The experience of racism amongst practitioners of colour in the advertising industry

This article explores the experience of racism amongst practitioners of colour in the advertising industries in the UK and US, home to some of the world’s largest, flagship agencies and supposed leaders in equality, diversity and inclusion. The research was conducted in two study periods, one between 2013 and 2015, and a second between 2021 and 2023 following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 which saw a rise in organisational commitments to diversity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with practitioners working in advertising agencies from a range of racial backgrounds, as well as ethnography within two of these organisations. The research reveals how racist discourse has changed overtime and the impact such conversations have on working praxis. In particular, the study argues that racism occurs in both work-based and informal settings, which both ultimately impact on career progression. Lastly, the paper shows how forced EDI secondments can be weaponised to redact practitioners of colour from high profile client work, and used as an exclusionary tactic.