Why February & March Are the Most Important Months of My Life

Why new African-American, female-owned marketing and PR agencies will fail if they don’t change

I work in a saturated industry. Every day a new boutique public relations firm pops up with an eager young girl (or guy) at the helm ready to make their mark. And more specifically a new African-American, female-owned marketing or PR firm. Unfortunately, some of them will miss the mark for one simple reason: they are selfish. These specific pop-up firms start businesses because they want to popularize themselves. The current digital and “hot pocket” world allows for anyone to become an entrepreneur with few skills and resources. They aren’t connected to the greater history and understanding of the industry and unfortunately as an African-American woman we have to know it all, our racial history and our gender history, if we want to truly build something worthwhile. You don’t have to have goals of world domination but starting a business means you want to impact the world in some positive way. You want to (hopefully) build something that lasts longer than your physical self or that one day you can hire other people to help expand your vision.

How does a PR professional, poised to promote and enhance other brands and products thrive on a foundation of selfishness you ask? Well that’s easy. The world we live in is selfish. The world is so selfish that they only allow African-American women two months out of the year to feel empowered, strong, intelligent, and capable. A cold, hard reality. We get Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March. But what happens to us during the other 10 months of the year? We have to do what African-American women always do of course; thrive.

So maybe some of you didn’t notice we only get two months because you feel empowered all year long or maybe some of you did notice and it infuriates you that you are only acknowledged via-calendar twice in the year. Either way, I want you to read this article for one truth, the world is selfish yes, but in order to thrive in business and in life YOU can’t be.

In 2012 I started my creative firm, Rebelle Agency, with one thing in mind: to build a multi-billion dollar global firm founded by an African-American woman. Don’t fret, that is still the goal but although the will is there the motivation is tempted throughout the year. This is why I look forward to the nationwide campaigns for Black History Month and Women’s History Month in February and March respectively. I have to be reminded that Vince Cullers Advertising was started in 1956 as the first recognized black-owned advertising agency. Now Mr. Vince was not just fighting for his life during a pivotal time in our nation’s history but he was fighting for business; black business. An idea that still scares our country for some reason. Now let’s add some more controversy to the pot. I am not just African-American; I am also a woman. I have to be reminded of Nancy Kramer and her ‘let’s do it” attitude that landed her Apple as a client for several decades and aided in her founding the largest women-owned marketing agency in the country. She had to overcome the exclusivity of the world because of her gender without running away or backing down. February and March are the two most important months of the year for me because they recharge my entrepreneurial energy pack. They allow me to study the journeys before mine that have helped to shape and mold my present. These journeys show me what strength, resilience and inclusion allows you to achieve. They show me to not be selfish and to understand that my vision is not just for myself or for this moment, but it is for the next young African-American woman looking for a reason, a real-life journey of trials and overcoming that helps push her towards her greatness.

So I urge you, young African-American female-owned PR firms, to build something that lasts longer than the current social media platform (IG businesses won’t last forever) or yourself for that matter. Recharge during February and March and allow yourself to be an example of Black and Women Empowerment throughout the entire year. Make a mark on the world that isn’t measured in likes or views or public appeal. Believe in the power of giving by living in your purpose. Don’t be selfish. And then watch how the world may begin to act a little more like you.