Race/Related: Diversity in advertising

The ad industry is among New York City's least diverse job sectors. It shows in the work, critics say.

View in browser|nytimes.com June 28, 2024 Melvin DeBerry was working at a steel mill in Memphis when he heard about a program aimed at helping Black people with creative skills develop advertising portfolios. He is now an art director for a large tech firm. Ahmed Gaber for The New York Times The 'Mad Men' era is long over. Why is advertising still so white? By Stefanos Chen Last summer, KFC ran advertisements in Canada featuring Black people eating fried chicken and licking their fingers, their faces reflected in unused silverware. Critics called the images racist, but the campaign was not canceled. Instead, it was submitted this spring for a prestigious industry award in New York. Nate Nichols, the founder and creative director of Palette Group, a creative agency in Brooklyn, was one of the few Black members of the panel of judges reviewing submissions. "My genuine response is sadness," Mr. Nichols said. "It just means not enough of us have been able to make it into the room." The ad did not win, and KFC Global did not respond to requests for comment. But the episode was emblematic of a multibillion-dollar advertising industry that in at least one way still resembles the "Mad Men" era of the 1960s — namely, its lack of racial diversity. That dearth, according to a new report, is keenly evident in New York City, the heart of the industry and also the largest advertising market in the United States. The disconnect could be costly at a time when shifts in media consumption favor younger, more diverse audiences. Read the rest of the story here. EDITORS' PICKS We publish many articles that touch on race. Here are a few you shouldn't miss. Naila Ruechel for The New York Times Times Insider A Shared Lived Experience Fueled an Investigation on Hair Relaxers To report on the dangers of hair straightening products, one writer recalled her childhood — and that of other Black women. By Linda Villarosa Katherine Marks for The New York Times They Thought They Owned Condos. They Never Got the Deeds. A tight-knit immigrant community trusted a developer as one of their own. But he pocketed the money, according to the state attorney general's office. By Matt Yan Kelsey Cherry for The New York Times Oxtail Is Gaining Fans. Not Everyone Is Happy About That. The tender-stewed cut is being pushed to the culinary forefront by creative chefs and home cooks, leading to higher prices. By Korsha Wilson Marissa Leshnov for The New York Times Kara Walker Is No One's Robot At SFMOMA, the artist enacts a parable about trauma and healing in Black life — and makes her first foray into robotics. "I went down a little sci-fi rabbit hole the last couple years working on this piece." By Hilarie M. Sheets Steve Earley/The Virginian-Pilot, via Associated Press William Goines, First Black Navy SEAL, Dies at 87 He overcame segregation at home and in the military to serve three tours in Vietnam as a member of the storied special operations unit. By Alex Williams Jeenah Moon for The New York Times Is It Possible to Desegregate the Nation's Biggest School System? A major lawsuit against racial inequality in New York City's public schools is moving forward. Already, local districts in the city were trying different measures to diversify schools. By Troy Closson Laila Stevens for The New York Times Disputes About Race and Party Strategy Shape N.Y. Democratic Primaries Several State Assembly contests have become contentious as the June 25 primary nears, with the party grappling between moderate and progressive forces. By Grace Ashford and Jeffery C. Mays Invite your friends. Invite someone to subscribe to the Race/Related newsletter. Or email your thoughts and suggestions to racerelated@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Race/Related from The New York Times. To stop receiving Race/Related, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018