nude & black

My vacation is coming to a close, and it’s comforting to reflect on why I entered Advertising in the first place. I decided to post my response to the 2015 Leo Burnett Business Leadership Internship application prompt, “What two crayon colors describe you and why?” My answer still rings true today as we push for more equity and inclusion for brands and workplaces. Cheers to the future 🍾

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What two crayon colors describe you and why? 

As a kid, colors were simply a means for filling in coloring books and creating abstract art. As an adult, I have come to an understanding that color has a deeper meaning. Color represents feelings, ideas, and personalities. Color makes powerful statements that motivate and change perception through art and advertising. Blue can have calming effects and evoke a sense of security. Whereas, Red can invoke excitement and represent intensity. 

Two crayon colors that best describe me would be nude and black. My passion is inclusion and representation, and the context of these two colors sum up my purpose in a profound way. 

Up until 1962, Crayola had a crayon titled “Flesh.” The color of this crayon was a pinkish color that represented “white” skin. Assuming a pinkish color means flesh is one of the many examples of exclusionary product development and advertising. Was my skin color, as a Black American, not my flesh? Am I not considered ‘normal’ by not having a skin tone that others deem an accurate description of ‘flesh’? Thus, I prefer the idea of the color ‘nude.’ This color describes me because it represents my passion for preventing exclusion. Nude is the representation of your skin, uncovered. Uncovered from pretense, bias, and shame. I want to make sure that companies efficiently use their power to promote messages of progress and inclusionary practices. The market is diverse and ever-expanding; a simple examination of population trends will bear this out. A way for businesses to grow and stay relevant is through appealing to diverse audiences and developing internal structural change.

“Flesh” colored Crayola Crayon

Tru-Colour Bandage Photoshoot taken by Whitney Bauck

As a Black American, I have personally seen how a lack of representation in media affects self-worth and belonging. For example, bandage companies call a lot of their bandages “flesh” or “nude,” but their bandages only match one type of skin color: light skin. In 2015, I joined Tru-Colour Bandages, a company that creates bandages for a full range of darker skin tones. These bandages have brought joy to many kids because they feel acknowledged and included. As an initial stakeholder of this start-up company, my contributions impacted and continue to change the ways minority kids view themselves through an inclusive product. This product shows the power of being true to what the color nude means by removing bias towards whiteness. 

When I look back at my time growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, I recognize how various cultures surrounded and influenced me. Growing up, my best friend was of Argentinean heritage, and I learned so much about his colorful heritage. Experiencing these cultures taught me that everyone deserves to be represented and acknowledged. As a Black college student living within a majority white culture, I utilized my photography and writing to show the value of representation because our voices and bodies are equally beautiful. In my “Defining Me” project, I took pictures of ten students at my predominantly white institution to break down stereotypes placed on black bodies. The project ended up on display in the student center and fostered robust discussions on thoughtful representation.

My second color, black, represents strength and definition. Growing up, I learned that hard work and belief lead to a well-lived life. My family has overcome many obstacles to help me get where I am today. I have had the strength to overcome health issues, apathy, and disbelief throughout my college career. Our everyday struggles as Black Americans have been a living example of the symbolism of black. As a community, we have had to have the strength to overcome the ripple effects of the original sins of 1619, American Slavery, and the institution of Racism. Despite that, we still have the creativity to define ourselves in beautiful and revolutionary ways that are the foundations of American Culture. 

Black is also the color of the written word, bringing inherent boldness, depth, and power to the way we communicate with one another, passing on knowledge, opinion, history, and the storytelling of generations. 

In these ways, through these colors – nude and black – I choose to dedicate my life to the communication of brands in a way that brings healing, consensus, insight to the Global community.

“Defining Me” Sammie Shields [Taken by: Matt Adams]