(MultiCultClassics credits ESPN’s C’MON MAN! for sparking this semi-regular blog series.)
A MultiCultClassics visitor pointed to pathetic pap published by POSSIBLE Chief Talent Officer Martha Hiefield, who diverted diversity in progressive fashion. That is, Hiefield presented a perspective at The Huffington Post titled, “Just Dance: Embracing Diversity, Inclusion & Creative Conflict.” And amazingly, she typed over 700 words on the topic without making a single reference to race or ethnicity. This is not the first time POSSIBLE has been recognized for its penchant for exclusivity. But it does call for Hiefield ironically joining an exclusive group of women to be honored by this special series.
C’MON WHITE MAN!
The secret about Possible is that it's whiter than white on white.
ReplyDeleteOf course they're going to talk about "diversity of thought" and play up gender diversity, because it obscures the truth. Main offices = white, white, white. WEBSITE = somewhat diverse, because they mixed photos of ethnic workers in their overseas offices in there.
So as long as you don't dig at all, or ask questions, or ask Possible to talk at depth about anything actually diverse, you're all good.
The entire industry, every damn agency should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This is blatant racism and discrimination, thats why not one agency can show you their hiring numbers broken down by race. Im not just talking about white people either, but the black people who play the game as diversity recruiters, boot camp starters and diversity officers. Throw them all in jail. They are the worst!!! Federal prosecution is the only way to stop this madness.
ReplyDeleteProblem is there's nobody ethnic in the ad industry to raise their voice, much less talk legal issues. Traditionally whoever speaks up gets blackballed out of advertising, period. There's a small trail of black men and women who dared speak up and who'll "never work in this industry again."
ReplyDeleteThe holding companies play dirty anyway. Whenever discrimination issues and the threat of having to release their numbers comes up, they hustle and buy some minority company with a few hundred workers to boost their numbers on paper, then dump them like a hot potato afterwards.
Or they throw international office numbers in there and claim tons of Asians in management positions when what they really mean is they bought an office of 13,000 coders in India and that doesn't do jack for diversity in America.
Advertising is not an industry for anybody of color. It's an industry for wealthy kids with wealthy parents who can subsidize their adventures in the media.
IPA is finally talking numbers. Ethnic ones are out in a few weeks (supposedly), but for now the gender diversity numbers in the UK are far and above the "OMG (white) women are only 3% of decision makers in ad agencies!" lie the 3% Conference has been telling.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.businessinsider.com/ipa-president-tom-knox-outlines-advertising-industry-diversity-targets-2016-1
It will be interesting to see how much fairness and representation in terms of ethnic diversity there is, compared to gender diversity. I've always felt like there's no massive shortage of women in advertising, and there's a solid number of women, mostly white women, in higher level positions. Not 50%/50%, but certainly not the 1% ethnic / 99% white imbalance I can see with my own two eyes over the course of my career.
http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/adland-16-part-one-gender/1379217
ReplyDeleteHard #s and stats.
That purple chart with women vs. men in advertising, vs. in other industries, is very telling.
ReplyDeleteThere's no shortage of women in advertising.
There's a severe shortage of ethnic minorities.
Yet all "diversity" discussions right now are about helping women who are already in the system, mostly white women, climb higher into management positions, BEFORE addressing the ethnicity shortage. That kind of blindness makes no sense to me.