Advertising has long shaped how we view the world, yet historically, it has often excluded diverse voices within the industry. Trailblazing Black professionals recognized the glaring misrepresentation in advertising and broke barriers, reshaping the industry through innovative storytelling, creative ideas, and authentic representation.
From the first Black creative director to the pioneers of PR and multicultural advertising, we have gathered a list of 8 influential Black figures whose contributions left an enduring mark on the industry.
Tom Burrell – Founder of Burrell Communications
"I had to convince clients to understand that Black people are not dark-skinned white people."
Chicago native, Tom Burrell, was one of the first Black professionals to work at an advertising agency in the city. After working on campaigns that did not appropriately represent Black people, he observed the disconnect between advertisements and Black audiences.
With a passion for change in his heart, Tom Burrell founded what is now Burrell Communications in 1971, where he revolutionized advertising with targeted campaigns that emphasized the unique perspectives of Black culture.
Burrell Communications was the first of its kind, encompassing elements of Black culture woven into television and print ads from hairstyles, fashion, and slang.
Burrell’s unorthodox approach led the renaissance of esteemed companies like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola to demonstrate the value of targeting multicultural audiences.
Burrell Communication is becoming one of the largest black-owned advertising agencies.
Carol H. Williams – Founder of Carol H. Williams Advertising
"I cast African-Americans in two of the Secret commercials. I remember going back to the agency and one of my bosses said, "Who told you you could cast that commercial black.. Did somebody need to tell me I could?"
Carol H. Williams was one of the first Black women to become a creative director at Leo Burnett. Williams soared in the male-dominated industry, becoming the first Black Creative Director and Vice President at Leo Burnett.
Williams acknowledged the lack of advertisements targeting African American and urban markets.
Inspired by her realization, she launched her advertising agency in her living room in 1986 – thus, Carol H. Williams Advertising (CHWA) was born.
CHWA agency grounded its roots in the industry by creating impactful campaigns for major brands like Disney, Google, Coca-Cola, and Chevrolet. One of her most acclaimed campaigns was Secret’s “Strong Enough for a Man, But Made for a Woman.”
Williams demonstrated the strength of diverse depictions in advertising, inspiring many Black women to epitomize Carol’s success.
Georg Olden – Graphic Design Trailblazer
"As the first black American to achieve an executive position with a major corporation, my goal was the same as that of Jackie Robinson in baseball: to achieve maximum respect and recognition by my peers, the industry and the public,"
Reigning from Birmingham, Alabama, Georg Olden was well known for his trailblazing work in the advertising industry. He began his career designing posters during the Pearl Harbor War. As he developed a representation with many publishers, he became recognized by many reputable companies and eventually landed at CBS.
Olden’s contemporary artwork was featured in the title cards of classic television shows like I Love Lucy and Lassie.
Olden departed from television to pursue a career in advertising, working at Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn (BBDO) and McCann-Erickson.
He became the first Black designer to create a U.S. Postal Service stamp, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Olden designed the Clio Awards statue, an award recognizing creativity and excellence in communication and advertising.
Moss Kendrix – The Moss Kendrix Organization
The “Father of PR”, Atlanta native Moss Kendrix sparked a revolution of his own by educating companies on the value of African American consumers.
Kendrix founded his public relations “The Moss Kendrix Organization” in 1944 with the company motto, “What the Public Thinks Count!”.
The company zeroed in on targeting African American consumers, working with clients from Coca-Cola, the National Dental Association, and Ford Motor Company.
The Moss Kendrix Organization became a conduit for the African American market and corporations, bringing representation to the mainstream during the 1940s and 1950s when it wasn’t as prevalent.
Kendrix’s focus on the inclusion of African Americans led to his notable longtime client relationship with Coca-Cola, establishing himself as the first African American to earn business from a large enterprise.
Barbara Gardner Proctor – Founder of Proctor & Gardner Advertising
"I realized that I was going to keep getting fired if I lived up to my own principles: therefore, the only way not to get fired again was to start my own company"
Born in North Carolina, Barbara Gardner Proctor was well-known for being the first African-American woman to own an advertising agency.
Proctor originally began her career in the music industry working at VeeJay Records. She later switched careers and pursued a career in advertising.
After much success in her career, Proctor was fired at North Advertising due to a controversial ad regarding a hair-foam campaign according to The New York Times.
Her frustrations inspired her to start her own company, Proctor & Gardner Advertising in 1970.
“Small-business people with big ideas, people like Barbara Proctor, who rose from a ghetto to build a multimillion-dollar advertising agency in Chicago.” President Ronald Regan stated during his State of the Union in 1984.
Proctor believed that advertising should not only sell products but also inspire social change. She also employed Black professionals to work alongside her.
Her agency became one of the largest Black-owned firms in the country, cementing her legacy as a leader and trailblazer in the industry.
Vince Cullers – Founder of Vince Cullers Advertising, Civil Right Revoluntionary
Chicago native Vince Cullers started his career as an art director for Ebony magazine. Cullers used his paychecks and connections to make a magazine to start his agency, Vince Cullers Advertising.
Cullers was initially inspired by the recent renaissance in America from the Montgomery Boycotts and the ruling of Brown v. Board of Education.
Vince Cullers Advertising was founded to revolutionize how corporations marketed to African American consumers.
Being the first of its kind, Cullers featured Black models with natural hairstyles and worked with clients such as Afro-Sheen, Sears, Pizza Hut, and Kellogg’s.
His agency, the first Black-owned full-service advertising firm, set the stage for future Black-owned agencies.
Caroline Jones – Founder of Caroline Jones, Inc.
Known as the first Black woman to lead a creative team at a major agency, Michigan-born, Caroline Jones set her sights on changing the industry with Mingo-Jones Advertising.
Caroline Jones started as a copywriter at J. Walter Thompson in 1963 before co-founding the Black-owned Zebra Associates.
Later, she founded Caroline Jones Advertising and served as Executive Vice President at Mingo-Jones Advertising which emphasized the targeting of minority audiences.
Mingo-Jones coined the phrase KFC’s “We Do Chicken Right which remains recognizable today.
Despite criticism that her work focused too much on African Americans, Jones’ contributions paved the way for greater diversity in advertisement.
Frank Mingo – Founder of Mingo-Jones Advertising
Born in Mississippi, Frank Mingo pursued advertising immediately after college. He became the first Black account executive at J. Walter Thompson before moving to McCann-Erickson, where he helped launch Miller Brewing Company into the market.
In 1977, he founded Mingo-Jones Advertising in New York with Caroline Jones. The two began their newfound career in business with Miller Lite as their first client.
Pioneering success, Frank Mingo’s efforts encouraged advertisers to engage with diverse audiences, even when many brands resisted committing to inclusivity.
Mingo-Jones was acknowledged as one of the largest Black-owned agencies at the time.
Mingo later founded Muse Cordero Chen Inc., with the initiative to primarily target minority groups. Mingo diligently worked to encourage minority groups to take an interest in careers in advertising by partnering with the National Urban League and NAACP.
Why They Matter in Advertising
The contributions of these pioneers transcend advertising—they shaped culture, improved representation, and influenced how brands connect with audiences through storytelling.
Their efforts opened doors for future Black creatives in advertising, including figures like Bozoma Saint John and Tiffany Warren.
We continue to celebrate these trailblazers by sharing their stories and advocating for diversity in advertising.
