Adland and media: We need to change the way we do business if we are to become anti-racist
Simone Smith from McCann explains why recent events have been so heartbreaking for the black community. As she puts it: "We’re tired. We’re sad. We’re angry."
I’m a PR professional whose role is to communicate behind the scenes, but I’ll be honest: I’ve grappled with the ‘right’ and ‘appropriate’ way to join the conversations about race and equality that have surfaced with rigorous force over the past week.
I feel it would be remiss of me to not say something, particularly as a senior member of the industry and, more pertinently, as a person of colour and as a black woman.
I’m also someone who has parents who are both black and white and dealt with Apartheid and the White Australia policy directly. And I’m someone who has lived, worked and made a home in America for a very long time, including during the Rodney King riots in the 90s.
A Black Lives Matter protest in 2014
It has been very difficult to watch the horrific events of the past week.
I have experienced all types of prejudices and racism on multiple levels, more so in my own home country of Australia than anywhere else, so it has had a personal impact on me, as I’m sure it has for many others.
For people of colour, prejudice is something on our minds all the time, day in and day out. Even in the simplest life interactions, it sits underneath like a mostly quiet yet constant hum, buzzing under the surface. It’s so present that you learn to live with, and bury it, but it sits with you always.
You learn as a person of colour in a mostly white society – where you are often, even if only politely and without bad intent, are looked at or treated differently because of the colour of your skin – to let it sit.
You only mention it, or talk about it, with certain types of friends or people who have experienced it themselves. People who are not ‘uncomfortable’ talking about these things because you don’t want to come across as the ‘angry black or brown person’. You want to be treated just like everyone else, so you behave ‘within the lines’. But the reality is, you’re not treated like everyone else.
We are at a point where we’ve let things simmer under the surface for so long, through so many difficult moments of injustice and hurt. And we’re at breaking point. We’re tired. We’re sad. We’re angry. We’re heartbroken. We’ve had enough.
We are experiencing the very personal grief and sadness and frustration of what is happening right now, even right here in Australia. It is a heavy weight, and it extends far beyond the horrific injustice of George Floyd’s death. It continues to happen, time and time and time again.
It’s 2020, and the time for ignorance has passed. We are all responsible – me included.
In my work over the years, I’ve struggled with mainstream ideals of ‘diversity’. I feel like we’ve reached a point where the representation of all races should be normalised, and not just a box that needs to be ticked from a creative point of view.
Whilst it’s not my job as a person of colour to educate others on our history and why things are at this point, I thought: If my voice isn’t represented on issues that affect my community, I am complicit in the status quo.
So. I encourage you all to consider actionable things you can do in your own lives, or in the business of what we do, to incorporate real change, no matter how small (trust me, it counts).
Please do your homework. Think about and understand what you are posting and sharing. What are you doing in your non-social media life that ensures you are not perpetuating racism? We appreciate the solidarity, but what we want to see and feel is that you actually care enough to:
- Change the way you do business.
- Hold our leaders and politicians and people in power and law enforcement accountable.
- Treat us equally in your everyday, working and family lives.
- Be diligent and non-biased in your reporting and sharing of our stories. Make sure you have representation from black and brown voices on your TVs and, in your newspapers.
- Fight and stand with us to create real reform for the hundreds of years of oppression we have faced.
- Educate your children on racism.
- Talk to your teachers and make sure there are the right types of messaging and storytelling in curriculums.
- Consider the representations in your branding and in advertisements. Are people of colour shown in powerful ways?
- If you appreciate and love black music and culture, understand and acknowledge where it came from without appropriating it.
- Be enraged for our Indigenous communities and Black Australia. The same things have happened to young black people in police custody here. Elevate their stories, report accurately, and do something to show that their lives matter.
My voice and experience is just one of many personal accounts. But I’m writing this piece to open up dialogue that can effect change. I hope it encourages others to speak up about their thoughts and experiences.
