Let's March Forward Together: The Rise of Black Advertising Professionals and Consumers

In the broader context of the twentieth-century struggle for social, political, and economic recognition, Black professionals were also seeking entry to the fields that help shape the cultural landscape, including advertising. Slowly, some American businesses began to see Black America as an untapped consumer market. And some advertising agencies were open to the potential contributions that Black employees offered in this effort. By the 1960s advertising agencies could point to Black ad men (and women) and executives within their ranks, first as ethnic marketing specialists or artistic talents, later for general business acumen. By the end of the decade, some Black advertising professionals had branched out to open their own agencies.