5th Annual Black PR History Event — January 30, 2020

Part 1

This presentation addressed how the big historical moments created by African Americans in public relations serves as a barometer of progress, and how without it, we are adrift. Cheryl Procter-Rogers explored how the art of storytelling, when used masterfully, connects us to our own humanity and roots us in our passion with purpose. Procter-Rogers’ presentation celebrated history, and most notably, African-American history, with a focus on how to become a masterful storyteller.

Cheryl Procter-Rogers has been a well-renowned leader in the PR industry for nearly 40 years, representing Fortune 500 companies such as Coca-Cola, Nissan, Allstate, McDonald's, Sears, Nielsen, and HBO. Today she heads a consultancy in Chicago, A Step Ahead Consulting and Coaching.

A long-time leader in PRSA, Procter-Rogers was awarded the coveted Gold Anvil in 2011. In 2000, PRSA inducted her into the College of Fellows, the youngest member ever to be inducted until that point. In 2006, Procter-Rogers was elected to the PRSA"s highest office — national president. She earned her BA from Bradley University, an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management and a Master's degree in Leadership Change Management from DePaul University.

Part 2

Dr. Denise Hill, Assistant Professor of Strategic Communications, Elon University, gave a “tour” of the world’s only exhibition of Black PR History, “From the Civil War to Civil Rights:  A Century of Social Advocacy through Public Relations.” She covered crucial social movements and the people and programs that impacted them as she referred to original copies of the first publications aimed at the African-American community, including the many abolitionist newspapers and writers of the 19th century, such as Frederick Douglass and Ida B. Tarbell, as well as the PR pioneers whose magnificent contributions to our industry have almost gone forgotten, such as those from Ofield Dukes, Inez Kaiser, Moss Kendrix, and D. Parke Gibson.

Carmella Glover, executive director of the PRSA Foundation, described the newly-launched Diversity Action Alliance, a coalition of public relations leaders to accelerate progress in achieving greater diversity, equity and inclusion across our profession.

This event was sponsored in part by Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Department of Advertising and Public Relations at University of Georgia, Norman Brust, Page, The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management, PR Council, Commpro.biz and Black Public Relations Society - New York.