The Divide between Atlanta's Black, and White creative agencies

Preface: This is a loaded topic. But I promise, you will learn something! If you value decorum; more than perspective, knowledge and respect for #blackcreators, this article is not for you. My story is filled with optimism, bravery, advocacy, logic, speaking into the void, trauma, playing small, struggling to stand strong in my morale & power, and not knowing when to stand down.

?? "Not everything is about Black people Kiana!" -My former team member

I was lead researcher (as in, I just so happened to have the most people respond to survey than the rest of my group) for a semester-long intern project competition, at an internationally-recognized agency.

???? Context you ask? I referenced that we should include #blacktwitter (BT) as a leg in our digital marketing strategy. After all, us Blacks led media consumption at the time and was extremely integral in making viral culture moments. Despite my Nielsen-backed research, my team passed. That was just 1 of my many suggestions that fell on deaf ears. Our competitor actually won off an idea that I also presented to my team two weeks before. Fast-forward to 2022, agencies appropriate #aave, #Ebonics & BT in everyday ads. Here's some examples:

• "BAE"
• "Lit"
• "PERIOD"
• "Real Hot Girl Stuff"
• "Throwin shadeeeee"
• "YAAAASSSS"
• "Hella"
• "The struggle /thirst is real"
• "______ be like"
• "WERK"
• "Spill the tea"
• "Squad goals"
• "Chile"
• "Asf"
• "Woke"
• "Snatched"
• "On fleek"

?? Some of these phrases even originated in #atlanta. Shout out to my #citygirls!

?? Now.... "let's get into it" (also AAVE). Atlanta's #blackcreatives move or take meetings in LA/NYC to make over $60k. My friends Donté Maurice & Six Degrees Creative are great examples of that. We can't even afford houses in our own neighborhoods (Beltline, Smyrna, Ponce, West Midtown etc.)).

Companies host events in Atlanta; but the budgets come from the East & West coast. My friends alike have worked with countless brands like #applemusic, #XBOX, 耐克 , 亚马逊 , BET , 维亚康姆 , Complex NTWRK and more. The budget & profit is much lower (and pays #production assistants way less) in Atlanta though.

Where are the offices in Atlanta though? Non-existent. Okay, I'll give 微软 credit for the newly-opened X-Box & LinkedIn offices at Atlantic Station. Btw, #amazon has so many warehouses out here, and is making it even harder for Black people to enter the housing market.

?? Georgia State University graduates the most minority students in the country, something we've boasted for the last decade. But- if you research local agencies' employee make-up, you'll see a vast majority are alums of nationally-ranked & SEC schools like #uga #universityofalabama #ivyleagues #fsu #usc and #auburnuniversity.

No doubt, our Georgia State Alumni Association & career center can improve its recruiter outreach (Hey Brian Blake )! I'd counter with: why are these companies spending out-of-state #travelandexpense when Atlanta and Georgia has the range? Emory, Valdosta, Southern, FVSU, Clark Atlanta, Kennesaw State, Oglethorpe, Georgia Gwinnett, Georgia Tech, Morris Brown, SpelHouse, Savannah State, and more.

However, there's little room for pity when we share a 10-mile radius with 可口可乐公司 AT&T Southern Company 埃森哲 CNN 德勤 Cox Communications WarnerMedia Porsche Cars North America Mercedes-Benz AG and more. Atlanta agencies win these contracts left and right, and Black creators are sparingly at the table.

Instead, we must get our feet in the door thousands of miles from home. And watch as our city is bought up by #remoteworkers coming from major cities. After all it's cheap land right? Well- even that's subjective because again, my people are trying to keep up with the cost of living.

While in the door, Black people face mental health challenges and assimilation in white spaces. Getting checks, balances, and approvals on what "sounds" right to mass consumers.

?? Here's my call to action: Nebo Agency 爱德曼 360i 22squared DEFINITION 6 Ammunition 天联广告公司 Brown Bag Marketing Carat Force Marketing Huge Moxie Publicis Groupe ! Let's talk. Forreal!

I want to be apart of the solution. I'm tired of looking at career pages and not wanting to apply because I see a maximum 5 #peopleofcolor listed as an employee.

I'd love to organize a round-table, networking event or happy hour. I'll bring some of Atlanta's finest creatives. You bring the knowledge, and an open mind. Because teaching & development isn't a one-way street. After all, we're all students of the game, right?

Side note: There is no Starbucks. This is the tea. ????

?? If you've made it thus far, you're a real one. Know that there's money to be made with these creatives. Continue reading my newsletter:?Revelation. Who knows? I can be one of the best investments of your 2023.

I leave you with this:

Be a spark. Revel in knowledge. Enlighten others. Leave supernatural impact. ??