Pro tip for all the black PR professionals out there.
Forget about white media.
A black PR firm who knew the ins & outs of black media, black cultural spaces and black events would make so much money they’d have to turn down clients
Forget about white media.
A black PR firm who knew the ins & outs of black media, black cultural spaces and black events would make so much money they’d have to turn down clients
Ok, here’s my reasoning:
There are a lot of celebs and stars who are known for not fucking with black media. Some of them will pass right by black outlets with influence and large audiences to do what they call “mainstream” outlets.
There are a lot of celebs and stars who are known for not fucking with black media. Some of them will pass right by black outlets with influence and large audiences to do what they call “mainstream” outlets.
Some of them don’t even know that they have this reputation because their PR people have no idea about black outlets with cultural cache.
Movie studios are the same way. None of these people know the black market.
Movie studios are the same way. None of these people know the black market.
In every deal I’ve ever signed, someone pulled me aside and said: “make sure you set aside $xxxxx because you’re going to have to hire your own PR person
I have a white friend (What? I have them!) who works at a Fortune 500 company. She had a HUGE budget for a diversity & inclusion panel this October. She asked me to come. I was honored.
She told me “ I gotta be honest. I asked you because a lot of big names turned it down.”
She told me “ I gotta be honest. I asked you because a lot of big names turned it down.”
Then she sent me the dates.
“October 19?” I said. “That’s why you couldn’t get anyone. That’s Howard’s homecoming weekend.”
There was an awkward silence. I realized she was waiting for me to finish the sentence.
That’s it! That’s the reason!
“October 19?” I said. “That’s why you couldn’t get anyone. That’s Howard’s homecoming weekend.”
There was an awkward silence. I realized she was waiting for me to finish the sentence.
That’s it! That’s the reason!
What I’m saying is: You ever wonder why these black authors are at Barnes & Nobles in ATL instead of Medu?
You ever see Black stars waltz past black outlets on the red carpet and do interviews with ET and then wonder why their shows bomb?
You ever see Black stars waltz past black outlets on the red carpet and do interviews with ET and then wonder why their shows bomb?
Have you ever seen an in-depth interview in Vanity Fair and wonder who was gonna read it? Have you ever heard anyone in your barber shop talk about the Rolling Stone review of the new Kendrick Lamar album?
That’s white PR agents, dawg.
That’s all they know.
That’s white PR agents, dawg.
That’s all they know.
But they think they know.
I know there are black PR agencies and agents out there. I would guess that they are overlooked by the industry and by black talent because they think of white media as “mainstream.”
I know there are black PR agencies and agents out there. I would guess that they are overlooked by the industry and by black talent because they think of white media as “mainstream.”
But a lot of black PR agents also tend to forget that WE drive the culture and white America sits in the back seat so they would seek out the white gaze because the audience is larger.
Anyway, I’m gonna be looking for a PR person soon and was just reminded again today;
“Make sure you find someone who specializes in black media, because ... bruh.”
“Make sure you find someone who specializes in black media, because ... bruh.”
