13816: Surveying Failure.

A MultiCultClassics visitor pointed to an Advertising Week 2017 tweet inviting people to take a survey allegedly designed to assess how far the advertising industry needs to go in terms of diversity and inclusion. The survey inadvertently delivered on its objective, as the questions are primarily focused on diverted diversity—that is, the promotion of White women—and essentially ignore the racial and ethnic inequality that has forever plagued adland. In short, the survey perfectly reflects the industry’s true interest in diversity and inclusion. It’s also important to remember that Advertising Week 2006 served as a backdrop when the New York City Commission on Human Rights sent subpoenas to agency executives as part of an investigation into the lack of Blacks on Madison Avenue. The decline of Black representation in the field underscores the “progress” made over the past decade—and ultimately shows how far the advertising industry needs to go in terms of diversity and inclusion. But hey, survey participants can provide data to confirm the obvious and receive a $5 Starbucks Gift Card for their efforts, which is $5 more than the average Black person will ever see from Madison Avenue.