Author Talk: Mark Robinson, Pitch Black: The Best Black Ads of the Past 50+ Years

A century of Black Americans in advertising, told by someone who worked inside it.

Mark S. Robinson is a veteran advertising executive and a Ridgefield resident, and in Pitch Black he uncovers the history of Black advertising: the earliest depictions of African Americans in product marketing, the rise of Black owned agencies, and the creative leaders who changed American culture. He combines historical research, his own storytelling and a curated collection of landmark advertisements, looking at how advertising reflected the country's racial divisions while at the same time becoming a powerful tool for social change. The book highlights pioneering agencies, influential campaigns, iconic celebrities and the breakthrough creative work that redefined how Black Americans were represented in media.

Good to know. Registration is required and closes when the talk begins. It runs in the Main Program Room.

Books for sale. Books on the Common will have copies on hand for sale and signing.