Simone Smith is PR director at McCann
topics
anti-racist
Black Lives Matter
George Floyd
McCann
opinion
racism
Simone Smith
The Red Republic
Thanks so much for sharing your story @Simone Smith. So many think that Australia is immune to racism, amongst other forms of bias – conscious or not. The practical tips are helpful and people need more of that and less talk, thank you. I also think our media and marketing creative is a big part of the problems here and I personally am on a mission to change that too. It isn’t just race either, with age, stage, rural/urban, socio-economic difference, and neuro-diversity too. We all need to become less self focused and see the people in it as equals.
I’m hoping we are at the tipping point that businesses and people don’t just talk about being supportive, but do something about it in the way they work and live the difference.
People like you living the example and showing a successful, amazing, capable person (regardless of colour) in the job as a role model – that is what we need more of.
This is the standard of commentary this fraught subject matter and our media industry deserves. Thank you Simone for sharing such a personal and positive contribution.
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Thank you for sharing your story and insights, Simone. It’s certainly given me some food for thought and I will endeavour to take action in the ways you have outlined here.
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Hear hear.
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For speaking out on behalf of black women such as myself – I echo your sentiments and experiences in the Australian media industry/society in general. There is a lot of work to do – this is not an exclusive problem to the United States. As soon as Australians start taking local ownership of our own issues on a personal and corporate level, real change will manifest.
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So proud to woke with Simone, what a legend.
We have so much power in our industry to affect change, challenge stereotypes, and elevate different voices. It’s up to ALL of us to take up a the fight!
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Thank you and well done, Simone, for speaking out and giving practical advice. I would like to think I am in the majority of Aussies who cannot imagine that someone like you would experience discrimination. But I realise it must be so. I’m saddened that you have to live with this cloud. I was proud to see my son (a Strategy planner in NYC) and his wife (a movie producer) walking in a peaceful demonstration in Brooklyn two nights ago, carrying a Black Lives Matter banner they had made out of cardboard. We should all stand up for the right of all people to be treated without bias.
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Thank you so much Simone for sharing this, especially during what must be an incredibly emotionally taxing time. The systemic and individual racism that is inflicted on bla(c)k people around the world, and right here in Australia to our Indigenous community, is unacceptable. To echo a message we’ve seen this week, not being racist isn’t enough. It’s vital that we take steps and actions to be anti-racist. Even when it’s a tough convo – ESPECIALLY when it’s a tough convo. Hope you can take some space to look after yourself and recharge this long weekend.
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So proud to work with you, Simone!
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Thank you Simone for standing up and expressing your views. I am happy to work with you on what has been a long time advocacy of mine. As a PR educator and a first generation migrant, I have written about diversity and inclusion (or the lack there of) in our industry. Happy to have a chat on how we can move corporate and organisational rhetoric towards action.
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Simone yes your ‘voice and experience is just one of many personal accounts’ but what a voice. I was genuinely moved by your first-hand account. And motivated by your suggestions for these simple steps we can all take to progress equality in our industry. #blacklivesmatter
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I am truly grateful for you sparking a conversation, provoking a dialogue and opening our minds and hearts towards seeking out tolerance, understanding and empathy.
It too leaves me with both a heavy heart and a heart of hope. Heavy and saddened to see yet another instance of injustice playing out in the United States, my “birth” country, and what is hidden here in what I consider my “home” country. Hope and pride in the voices, like yours, that are standing up and spreading understanding, love and togetherness.
This is not an issue that resolves itself overnight or even over decades. But bringing the conversation to the forefront, by not shying away from discussing what is so difficult and by acknowledging we collectively need to consider our individual actions (big or small) to make real progress towards making positive change.
I am privileged and honored to be working with you; and I am so proud of McCann, The Red Republic and Ben Lilley for committing to support this in a meaningful and actionable way.
I hope you don’t mind but I have shared your “post” below with my social network to continue to encourage others to find ways they can make a difference.
So PROUD!
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Well Said Simone, there should be more people being empowered in the world, it is great to know that there is a lady if your stature out there making relevant issues known which some people tend to turn a “blind eye” to in society.
Well done.
Keep it up.
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#listening to you Simone – thank you for this wake up call and practical suggestions to action.
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