The U.S. Supreme Court this week agreed to review the case of a Birmingham, Ala. Negro arrested and sentenced to death…

Press Release
January 12, 1961

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The U.S. Supreme Court this week agreed to review the case of a Birmingham, Ala. Negro arrested and sentenced to death… preview

Cite this item

  • Press Releases, Volume 5. Letter from Greenberg to Federal Commission and "Report on the Frequency of Appearance of Negroes on Television Commercials", 1967. 1d3d9e08-b892-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/61162847-96ff-4f19-898a-e171379683fe/letter-from-greenberg-to-federal-commission-and-report-on-the-frequency-of-appearance-of-negroes-on-television-commercials. Accessed August 19, 2025.

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    NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC 

egal ‘efense fund 10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 * JUdson 6-8397 
(copy) (copy) (copy) 

August 18, 1967 

Federal Communications Commission 
Washington, D.C. 20554 

Attention: Hon. Ben F. Waple 
Secretary 

Dear Sirs: 

Enclosed herewith is a "Report on the Frequency of Appearance 
of Negroes on Televised Commercials," prepared for the NAACP Legal 
Defense and Educational Fund. This report is based upon a survey con- 
ducted by Professor Lawrence Plotkin, Acting Director of the Social 
Dynamics Research Institute associated with the Department of 
Psychology at the City College of New york. 

In essence, the report indicates a disproportionately infre- quent appearance of Negroes on television commercials--both with re- spect to employment of Negro actors for standard advertisements and insofar as product endorsemen: ts by Negro public figures are concerned. 
This appears to be equally applicable to sports programming as to entertainment programming, in spite of the large-scale participation of Negro star athletes in most sports events reported on television. 

While clearly not intended to be a study in depth, Professor Plotkin's findings appear to us to be sufficiently definitive to warrant fuller investigation by the Federal Communications Commission of the possibility of racial bias in the production and broadcast. of television commercials. As indicated in the report, this question not only relates to discrimination in employment by reason of color. It aiso ultimately concerns the serious and widespread public interest in television exposure of unprejudiced commercials as well as program content, 

We look forward to prompt action by the Federal Communications Commission, 
or its staff 

Enc. 
cc: 
E> 25 

and we would be happy to meet with members of the Commissior. 
at the earliest opportunity towards this end. 

Very truly yours, 

Jack Greenberg 
Director-Counsel 

Mr. Henry Geller, General Counsel 
Contributions are deductible for U. S. income tax purposes 

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