Speak out against EBONICS

"I has a dream" was one of the most controversial, award-winning and mind-opening ads of its time. They say great work is its own reward, in my case, that along with the $100,000 Grand ATHENA, was true. But seriously, with this advertisement I truly learned the power of our industry and that is we can change the world. Be it with innovative products and services or more importantly, affecting policies and lives. This campaign helped stop legislation designed to make the teaching of EBONICs a legitimate part of the curriculum and another impediment to Black America. The Martin Luther King Memorial campaign was a natural outgrowth of the original work. Mrs. King personally approved the work. Awards & Press: $100,000 Grand ATHENA, ONE SHOW, CA, Cannes, got a little head at the ANDYs and various local, regional & national ADDYs. I cannot begin to recount the numerous publications who interviewed me and showcased this work, some vilified and others glorified but no one ignored. Included in a 2014 collegiate textbook by Bedford/St. Martin.

Body copy: "Does this bother you? It should. We've spent over 400 years fighting for the right to have a voice. Is this how we'll use it? More importantly, is this how we'll teach our children to use it? If we expect more of them, we must not throw our hands in the air and agree with those who say our children cannot be taught. By now, you've probably heard about Ebonics (aka, black English). And if you think it's become a controversy because white America doesn't want us messing with their precious language, don't. White America couldn't care less what we do to segregate ourselves. The fact is language is power. And we can't take that power away from our children with Ebonics. Would Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and all the others who paid the price of obtaining our voice with the currency of their lives embrace this? If you haven't used your voice lately, consider this an invitation."

PepsiCo trade

PepsiCo needed to up their standing in the Kantar ratings results by demonstrating their commitment to their customers through the Performance with Purpose program, which basically outlines the company's three pronged approach to innovation, distribution and marketing.

Grand Marnier "Parlez vous?"

Grand Marnier needed to update it's sleepy, dusty (literally gathering dust on the shelf) image as an aperitif and appeal to an audience that is still having sex not remembering when was the last time. There is something special and alluring about this sexy little French concoction made of a blend of 50 cognacs and wild Haitian oranges, it speaks a language all it's own.

Kentucky Hemp Beer

These posters and case card headers got a shed load of press and a few awards for this campaign as well as a lawsuit from Anheuser Busch. Good times. Awards & Press: New York Times, WSJ, Creativity, CA, as well as Local & Regional ADDYs.

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Wall Street Journal/Saturday Edition

When the publishers of the WSJ wanted to expand the paper's reach and offering by expanding the Personal Journal section on Saturdays, we offered this unique perspective on perspectives.

Sheetz C-stores

Obie winner and all-around funny campaign. Sheetz is a C-Store concept in the mid-Atlantic states of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and the District of Columbia. At the time, they sold more coffee and petrol than anyone else in the region but they were not about to stop until they sold more custom ordered sub sandwiches too.

Awards & Press: Best of Show Obie winner, CLIOs, local, regional & national ADDYs.

AppleCore Hotels

AppleCore is a small hotel chain in a big city, in fact the biggest, best city in the world. They're clean, they're cheap, they are clean and cheap and don't really give you anything but a bed, so you can spend your money on important stuff like those little Statue of Liberty statues. Awards & Press: Gold Local, regional & national ADDYs

Boulevard Beers

A little micro brewery in KCMO approached us back in 1989, when they were a teeny 6,000 barrels a year to now over 600,000 barrels per year. This was their first advertising effort and it seems to have paid off. They are now exported to over 25 states. This work did double duty as small space print and OOH. Awards & Press: CA Magazine, Obies, Gold Local, regional & national ADDYs.