Just a few closing thoughts on Juneteenth in Adland, aka Wednesday. Or just another exhibition of exclusive excess at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity—as Advertising Age, Adweek, and Campaign continued coverage of the awards soiree without pausing to acknowledge the holiday. In short, the trade publications perfectly reflect the global industry.
White advertising agencies undoubtedly took the day off—in numerous ways.
Any agencywide emails commemorating Juneteenth were likely drafted by Chief Diversity Officers. Except in shops employing non-Blacks as the CDO, whereby the nettlesome task was probably delegated to the resident Black ERG.
In even more cases, the holiday was ignored completely. Or disregarded due to general ignorance, cultural cluelessness, and passive bias—the foundational trifecta of systemic racism.
For the enlightened, Juneteenth is known as Freedom Day. Yet in Adland, the ruling majority enjoy freedom from responsibility and accountability, refusing to make good on promises and commitments to do the right thing.
Expect the disinterest to extend in the days, months, and years ahead, fortifying the industry’s inability, unwillingness, and failure to address DEIBA+ concerns.
Elie Wiesel wrote: The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.
Industry—and individual—indifference inspires the dearth of diversity. Just a thought.
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