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Exhibiting the Complexities of Black Advertising History: A Review of "Let's March Forward Together"
- Advertising & Society Quarterly
- Advertising Educational Foundation
- Volume 24, Issue 3, Fall 2023
- 10.1353/asr.2023.a911199
- Article
- Additional Information
Abstract:
This article reviews the Let's March Forward Together exhibition held at Duke University's Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History between February and July 2023. The installation highlights Black advertising professionals who contributed to shaping representations of Blackness in US American advertising. This review addresses how the exhibit showcases the complexities of responsible marketing, efforts to diversify the industry, and the tension between specialist and generalist approaches to advertising. Through the lens of Black consumer boycotts and historical advertising campaigns, the article underscores the intricate intersections of race, representation, and activism in advertising history, revealing the dynamic nature of Black identity and aspiration within a consumer-driven society.