Being the recipient of such a high honor has undoubtedly placed an even greater sense of responsibility on Nelson to represent men of color in the advertising industry. The advertising and marketing piece is in many ways the key that turns on the film and tv lights. “Our representation within is critical because there are so very few of us, especially in leadership positions,” Nelson tells BE Modern Man. “Often times when I walk into a room, I am the only black man at the table. For us to continue to create campaigns for major film and television shows that are responsible and reflective of our lifestyle and culture, there has to be more advocacy by men and women of color with decision-making power.”
Working on the campaign for the film Red Tails, which chronicled the true events of the Tuskegee Airmen and was produced by Lucas Films, was one of Nelson’s most memorable experiences. Nelson says, “I’m a huge George Lucas fan. I’ll never forget when we pitched for the business and I had a chance to stay at Lucas Ranch. At that moment, I was ten years old all over again.” Bigger than Lucas, was the campaign’s special acknowledgment to many of the surviving Airmen. “Meeting these black heroes made me appreciate the sacrifices that they made and drove me to work even harder to solidify their legacy by educating youth and communities about their contributions through our theatrical campaign.”
As a man with a strong character, Nelson remains very active in the community through a number of different service-based organizations. He is the Deacon of Christ The King Baptist Church, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, on the board chair of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, and serves on several committees for the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. “I believe Marian Wright Edelman had it right when she stated that ‘Service is the rent we pay for being’, Nelson tells BE Modern Man. “Other goals I have include taking my professional learnings and helping entrepreneurs and business professionals define, develop and deliver their personal brand.”
Delivering on his brand promise, Nelson says a BE Modern Man means “that the ‘continuum of excellence’ continues and that hopefully my story will inspire the next generation of Modern Men.”
The BlackEnterprise.com team honors Nick F. Nelson for his contribution to film and television. His dedication to expand the reach and messaging across multicultural consumers has changed the way film and TV go to market. As the traditional advertising and marketing strategies evolve we look forward to seeing what’s in store for Nick F. Nelson and his team.
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