16108: MLK Day 2023—Considering The Beloved Community In Adland.

 

Here’s another belated MLK Day thought for the day…

 

To commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2023, the King Center presents a celebratory theme: “Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems.” The strategic rationale includes:

 

The pioneering work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. demonstrated that Kingian Nonviolence … is the sustainable solution to injustice and violence in our world, ultimately leading to the creation of the Beloved Community, where injustice ceases and love prevails.

 

The persistent challenge in Adland is that the industry represents a community where the beloved members are ranked according to White privilege. 

 

The U.S. Adland Beloved Community Org Chart looks something like this:

 

 

It’s difficult to create the Beloved Community in an environment where injustice prevails and love ceases to be extended based on one’s proximity to Whiteness.

 

And it sure doesn’t help when such matters are only considered for a single day of the calendar year—if at all.