opportunity to stereotype people all day, right?

Ultimately, therefore, the bottom line. personal publicity is too close to his way to recruit minorities the way Fortune 500 companies and others may. In addition, there is no job security for everyone – and the organizations that dismissals on a regular basis can be a little open discrimination trial whether the dismissals are minorities. There may be something good happening to the old CYA.

Organizations these days are not proactive – the low reactive. If customer demand that the Agency's staff reflect the composition of your audience, then you can see things change. But it will not happen just because some CEO of the Agency delivered a speech at an industry conference or a line Equality of opportunity is cast in an ad. This will happen one person at a time, an interview at a time, a position at a time.

As I said, I do not think the answers are easier. Our company and our industry can not just be able to actually watch beyond looking at someone. It is important to keep the conversation. Because when it comes to issues of black, white and any color, that's all a vast gray area is not it?

About the Author

Branding. Religion. Censorship. Office politics. Global politics. Sexual politics. And getting drunk during a job interview.
Since 2002, Danny G. (a.k.a. Dan Goldgeier) has been writing the most provocative advertising columns ever published. They’re all witty, thoughtful and probing, and a must read for those who want a perspective rarely seen in traditional industry publications.
An Atlanta-based copywriter and ad school graduate, Dan has worked at shops big and small. He reads incessantly about advertising, and is a whiz at rock & roll trivia. Learn more about him by visiting his copywriting website or AdColumnist.com, the View From The Cheap Seats Archive website. You may also find articles by Danny G at TalentZoo.com.

It’s A Mans World Quit Letting These Bitches Run Shit

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