Story on Racism in OOH
We do not enjoy calling out our Industry but nevertheless that is what we do if needed. We like to believe we tell it like it is and that you support our right to share the truth and transparency.
Many times over the 2 years we have been ‘publishing’ OOH Today, we have roiled the Associations, the Big 3 Owners and I suspect, the Big 6 Agencies, though they are less apparent in their angst, on some of the issues we have discussed. (Like the lack of women in the C Suite. Times Up For OOH Too. )
Is silence support to the contrary?
We hope this next story receives OOH Industry supportive comments and action. Please use the ‘Leave a Reply’ below for comments. And if you are concerned about anonymity, don’t use your real name.
This post is about an ‘event’ which happened with an former employee, who was an apprentice with Colossal Media (the hand paint wall/mural company) in 2015.
In a nutshell, details in his Instagram account, a traumatic racist encounter with his ‘fellow employees’. The story involving being called the ‘N’ word and then told by management, “that’s just how these guys are”.
Problems at Colossal? Big ones.
The former employee shared his story via Instagram. There is much more than we’ve been able to place in this post.
Moving to Colossal Media’s response… deleted the former employee’s comments, made an apology, an offer to match employee donations to Black Lives Matter, removal of ‘the person managing our account’ and a town hall meeting for employees.
Is that enough?
We have been told Colossal has sent a statement to its Agency partners regarding the matter but we have yet to see it.
“We vote for the type of businesses and people we want in this business with our wallets and budgets” As mentioned by ‘Seats Thrown’ (the avatar identity in Cohoots).
OOH Today received very little response to our first post OOH And Racism Today.
OOH Industry, where do you stand? Of course you’re against this behavior.
Where are the OOH Industry’s statements and ACTIONS?
See the Colossal Instagram post here⇒ https://www.instagram.com/p/CBULKdtBiB7/ and below.
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Verified
——and those affected by our past actions and recent inactions: I am sorry for how you’ve been treated and we should have handled things differently. What happened to you 5 years ago was unacceptable, —. Your experience is valid and your comment should not have been removed. For the pain thats been caused, I sincerely apologize. I’m trying to do better. We all are. Over the past few years Colossal has put new leadership in place and recommitted itself to listening and learning from the people who work so hard for us. In recent weeks, we’ve also committed to matching employee donations to Black Lives Matter and other organizations pursuing equality, civil rights, and justice for BIPOC. As a result of this exchange and recent events, we’ve removed the person managing our account and we’ve scheduled a town hall with our entire staff for 12noon tomorrow. This will help ensure a safe, respectful work environment for everyone. The way things transpired here are not reflective of the people at this company or the diversity that exists now and the diversity we are pushing for in the future. That said, thank you, —— and others for your part in helping me confront this moment and start to do better. If anyone wants to contact me directly, I welcome the opportunity to listen and learn more.
paul.lindahl1@colossalmediagroup.com.
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Kudos to OOH Today for being brave and posting this story. It’s awful. Too often our political leaders and business leaders put their collective heads in the sand and pretend shit ain’t happening.
It’s a time for reckoning.
As a business owner myself I was pressured to post BLM IG support by my staff. I initially refused because it does not mean anything and this shows exactly what i meant by that it does not mean anything, its just fucking lip service. Changing your IG feed is just bullshit. Actions speak louder than IG posts ever will. As a business owner i have always and will continue to hire a diverse staff that accurately reflects the diversity of the city we are based.
We saw this with the ME TOO movement. First you support it, then you get caught. Now we are seeing this with the BLM movement.
Talk is cheap. Actions are hard.
Thank you Joshua for sharing your story. Paul’s response is cute, but a town hall and firing one bad person doesn’t solve the issues. With admitted wrong doing, Paul, why don’t you implement mandatory training, create a better HR process that allows for employees to report the incidents internally for resolution. Instead Joshua had to take this publicly years later to speak his truth, which you all deleted! How many other incidents are being told and deleted?
Thank you for sharing Bill. The OOH industry is notorious for discrimination of minorities and women for years. The good ol (white) boys club needs to be dismantled and diversified. Joshua’s story is exactly the mindset many OOH company’s; one person of color or minority and they hit their ‘diversity quota’. The token black guy, the token female, the token non-white male.
And before people try to point to Nancy and Anna stating there’s a female at the highest level, ask yourself where are all the other minorities and women in leadership are in the industry? OAAA Sr. Management, 6 members, ALL WHITE, two women. OAAA BOD, 28 members = TWO women + 26 WHITE MEN! ONE of the women is the CEO of Colossal!!
ANNA and OAAA, do the obvious and correct thing here…
“We do not enjoy calling out our Industry”, 1. THANK YOU for having the courage to share Joshua’s story 2. THANK YOU for calling on our colleagues to take a look in the mirror 3. THANK YOU for caring and loving the industry you want to see it SURVIVE
If the industry reads this and doesn’t see the issue, they need a new mirror.
OOH, I CAN’T HEAR YOU OVER YOUR SILENCE!!
LAMAR, OUTFRONT, CLEAR CHANNEL, ADAMS, JCDeaux, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
I must speak on this. I feel that a large part of racism is generational and is taught – just like sexism. I remember being told “Sit there, shut up and act like a woman” in a sales meeting early in my OOH career as the only female AE on the team. I was suppose to be Ok with that as some sort of initiation or acceptance. I was then offered a “coke” as a peace-offering. That was not enough as it haunts me some 25 years later. I hope that we are teaching our young ones that we are all different and all matter. I know for a fact my late father was a racist. My dear friend and next door neighbor growing up was black. I loved her! I love all people of color as they are beautiful in the eyes of the beholder. I am glad he spoke up and changed things.
Thank you Gino Sesto for your leadership position and support. Talk is cheap. Actions are hard. We know you are walking the walk.
Tough story to share for Joshua. Deleting does not solve anything. While we can physically delete a social post or complaint it does not solve the problems.
Thank you for speaking up Brett
Very edgy stance here Bruce. We will have to fact check the numbers you provided, though at first blush it appears you are correct. Your call for action is indeed important.
Will OOH have consensus or leadership as an Industry to be heard? Thank you for your comments.
We appreciate your speaking up Kristy Vivian. As an experienced professional you have confronted the many gender obstacles to succeed as a woman in OOH.
Thank you for sharing.
Has anyone from Colossal addressed this, besides the “super sorry” social media post from Paul to CYA?
Colossal Leadership should step up and show real change. Action, not talk!
I WORKED AT COLOSSAL MEDIA AS WELL AND CAN ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THE RACIST NATURE AND ATMOSPHERE THAT PAUL AND ADRIAN FOSTERED. I LEFT SOLELY BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE SEXIST CULTURE THEY CULTIVATED. HAD I BEEN A SOCIAL MEDIA PERSON I WOULD HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY MENTIONED THIS. BUT I WAS SPEAKING TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE AND SAW THIS ARTICLE AND COULDN’T BELIEVE HOW QUICKLY MY POINT WAS PROVEN BY THIS ARTICLE. THE MISOGYNISTIC MEN THAT WERE THE “ARTISTS” WERE ALMOST SOLELY WHITE AND COULD NOT BE BOTHERED BY THE LOWLY APPRENTICES, WHO OFTEN TIMES HELPED WITH THEIR SAFTEY AND WORK. I REMEMBER EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS VIVIDLY. AND IT ALL STARTED WITH THE TONE SET BY ADRIAN AND PAUL BY THEIR “ORIENTATION”.
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