I recently came across these articles and I would like to share them with you!
Younger Generation Fighting Diversity Battle From Within-Tiffany Warren
http://adage.com/bigtent/post?article_id=129599&search_phrase=diversity
Mad Men: An Exception to the Diversity Onslaught?-Angela Natividad
http://www.adrants.com/2008/07/mad-men-an-exception-to-the-diversity.php
The advertising industry can often times give the cold shoulder to “diverse” individuals. I have been living and breathing the industry for the past 5 years, ready and willing to showcase my skills as well as learn from others. I keep up with current trends, I read books written by industry leaders, and if nothing else I am earning a post-graduate degree to ensure that I know all there is to know (theoretical knowledge) about what it is that I want to do.
However, now that it is time for me to practice what I have learned and cut my teeth if you will, the industry is not so welcoming, not so warm. I decided to do some research on other multicultural professionals in the industry to see if they are dealing with the same issue. I not only found endless articles, bloggers, rants, and raves, but also evidence of the industry’s failed attempts to address the issue since the 1960’s. I must admit that the future of the industry looks terribly bleak if the “good’ole boys” continue to influence younger white professionals to keep the doors closed to multicultural ad professionals. How can an industry sell and persuade a multicultural audience but refuse to incorporate the very people that would understand this audience the most?
I predict that a time will come where the “good-ole boys” will be forced to change or face the legal repercussions. I encourage you to click the link and read this article in AD Age Magazine. I welcome your comments.
http://adage.com/bigtent/post?article_id=128219
Okay, so I am going to stray from my initial promise of not using this forum to speak about love, romance, blah, blah, blah. But tonight, I think I just had a mini breakthrough and I need to share. I spent a good portion of my time today on my comfy sofa, just me and my television. As I was desperately fighting my way through the 200+ channels to find a action flick (my favorite) of some sort, alls I got were shows about women looking for love, waiting to be chosen by love, crazy in love, or just plain crazy. I wanted to scream. I think there was a point where I did. But all screams aside, I will never, ever understand why we women don’t understand our power. We have the power to hold the weight of the world on our shoulders and carry it in our wombs, but we belittle it, antagonize it, destroy it, and sell it, just for a fucking man.
A man. A man. A man. A man. I am not going to exclude myself from this generalization either. Personally, it seems that once I finally have a grip on the “REAL” situation, that same old shamelessness wonders back in, and I am instantly transformed into a needy, “ooh pick me, pick me” woman. Its really very nauseating and very draining. But tonight I was watching this very interesting documentary/special feature on Mary J. Blige and the creation of Hip Hop Soul. I have always been a Mary fan, probably for the same reasons most others are, but there is one song, and one verse that always, once heard, comes down on me like a loving slap from a Black mama: “How can I love somebody else, when I can’t love myself enough to know, when it’s time, time to let go. …Life is too short To be tryin to play some games. Now take some time and think about if it’s really worth losing me…” When I hear her sing these words, its like a wake up call. It speaks to the origin of my power. It makes me want to shout YES!, and most importantly to never forget my power again.
An associate of mine just told me something that put this whole thing into perspective for. We were discussing dating and romance, and when people are truly genuine. What she said to me really pulled back my eyelids and really changed the way I will forever think about this stuff, she says…” You do not need to pursue anyone. The RIGHT person will pursue you, and in turn, since he is the RIGHT person, you will pursue him, and all will be well. Just wait for it. It will happen.” YES! So simple, yet so true. No waiting around listlessly, no “tryin’ a be chose,” just me being me, enjoying me, loving me in my moment. YES!
I encourage you to share,
Be.
I would like to devote a little mini-series to this topic. Black media (magazines, production/broadcasting companies/ radio, etc.) are virtually non-existent. With the aquirement of Essence Magazine by Time Warner, I now exclude this once trusted source of all things important to African American women as “black media.” I would call it mainstream media in black face. I feel betrayed really. Although I haven’t made it to a quarter of a century, I grew up on my mother’s Essence Magazine, the Ebony’s in the Black Hair Salons, the Jets in the Soul Food Kitchens. What will my daughters be able to trust in when they are coming of age? Goodbye tried and true tradition, hello mainstream media, in black face.
More to come soon.
Be.
Hello you lucky soul. Somehow out of the never-ending universe of webpages, and the endless blog posts, you have managed to find me, jaythink. I appreciate your time, your inquisitiveness, and your willingness to have an open mind. I am new to this blogging thing, but I have decided (reluctantly) to dip my little toe in the water in hopes of one day swimming with the big fish. As the title of my little blog states, I am an analog girl in a digital world. Although I know my way around a Microsoft Program or two, I must admit I am behind on the times, but I am now changing that.
This space is a little brainchild of mine, created out of dizzying cyber language, crashed systems, choice four-letter words, and a friend’s (gentle) persuasion. I am a creative thinker. I am a marketing and advertising enthusiast, and a long lost writer who has went astray. What I will try to do here at Jaythink is to combine all of these parts of me, to create a wholesome goodness for millions to enjoy. I will warn you that I am not a marketing maven (yet) but I do have an opinion that I hope you will not only find interesting, but meaningful. Whether you find something I say intriguing or idiotic, I encourage feedback and criticism of all kinds. Without it, I may not grow. While attempting to give my opinion, I will promise you that I won’t get too personal. I promise you that I won’t talk about the usual “hot-mess” women my age tend to publicly share with the world. I want to talk marketing, advertising, current events, dumbfounding ideas, clever thoughts, and multicultralism.
As I promise you these things, I do have one simple favor to ask you, pass jaythink.com along to everyone you hold dear, or anyone for that matter. I will have many interesting things to discuss, the more people that interact with me the better. As a heads up I will be gathering many of my topics from personal experience, trade publications, national (and not so national) new publications, and from people like yourself. I encourage, and even beg for your thoughts dear friend.
Anyway, enough with the rambling. I hope that you will stick with little analog me as I uncover those things I have discussed here, and much more.
Be.