New Black advertising entrepreneurs and media executives have come forward to make the sector more inclusive. Several of them have made a name for themselves in the business world. They’ve been going strong for a long time. Keep reading to know more!
Until the early 1950s, advertising accounted for a significant portion of the American economy. In the 1930s, the advertising industry was dominated by white people, with the vast majority of black people being excluded.
The advertising industry is a massive enterprise, and diverse entrepreneurs of colour must participate in it. In the past, African-American agency owners were frequently barred from hiring executives who were not of their race because of their race. Aside from that, black-owned advertising agencies were often perceived as less capable of selling advertising to African-Americans. As a result, they were frequently overlooked by more giant corporations. Many advertisers have made structural changes to their businesses in response to these racial biases.
Historical Aspects of the Advertising Industry and African-American Entrepreneurs
In 1961, Paul Kinsey, a white advertising agency executive, begins a relationship with an African-American woman, who later becomes his wife. His coworkers are disturbed by this relationship and perceive him as condescending and openly hostile. In addition, the company was racially discriminatory in the 1960s. An African-American man in the 1970s founded the company, and he continues to serve as its CEO today.
After WWI, large advertising firms established agency-based “universities,” where people could be trained for jobs within the company and then transfer their knowledge to other agencies. Because of racism and discrimination, African-Americans were denied access to the education system and educational programmes required for the industry. They were unable to gain the necessary work experience to be hired once they were hired. Finally, they were able to secure positions within well-known corporations, and eventually, they were able to establish their independent advertising agencies.
Industry Inherent Hostility To Their Race.
While African-Americans have historically been underrepresented in the advertising industry, this has not been due to a lack of desire but rather because the industry is inherently hostile to their race. Generally, it is assumed that talent will always triumph over other considerations. As a result, this group will have to compete for a position within the industry.
As a result, the Black Advertising industry was more accepting of women than ever before. While men often dominated the advertising world, the industries were open to the idea of hiring black women, and significant agencies were actively seeking out women. While the practice may have initially seemed counterintuitive, it was socially acceptable and fiscally justified. In addition, ad agency executives recognized that women made most purchasing decisions and that hiring a white woman was helpful to the agency’s profits.
Bottom-line
Despite these barriers, Black Business Entrepreneurs have consistently been underrepresented in the Black advertising industry. While this is not a lack of desire, it is a problem of a hostile industry that does not value its abilities.
