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Advertising Revolutionary: The Life and Work of Tom Burrell
The ad exec who revolutionized the image of Black Americans in advertising Over a forty-year career, Chicagoan Tom Burrell changed the face of advertising and revolutionized the industry’s approach to African Americans as human beings and consumers. Jason P. Chambers offers a biography of the groundbreaking creator and entrepreneur that explores Burrell’s role in building brands like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola within a deeply felt vision of folding positive images of Black people into mainstream American life. While detailing Burrell’s successes, Chambers tells a parallel story of what Burrell tried to do that sheds light on the motivations of advertising creators who viewed their work as being about more than just selling. Chambers also highlights how Burrell used his entrepreneurial gifts to build an agency that opened the door for Black artists, copywriters, directors, and other professionals to earn livings, build careers, and become leaders within the industry. Compelling and multidimensional, Advertising Revolutionary combines archival research and interviews with Burrell and his colleagues to provide a long overdue portrait of an advertising industry legend and his times.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published February 6, 2024
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About the author
Jason P. Chambers
3 books3 followersJason P. Chambers is a Professor in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on the history of advertising and the African American consumer market, he is the author of An Advertising Revolutionary: The Life and Work of Tom Burrell (forthcoming in February 2024).
A graduate of The Ohio State University, Dr. Chambers has presented his research into the story of African Americans in advertising both nationally and internationally. His work has been published in books and both academic and trade journals in the United States, Asia, and Europe. At the University of Illinois, he currently teaches courses on diversity in advertising, advertising history, classic advertising campaigns.
A sought after keynote speaker, he has been invited to speak to gatherings of practitioners and academics throughout the United States, Canada, and Asia. He has also appeared on The History Channel discussing advertising history. His opinions have been sought by various media sources including Advertising Age, Adweek, Black Enterprise, CNN, Forbes, The Guardian, National Public Radio, The New York Times, Newsweek, and the Washington Post. Dr. Chambers has also consulted on advertising history programs appearing on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). In addition, he has consulted with national non-profit organizations, Fortune 100 companies, and advertising agencies on matters of African American history, diversity, stereotyping and various consumer issues.
The University of Pennsylvania Press published his first book, Madison Avenue and the Color Line: African Americans in the Advertising Industry. It was called “A major contribution to the history of advertising, consumption, and African American history,” by historian Lizabeth Cohen of Harvard University. His second book, co-edited with Dr. Robert Weems, Jr., Building the Black Metropolis: African American Entrepreneurship in Chicago was published with the University of Illinois Press in 2017. Historian Quincy T. Mills of Vassar College described it as “A major contribution on the black metropolis as a black business movement, a black public sphere, and visions of freedom in the city.”
A graduate of The Ohio State University, Dr. Chambers has presented his research into the story of African Americans in advertising both nationally and internationally. His work has been published in books and both academic and trade journals in the United States, Asia, and Europe. At the University of Illinois, he currently teaches courses on diversity in advertising, advertising history, classic advertising campaigns.
A sought after keynote speaker, he has been invited to speak to gatherings of practitioners and academics throughout the United States, Canada, and Asia. He has also appeared on The History Channel discussing advertising history. His opinions have been sought by various media sources including Advertising Age, Adweek, Black Enterprise, CNN, Forbes, The Guardian, National Public Radio, The New York Times, Newsweek, and the Washington Post. Dr. Chambers has also consulted on advertising history programs appearing on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). In addition, he has consulted with national non-profit organizations, Fortune 100 companies, and advertising agencies on matters of African American history, diversity, stereotyping and various consumer issues.
The University of Pennsylvania Press published his first book, Madison Avenue and the Color Line: African Americans in the Advertising Industry. It was called “A major contribution to the history of advertising, consumption, and African American history,” by historian Lizabeth Cohen of Harvard University. His second book, co-edited with Dr. Robert Weems, Jr., Building the Black Metropolis: African American Entrepreneurship in Chicago was published with the University of Illinois Press in 2017. Historian Quincy T. Mills of Vassar College described it as “A major contribution on the black metropolis as a black business movement, a black public sphere, and visions of freedom in the city.”
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 29, 2023
Advertising Revolutionary looks at the career of the highly successful black advertising genius Tom Burrell. Chamers, the author, does a great job. There are some stories that if given well not only tell the life of a person and his work but show how society operates with all its tensions, hopes and fears. This book does well in all that as well as giving sound advice from the mouth of the genius, Burrell, about how to be successful in advertising.
To give a view of Burrell's work we have to see the idea of "Positive Realism". To portray black life in the USA as it is while seeing the positive that we find that is both resilient and joyful. Of course, the strategy begs the questions, what is positive and what is real. This is the essential story to the book, how Burrell skillfully dissects the ideas of his intended audience in what they considered a real representation of their life, and what they considered to be positive. I do not want to spoil the book, so I'll just say Burrell succeeds, and builds a very remarkable story in advertising history. I highly recommend this book.
To give a view of Burrell's work we have to see the idea of "Positive Realism". To portray black life in the USA as it is while seeing the positive that we find that is both resilient and joyful. Of course, the strategy begs the questions, what is positive and what is real. This is the essential story to the book, how Burrell skillfully dissects the ideas of his intended audience in what they considered a real representation of their life, and what they considered to be positive. I do not want to spoil the book, so I'll just say Burrell succeeds, and builds a very remarkable story in advertising history. I highly recommend this book.
August 23, 2025
Enjoyable read about the legend of advertising Tom Burrell who is notable for many innovations in the field, including research-driven niche creative strategy and execution and authentically communicating to Black American audiences using positive realism.
Along with the story of his life and agency legacy, a reader also gains insight into Tom Burrell’s model of humble leadership and talent development methods. The book also provides insights into the daily grind and strife of running a medium sized business, and unlike other business books, takes aim at admitting major mistakes and lessons learned.
Lastly, the book covers four decades of the ads world from the eyes of a Black entrepreneur and community leader, illustrating the racial progress American society has made but also what work is still left.
Overall - it is a fascinating portrait of Tom Burrell and the ads world of the “Mad Men” era from a distinct Chicago point of view.
Along with the story of his life and agency legacy, a reader also gains insight into Tom Burrell’s model of humble leadership and talent development methods. The book also provides insights into the daily grind and strife of running a medium sized business, and unlike other business books, takes aim at admitting major mistakes and lessons learned.
Lastly, the book covers four decades of the ads world from the eyes of a Black entrepreneur and community leader, illustrating the racial progress American society has made but also what work is still left.
Overall - it is a fascinating portrait of Tom Burrell and the ads world of the “Mad Men” era from a distinct Chicago point of view.
March 30, 2024
This was a really great interesting book! Its well written and well-researched . I had never heard of Tom Burrell before reading this but I now have loads of respect for him. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to University of Illinois Press, Jason P. Chambers and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2024
This was a really great interesting book! Its well written and well-researched . I had never heard of Tom Burrell before reading this but I now have loads of respect for him. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to University of Illinois Press, Jason P. Chambers and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews