Handling The Truth

In September I, along with a diverse group of more than 1,000 advertising professionals, had the privilege of attending the #AdColor Conference and Awards in Los Angeles. As an organization, AdColor champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries. The purpose of the Conference, in its 12th year, is to discuss and ideate around issues effecting the diverse community within the advertising, marketing, media, entertainment, public relations and tech industries. It’s one thing to discuss and ideate, it’s another thing to put those words and ideas into action. That is exactly why the founders of the organization didn’t stop at the creation of a conference, but instead attached an Award ceremony to it. The purpose of the Awards is to celebrate those who took action; those who went above and beyond in an effort to positively impact the world for the good of diverse people.

The theme of this year’s event was “Moment of Truth” and everyone involved from the hosts to the moderators to the panelists to the awards nominees has demonstrated the importance of truth. This being my first AdColor conference, I set out to leave with three key learnings. The truth is, and although I did learn a lot, the truth is, there was only one learning that mattered to me. Advocacy… for yourself… and others.

For Yourself

On the first night, we were treated to two panels; one of which included some of Netflix’s leading ladies. As part of Netflix’s #strongblacklead campaign, these six women took part in a photo/commercial shoot that paid homage to ‘A Great Day in Harlem’, Art Kane’s 1958 photograph of 57 well-known Jazz musicians on the steps of a Harlem brownstone. Whereas the ‘Harlem’ photo included Jazz musicians, the Netflix tribute, aptly named ‘A Great Day in Hollywood’, featured 47 black actors, producers, showrunners and writers that are currently part of the Netflix family. The campaign was Netflix’s intentional effort, not only to support their black talent, but also to speak authentically to the black audience. The panelists explained that their participation was their personal way of advocating for themselves; of saying to the Hollywood industry “you’re looking for strong leads and here we are.”

Screenwriter/Producer Mara Brock Akil and Wieden+Kennedy’s Chief Creative Officer, Colleen DeCourcy told a similar story. Akil is the creative force behind some of black America’s most beloved television programs- Girlfriends, Being Mary Jane and Love Is _____. DeCourcy is the creative force behind some of W+K’s most innovative and groundbreaking work including Nike’s current “Dream Crazy” campaign. They discussed the sacrifices they’ve made and the tribulations they’ve endured over the course of their careers- most of which took place in rooms full of people who looked or thought nothing like them. DeCourcy deliberated on the cost of being viewed as “one of the guys” in her quest to the top of the male-dominated creative space in advertising. Similarly, Akil having run in place for years trying to find her voice in Hollywood, concluded “there’s a moment when you realize your representatives aren’t representing you and you have to fight for yourself.”

For Others

Day Two at the AdColor Conference was a whirlwind, but the excitement was palpable from the very start. Following opening remarks and an unexpected inspirational workout, we experienced two of the most poignant conversations of the entire conference (one with Robert Raben, another with Marc Pritchard). During Raben’s panel, he discussed privilege in depth and how privilege is undeserved and often unacknowledged. As such, he encouraged us not to waste our various privileges, but to instead “spend” them on those who are disadvantaged at the opposite end of the spectrum. Pritchard, preaching from the very same pulpit, implored us to “recognize the privileges [we] have and use [our] position and influence for good.”

At the start of one of the conversations, a P&G spot named “The Talk” played as a white male walked onto the stage. The spot features a couple of “talks” that are all too common in African-American households. One focuses on beauty; the other on safety. I, along with several others I’m sure, thought “wow, P&G just marched a white man out here to talk to us about the importance of diversity.” As a black man, I know all too well about the perils of judging a book by its cover, but here I was doing the very thing I am often the victim of (can we say “unconscious bias”?). Two minutes into the presentation, I learn that he is of German and Mexican descent, has African-American cousins, and is uniquely positioned to help shape the narrative on diversity, because he (being Marc Pritchard) is also the Chief Brand Officer at P&G.

You see Pritchard and Raben, had a unique physical characteristic in common. Both, to use Raben’s own words, “present as, but do not identify as, white males.” Their physical appearance had afforded them many undeserved and unacknowledged benefits over the years and they were determined to use those privileges to the benefit of others.

So What?

Privilege is most often used when referring to “white privilege”. The term carries a negative connotation and is habitually met with opposition to its existence… but let’s be honest- such a thing exists. The truth is, we are all the beneficiary of one privilege or another- it’s how we use that privilege that matters. For instance, as a black male, I do not enjoy the privileges a white male does, but I am in some instances the beneficiary of “male privilege.” Therefore, it’s important for me to use my male privilege and be an ally for women in the #metoo or #timesup movements. Likewise, whereas a white female may not have the advantage of being male, she indeed will receive some benefits from being white and so she should advocate for women of color. The list goes on and on.

The agency I work for (#UM) is built on the mantra of Better- Better Science, Better Art, Better Outcomes and it’s no secret that diversity is good for business. In fact, it makes for better business. It fosters innovation; provides multiple creative viewpoints; produces a better understanding of our client’s consumers; and leads to more thoughtful decision-making. In short, diversity adds perspective and that’s why the underlying theme that developed at AdColor is so important. My perspective matters. Your perspective matters. Each one of our different, varied, assorted perspectives matters. However, the key is not focusing solely on our own perspectives, but instead opting to advocate for those of a different viewpoint- which in effect, widens our own.