Racial minorities in advertising.
I mentioned in an earlier post about toilets and lunch that I have worked in something like 15 agencies in the last couple of years.
Because of that I’ve actually noticed a few other things unconnected with lavs and sandwiches.
For example, the number of racial minorities in agencies varies enormously. Although not particularly high anywhere, in most places it seems not-inconsistent with the proportions of the nation as a whole.
I don’t know about you, but I think that living in cosmopolitan old London has given me a somewhat skewed perception of how many people in this country are ‘white’ or ‘other’. The 92.1% of the country who have trouble dancing properly and go a fetching shade of red on holiday is actually higher than the proportions I’ve seen in some agencies, while I’m surprised that less than 5% of the country originate from the Indian subcontinent (I know most of them ‘originate’ from the UK, but you know what I mean).
Whether or not this suggests advertising is an all-encompassing industry of which Malcolm X would be proud is a matter of debate, but the next question is whether those minorities are working in the more prestigious jobs or just in the shit ones like planning.
Ha ha…but seriously folks, how does your agency stack up, mix-wise? And what about those of you that work abroad? Are Indian agencies troubled by the number of whites they employ? Are agencies in the Palestine less inclined to hire Jewish account directors? Answers on the back of a 12-inch of Ebony and Ivory please.
I’m not usually here late enough to see the racial minorities in my agency.
why does it matter? best people for best jobs regardless, simples?
What would clients think if they saw ethnic minorities
It seems fine for IT but you get the feeling people seem less comfortable when it’s an account director. Sad but true…
@12:18
Do you work at Fallon?
Does your shift finish before Magnus Djaba gets in?
Most ethnic minorities with the capabilities to be account directors end up in proper professions like the Law, Finance or Medicine. Their parents didn’t flee the colonies so their kids could over-achive at school and college and end up as bag carriers and projector wallahs.
Jonathan Mildenhall broke the mould, even though he’s obviously from Yorkshire. That probably counted against him more than being black and gay.
Anon 2 has it right. I run a mile from those IPA ethnic minority initiatives because I find them rather patronising. I got my job on merit, not skin colour. Indeed, it’s one of the virtues of what we do that no one gives a toss about background, they just care about whether you can do it. That isn’t to say we’re perfect – I remember one CEO moving a black guy out of reception because he thought The client wouldn’t want to see him. But we’re better than most.
Ironically enough, those who try to be lawyers, doctors etc are more likely to face discrimanation than anyone trying to work in adland.