The A Pledge’s Post

As a Black, queer creative, there’s nothing more difficult than securing funding for content creation. Before the media industry experienced this downturn, it was already difficult enough to get a meeting with anyone with enough power and interest in Black-targeted media to help scale our work. My partners and I were lucky enough to figure out how to grow our brands without any help or even a dollar for marketing. It was a slow climb, but we built shows that resonated with Black/BIPOC millennials and gen z all over the world. Today, as DEI is viewed as a nuisance rather than a necessity, the media industry has become more antagonistic towards Black creatives. I’ve had executives steal my ideas, repeatedly ask me why I think my work has been successful as if it’s a fluke, and I’ve had to prove over and over again that Black people are intellingent and deserving of authentic programming that speaks to our actual realities. It’s a battle every single day. If you are a Black/BIPOC media executive or if you are an ally, hold the door open even as you see your colleagues slamming them in our faces. We must stick together and prioritize helping one another at such a time as this. Stay encouraged, y’all! 🫶🏾

Black representation in the marketing industry rose to 7.2% in 2023, an improvement from 6.6% in 2021, yet still falls behind the US population's 12.1%. This Black History Month, let's reflect on the impact – over 70% of Black consumers don't feel brands incorporate diversity well in their advertising. That means, advertising dollars are missing the mark, not to mention the cultural implications. Discover the effects of inclusive marketing for varying demographic sectors in this article from PR Daily. https://bit.ly/3HZ4VfW (Stats from Ad Age, 2023) #WBENC #CreativeAgency #AdAgency #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM

For #Marketers and #Communicators... Here is question 9 of my #FrequentlyAskedQuestionSeries ✋🏻✋🏼✋🏽✋🏾✋🏿: Q: “Our team doesn't have any time, capacity, or resources to create any significant piece of communications on Black History Month, so should we just avoid sharing anything?" A: This is a question we encounter a lot at AndHumanity, Inclusive Marketing Agency for various dates of significance. We can definitely appreciate the self-awareness that without resources or capacity, any communications on any date of significance will likely be surface-level and potentially harmful. So instead, we advise these clients instead to use the privilege of their brand's platform to elevate underrepresented voices who are already doing great work in this space - in this case, Black voices. Worry less about including your own employees, your own brand voice etc. and focus solely on sharing/reposting and elevating these Black voices who could benefit greatly from the platform your brand provides. What are your thoughts? I invite you to discuss and ask more questions in the comments! --- Follow me next week for question 10 of my #FrequentlyAskedQuestionSeries! What is the #FrequentlyAskedQuestionSeries? Every week I'll answer common questions that we receive at AndHumanity, Inclusive Marketing Agency on #InclusiveMarketing and #InclusiveCommunications. --- #BlackHistoryMonth #JEDI #EDI #InclusionMatters #InclusiveBusiness #InclusiveLeadership

Were you aware that in a 2023 survey involving around 3,000 marketers from the United Kingdom, just 1.8% of respondents identified as Black, African Caribbean, or Black British professionals? 🔎 Diversity is the key to innovation, yet the statistics on the representation of Black creatives are startling. Despite the pool of immense talent, the numbers are far from reflecting the true diversity that exists within our community. To grasp the extent of the disparity, we created a visual representation of this data, demonstrating that among 126 individuals in the marketing industry, only 2 of them would be Black. The time is ripe for a change. ⌛ Let's pause, acknowledge, and celebrate the wealth of talent in the Black creative community. It's high time we amplified their voices, recognised their unique perspectives, and valued their contributions to the wider creative ecosystem. We envision a future where representation in creative industries is not a mere statistic but a true reflection of our diverse, inclusive society. A future where everyone has an equal seat at the table. 🎉 #BlackHistoryMonth #DiversityAndInclusion #BlackCulture #CreativeIndustry #BHM #Gloss 

Today, I woke up curious. A question popped into my head. Why don’t I know many Black marketers? My network features Black doctors, Black founders, Black creatives, and Black entertainers (musicians, athletes, etc). It appears we’re still struggling with diversity in marketing, but let’s look at the statistics. 📈The population of self-identified Blacks has grown by 32% since 2000, reaching 14.4% of the U.S population. (Pew Research Center) 🔑According to Ad Age, Blacks are approximately 7.2% of the marketing industry workforce. 😩More than a third (35.7%) of Black Americans believe that brands always represent Black people the same in advertising. (Ad Age) 💰African Americans were spending $1.2 trillion annually. (Nielson Market Research) Shout out to Slauson & Co. for being thoughtful in their approach to investing in underrepresented founders and ideas. Plug to Backstory Consulting for helping mainstream brands tell more impactful Black stories. For more insights, click below.

We are all responsible for fostering an environment that encourages diverse perspectives, supports emerging talent, and ensures that the future of advertising and media is more inclusive than ever before. Although the contributions of Black creatives have consistently transformed the advertising and media landscape, many Black artists and creators have faced systemic barriers that hinder their full participation and recognition. So, how can we resolve this growing issue? For starters, it must be a group effort. Visit our latest blog to read about our vision for a more inclusive future: https://bit.ly/3OGIrDE #BlackCreatives #InclusiveAdvertising #MediaBrands

In 2019, we collaborated with the OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network to create the 'Black Female Characters: Authentic Representation and Storytelling Guide.'📕 The guide is designed to encourage and empower brands to apply an intersectional lens in marketing, advertising, media, and entertainment so that more Black women and girls see themselves authentically reflected in content.🤔 How does your content measure up?📏 Click the link to learn more.🔗 https://ow.ly/wK2J50PW9Xu

February is #BlackHistoryMonth which gives brands an opportunity to take an introspective look at how they're approaching their marketing in an inclusive and sincere way. For brands and organizations, this month presents an opportunity not just for commemoration, but for introspection and action. Authentic Engagement During Black History Month 1. Educate and Share Stories: Use your platform to educate your audience about black history, achievements, and ongoing struggles. Collaborate with black creators, historians, and thought leaders to share insightful content that goes beyond the surface level. 2. Support Black Businesses and Communities: Highlight and partner with black-owned businesses. Consider long-term commitments that go beyond a one-time promotion, fostering sustainable growth and support. 3. Internal Inclusivity Efforts: Ensure your internal policies and culture promote diversity and inclusion. Black History Month is a great time to assess and improve these practices, but they should be a year-round commitment. Year-Round Commitment 1. Consistent Support and Advocacy: Authenticity means consistent action. Support initiatives that advocate for racial equality and justice throughout the year, not just in February. 2. Diverse Representation in Marketing: Representation is incredibly important. Reflect diversity in your marketing materials. Include black individuals and other minorities in your visuals and narratives in a way that's respectful and representative of real experiences. 3. Ongoing Education and Dialogue: Foster an environment of learning and open dialogue about racial issues within your organization. Encourage employee engagement through workshops, talks, and resource groups. It's also vitally important for brands to understand current events and the impact that they are having. Reaching out and and asking for perspective, supporting non profit organizations, and listening for understanding are the first steps in that process. What ways does your business celebrate Black History Month? How do you incorporate advocacy and inclusion in your marketing?

At Group Black we believe in the importance of growing an equitable media ecosystem, because while there is currently $330 billion being funneled into the industry each year, less that one billion dollars is going to Black owned media. That’s less than 1%. Studies have shown that if brands would have started investing in closing the racial gaps in the US 20 years ago, we could have generated trillions of dollars in GDP. Investing in diverse audiences isn’t just the right thing to do  - it’s good for business.