Marketers Elevating the Black Community

How can my brand connect with African American audiences?

Through their purpose-driven campaigns addressing pandemic challenges and racial injustice respectively, Big Facts, Small Acts and the Courageous Conversation Global Foundation exemplified how community organizations can inspire change and support the Black community on a small budget.

In this episode of Beyond Profit, BROWNBAYLOR founder and CEO Dontrese Brown joins host Ken Beaulieu to discuss a virtual reality exploration of the Black experience, his advice to business leaders and marketers about taking on purposeful projects, creating an inclusive workplace culture, and more.

The AEF Conducted research among its key stakeholders around the challenges brands face cultivating and elevating black talent.

Genealogical service Ancestry strove to assist African Americans trying to uncover their family histories, inspiring their efforts with a documentary film.

Dove and LinkedIn continue their efforts to pass the CROWN Act in all 50 states and end race-based hair discrimination in the workplace.

ESPN leveraged its partnership with the NBA to expand its Champion Black Businesses (CBB) initiative to provide exposure, guidance, and financial support to Black businesses and dismantle systemic barriers to their success.

McDonald’s supported “change leaders” striving to make a difference in the Black community.

Mastercard’s campaign targeted U.S. card issuers and financial institutions that focus on small businesses and small business owners. Through proprietary research-driven insights, Mastercard solidified and grew its issuer partnerships and brought in fintech partners to strengthen perceptions among small business owners.

One Hundred Black Men of New York created an OOH campaign illustrating how the organization opens doors for African Americans in New York.

Ancestry showcased its ability to uncover the family histories of Black Americans with a moving, long-form film with widespread digital distribution.

Hair discrimination is prevalent and has a lasting impact on Black girls. Dove believes that no one should be denied employment or an education because of their hair. Through the “As Early as Five” campaign, Dove is urging everyone to take a stand to make race-based hair discrimination illegal.

Ally Bank teamed up with Warner Bros. Discovery, DC, and Milestone Media to create “The Milestone Initiative,” a program empowering the next generation of Black and diverse comic creators to tell authentic and diverse stories.

Madison Avenue commitments to Black-owned media are continuing strong in 2023. But scale is the biggest challenge advertisers are up against. There are several changes buyers can make to beat the scale problem, reach Black and multicultural audiences, and send more ad revenue to independent multicultural publishers.

8:46 Films is a platform created to showcase up-and-coming Black filmmakers and to honor the legacy of George Floyd and reclaim the last eight minutes and 46 seconds of his life with stories of joy and love told by Black storytellers and filmmakers.

Black & Abroad created a Black Elevation Map to pinpoint where Black-owned businesses and cultural institutions are most likely to be present, absent, and in what abundance.

AARP took a unique and ownable approach to Black History Month by developing a national brand campaign that highlighted Black leaders making history now.

AT&T celebrated those members of the Black community who were working to build a better future.

Chicago advertising agency O'Keefe Reinhard & Paul strove to promote shopping at Black-owned businesses on the day after Thanksgiving.

The city of Chicago strove to promote voting within its Black community by creating voter registration booths that featured artwork inspired by the protests that George Floyd’s murder sparked.