Best of: How Tom Burell made advertising with Black people, for Black people
Jason Chambers' alongside his new biography of Tom Burell.
Tom Burrell revolutionized advertising in the 1970s, shifting the industry from racist depictions of African Americans to positive and realistic portrayals.
His work on major brands like McDonald's and Coca-Cola changed how Black people were seen in ads and opened opportunities for Black professionals in the field.
Jason Chambers' new biography, Advertising Revolutionary: The Life and Work of Tom Burrell, highlights Burrell's significant contributions to advertising, emphasizing his role in integrating African American culture into mainstream media.
A version of this conversation aired on February 27, 2024.
GUEST:
Professor Jason P. Chambers
Professor of Advertising at the University of Illinois
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Author:
- Advertising Revolutionary: The Life and Work of Tom Burrell
- Madison Avenue and the Color Line: African Americans in the Advertising Industry
- (co-edited) Building the Black Metropolis: African American Entrepreneurship in Chicago