Black On Madison Avenue
Winner of an astounding 9 literary excellence awards!
"Black on Madison Avenue" tells the shocking truth about one of the most un-diverse white-collar professions in America.
"Black on Madison Avenue" tells the explosive stories that Madison Avenue doesn't want you to read.
"Black on Madison Avenue" reveals the incredible experiences of a Black man who has spent 40+ years on Madison Avenue at some of the advertising industry's most prestigious agencies and gives readers a rare glimpse of what it's like to be one of the very, very few Black professionals in the advertising agency business.
Advertising decides what America wants. And yet, for an industry that professes to be the vanguard of creativity, popular culture and forward thinking, advertising is one of the most un-diverse white-collar professions in America. Surprisingly, despite all of its public gestures of "wokeness", Madison Avenue would like to keep it that way.
"Black on Madison Avenue" explains how — and why — the author landed on Madison Avenue, and shares some of his incredible adventures over the past 40+ years. Yes, adventures. Have you ever gotten into a shouting match with a Venezuelan Army general in the middle of a military coup? He has. He kidnapped advertising legend Jim Jordan, insulted high-ranking Chinese government officials at a formal dinner and launched the first multicultural marketing holding company.
Mark Robinson was the co-founder of Spike/DDB, along with filmmaker Spike Lee and has stories no one else could tell. Robinson's stories include Bill Cosby, Mike Tyson, Vanessa Williams, Usher, Oprah, Zsa Zsa Gabor, James Brown and Notorious B.I.G.
"I have given my entire adult professional life to this business. Advertising is not just what I do. It is a part of who I am. I am Black on Madison Avenue."
Praise for Black On Madison Avenue
"One of the earliest graduates of 4A's MAIP (Multicultural Advertising Intern Program), Mark shares his incredible journey through a storied advertising career. It's a reminder of the reason that MAIP was created nearly 50 years ago. Mark's experiences - shared through reflections via challenges and triumphs - highlight ways that we recognize the need to continue our work and support our 4,000+ community of MAIP alumni in the advertising and marketing industry."
— 4A's Foundation / American Association of Advertising Agencies
"Finally, a book that advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion in advertising. Robinson makes the case for representation personal yet universal. As an educator, I will be assigning this book and am thrilled to have a resource written by an esteemed pro who embodies all that is good in the profession."
— Robin Landa, MFA Distinguished Professor, Michael Graves College at Kean University
"Part autobiography, part history lesson, part cautionary tale. This unpredictable and vivid journey is a rare peek behind the Black curtain. It's densely packed with stories of an industry that at once accepted and rejected the author's talents for reasons most obvious to him and those who look like him and is, at its core, the story of all Black men and women who fell in love with an industry that rarely loved them back."
— Danny Robinson, President & Chief Creative Officer, The Martin Agency
"'Black on Madison Avenue' is enlightening, written with tough love, the toughest love this side of a Marine drill sergeant. Mark is frank in his descriptions of the shortcomings of the advertising industry he has worked in for decades and offers concrete steps to take so that it no longer resembles what he calls a 'luminescent snowstorm.' Very much worth reading."
— Stuart Elliott, Former Advertising Columnist, The New York Times
"Mark sharply illuminates the experiences of Black professionals in the advertising industry. Black creativity, excellence and innovation shine brightly. Entertaining, realistic, optimistic, and challenging, in all the right ways, Black on Madison Avenue imparts timeless lessons that will leave you wanting more."
— Renetta E. McCann, Advertising Hall of Fame, Class of 2023
"If you've any interest in advertising, business, race, client relationships, or just doing work, pick this book up. Mark's book is filled with insight, surprises, and stories that will sometimes make you laugh out loud and other times shake your head in frustration. The time you spend with Mark won't be wasted, and you'll be glad you've added his book to your library."
— Jason P. Chambers, Ph.D., Author, Associate Dean for DEI, Associate Professor, Advertising
"I bloody love this book."
— Cindy Gallop, Former Chair, BBH / "The Michael Bay of Business"
""Black on Madison Avenue" isn't just a memoir: it's a calling out and calling in for the ad industry at large."
— Kimeko McCoy, Communication Arts Advertising Annual Review