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A recent article in Ad Age describes the criticism directed at diversity officers working for ad agencies.  Those levying the criticism somehow expect that, upon hiring someone dedicated to increasing minority representation in a company, that the results will be immediate and apparent.  These people don’t realize that the diversity officers have to do much more than simply hire more minorities, as implementing inclusive hiring practices necessitates a complete shift in a company’s culture.

And some of this criticism is quite harsh, resulting in the beginnings of a class-action lawsuit spearheaded by the NAACP:

The ad agencies who’ve hired diversity officers are likely praying that they do figure out a way to make a difference — and quick. Civil-rights attorney Cyrus Mehri is knocking on the door, after all. Last month, he released research in partnership with the NAACP that is believed to be the groundwork for a race-discrimination suit against the ad industry.

Nancy Hill, president-CEO of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, said after reading the report: “The numbers speak for themselves.”

Click here to read the article as well as an interview with Sanford Moore, an advocate for racial parity.