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This is literally a conversation about color, so yes, there is a need to bring color into it.
Sorry if it makes you uncomfortable, fellow white people, but we uh, sort of have a reputation (historically, globally, presently) of appropriating POC’s culture, ideas, art, work, etc.
It’s not okay. It happens on a grand scale AND in our day-to-day lives. It (among tons and tons of other things) causes undeserved slowed growth for POC, smaller pay, perpetuated stereotypes, and more. Pretending it’s not real CONTRIBUTES TO THE PROBLEM, and allows situations like OP’s to happen over and over and over.
It’s not always about race, sure. This time, it LITERALLY is.
CD1 - “and this is what white people do” yikes.
No, this is what shitty people do. And they come in every sex, color and creed
I’m a POC and I’ve been in the industry 10+ years and this is what white people do. Do research on POC ECDs. Like 5 of them. At most. If you complain you will be seen as the problem and as whiny POC. The industry has many “diversity initiatives” - look it up - google it - for the past 20 years and nothing has changed. Nothing. Really do the research please and you will see the facts. Look for ANY POC CDs too and it’s a hard thing to find. One of my best bosses was a black CD and he got kicked out for speaking his mind and the truth and he was very smart and talented. Many POC leave the industry Bc stuff like this happens all the time. All the time. No one cares about us. Welcome to your own version of get out.
White person here. That is fucked and wouldn't happen on my watch. I hope you don't throw in the towel.
@BAC1 you sound like a BAC. Listen just do the research, kid. I mean kid in a positive way because you are the future. Kids are wily, bright, have new ideas. I send you love. A word to the wise that took me many years to learn - do NOT NOT NOT trust HR unless you have all your ducks in a row, everything documented. The system is set up against you. HR is not your friend. They’re there to protect the company, not you.
Also to all of you saying this is not a race thing - hahahahhahahaaa
Put it in your book.
Also just ask them about it. Walk in and say, “hey, is it because we are interns hat we are not credited with the idea for x?” Let them answer. They may weasel out or say it’s because they took the seed and ran with it, etc. if so, ask if that’s also because you are an intern or if that same thing happens to juniors there- or are they allowed to stay on the project? Act curious. If they truly deny and brush you off, you don’t want to work there.
Let them know you’ll be putting it in your book but that you will be sure to be clear that you concepted it only but didn’t produce. They will know then that you’ll be telling every interview about their behavior. It’s truly not worth it to them to not credit you, in the long run. But people are stupid and greedy so you never know.
@BAC1 - nope, just white people
Cont. They're all white people and the interns who made it are poc. We're getting no recognition for speaking to our own people while these old white folk are getting woke points (tm). If the rest of the industry is like this I'm probably gonna end up doing something heinous.
What shitty people do**** no need to bring colour into this and generalize a race.
I agree with VP one. Just be curious about it. “Hey, I’m asking you because I respect your work and I look up
To your career. Can I put this project in my portfolio, and if so, am i also credited in any official way?” At the end of the day every CD just wants to feel like they’re mentoring you while doing zero work at all.
Sorry to hear. This happened to my partner and me when we were at a network shop in LA. Call them out in it. CC hr and ask CDs to talk with HR in room. We did same. One of the CDs snagged us before, apologized, and added us to credits.
Hey OP, I’d love to have you as an intern (even though we are on opposite areas). If you can do such awesome as an intern, I pretty sure you’ll rock later on your career. Please don’t let a couple of bad and spoiled apples ruin everything, people know your work and you may get some recognition from places you least expect. Also, it sucks that white people (i am white btw) still do it.
That sucks. But the way you react will go a long way to determining how you’re perceived and how you do in agencies.
There definitely is a club in every agency. It could be a boys’ club, occasionally a girls club. And almost always they’re white. But that’s only incidentally what it’s about. It’s about feeling comfortable with ‘people like us.’ It’s implicit racism/sexism rather than intentional. It’s why it’s so important to have diverse role models in agencies. And so hard to get there.
So my suggestion would be to ask someone how it works in agencies with getting credit and very briefly and without any apparent bitterness or rancor. Be disingenuous. Maybe ask the head of the intern program or maybe a cd, but someone who will get what happened without you having to look like you’re the problem/a troublemaker. Maybe there’s a less shitty rationale. Probably not.
I know that sucks. But every idea somehow belongs to the more senior people in agencies (or at least most of them these days). And everyone has to play the fitting in game to a degree.
It’s not right. But those are the soft skills you need in most big agencies today. And most of corporate America too.
Advertising is a great job but you have to find a place that lets you do good work- I think it’s more about who you work for than where or on what client.
Spoken like a true CD. And that’s why everyone thinks you’re a joke, not because you’re a POC
It sucks that they did this and did not give you the credit, or at least give you notice that they would be sharing the idea at the least. Bottom line is to bring the best ideas and work that will support the clients needs. At a minimum I hope you can take some pride in knowing they thought your idea was one of the best that could help do the job.
Eh
I’ve had others take cred for something I’ve conceived before, it’s terrible, and makes you feel self conscious for wanting the rightful cred, but what you talking about is at a whole other level, white guy here. Have you considered approaching them about this. I’m really sorry this happened, it’s a real shame
@VP1 a lot of people at higher levels are “bros” with people at other agencies. It might hurt these interns when looking for new jobs. I did the playing dumb thing a few times and all I got was Socratic method type of responses like “idunno what do you think?” with averted eye contact. Weasel is right. Most important trust your gut.
@bac1 Thank you for calling me a true CD 🙆🏽♀️😍
Eh, this isn't "what white people do", this is what assholes do, no matter what color they are.
And it's a weird, thing to do, since they'd get credit as a CDs on it anyway...