Reflecting on PR’s Diverse Past
Authors: Sarah Heiman, Becca Moe, Daisy Uy and Charmaine Blair
The Future of PR Looks Like Us campaign
This blog is part of a series called The Future of PR Looks Like Us, a meaningful campaign led by a team of Centennial College public relations and corporate communications postgraduate students in partnership with the Canadian Council of Public Relations Firms (CCPRF). Our goal is to highlight the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in the public relations (PR) industry.
This blog compliments a podcast series exploring the diverse voices that have shaped the industry and featuring work done by PR students from Centennial College. Learn about diverse figures of PR’s past that have shaped the industry for BIPOC professionals today. Listen in to uncover misconceptions and gain a sense of the opportunities the industry holds. The series closes by emphasizing the bright future PR professionals and students see for the growing diversity within the industry.
Introduction
It is a significant year to reflect on the diverse people who have shaped the PR industry as we know it today. The death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, sparked protests against systemic racism and support for the Black Lives Matter movement (#BLM) worldwide. Organizations and individuals in PR, like many others, were compelled to speak out in support of change and racial justice for Black, Indigenous and other people of colour (BIPOC) (Ghane, 2020).
In honour of Black history month, we want to bring attention to the Black PR pioneers that have paved the way for BIPOC PR professionals. When listening to today’s episode and reading our reflections here, it is important we appreciate the challenges that were overcome, but understanding that the work is far from over.
Lessons learned
Joseph V. Baker
On today’s episode, we first hear about the work done by Joseph V. Baker. He persuaded companies to have Black representation in advertising and hire Black workers to create brand loyalty. Baker introduced the notion of representation and we have learned from his wisdom, the importance of representing the diversity we can see in society. He taught us to use our voices to support those who cannot help themselves. It takes one voice of courage to spark meaningful change for generations to come. As Jerome Kitenge says, “Without his courage and groundbreaking ideas, we wouldn’t have the Nike and H&M ads that prominently feature POC.” Our voices have the strength and opportunity to make a difference.
Moss Kendrix
Moss Kendrix identified the Black consumer market that had previously gone unnoticed by companies like Coca-Cola. The successes of his campaigns helped the company grow in advertising, job opportunities for Black Americans and other business opportunities. As Mike Grishin said in his profile of Kendrix, even when it was not considered appropriate to speak about minorities, Moss knew there was a place in society for Black people to be represented and appreciated.
Inez Kaiser
Inez Kaiser highlights the importance of making demands and recommendations that are rightfully deserved. She taught us the value in knowing our worth, skill and knowledge. Because of their determination, all women have to thank Black women like Inez Kaiser for where we have progressed to today. It was their tenacity and perseverance that helped pave the way for the strong women in PR today.
Black voices
Powerful Black voices impacted the industry with their great advocacy work, however, as we continuously grow, we learn the responsibility no longer falls on BIPOC practitioners alone. It is the responsibility of all folks to use their voices in advocacy and allyship to continue the great work of Joseph Baker, Moss Kendrix and Inez Kaiser. These Black communicators solidified the importance of honesty and integrity in their work. They were respected for their candor and inclusive visions.
Key learnings from a student perspective
There’s a reason that society progresses. Behind that progression are the powerful voices pushing advocacy work. We should be creating environments where this advocacy and activism can be supported and cultivated. Collaboration and listening will foster continuous growth, understanding, and empathy when it comes to DE&I in the workplace.
Advocating for representation in workplaces and media engages employees and allows new consumer markets to feel seen, leading to business advantages. “Businesses with culturally diverse executive teams are 33 per cent more likely to see above-average profits” (Lam, 2020). Diversity in all forms means that unique individuals and groups are less likely to be disregarded. “Diversity is vital to the effectiveness and credibility of PR. It’s crucial to encourage more people of all races to pursue careers … and to create spaces where diverse practitioners feel safe, included and empowered to do their jobs effectively” (Carrington, 2020). If people feel represented, this will build trust in our communicators and messages making the work we do so much more effective.
After unpacking today’s episode we invite you to reflect on your position and perspective, the power of your voice and the changes you can make to push DE&I in your life and community. For more information on the topics in today’s episode, check out the resources below.
Resources
Heinrich, L. L. Black PR pioneers. The Museum of Public Relations. https://www.prmuseum.org/black-pr-pioneers
Colston, C. E. (2012). An Exploration into the Reality of Media Perceptions: The Depictions of Women Public Relations Practitioners in Reality Television. McNair Scholars Research Journal, 5(1), 33-50.
Nestle, M. (2015, October 5). Soda Politics: Taking on Big Soda (and Winning). Oxford University Press. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/soda-politics-9780190263430
