January 8, 2009 - Posted by Clarissa Peterson
Today, the NAACP and the civil rights law firm of Mehri & Skalet announced the Madison Avenue Project, an initiative to reduce widespread racial discrimination in the advertising industry.
A new study shows "dramatic levels" of racial discrimination throughout the industry, 38 percent worse than in the overall labor market. According to the study, African-American advertising employees are underpaid, and are underrepresented in higher-level jobs. Among large advertising firms, 16 percent employ no Black managers or professionals, and Blacks are only 62 percent as likely as their White counterparts to hold "creative" or "client contact" positions.
In addition, Black job candidates are often funneled into positions or agencies specializing in "ethnic markets," rather than the general advertising market.
Categories: Equal Opportunity, Workers' Rights
