Moss H. Kendrix: Reframing the Black Image at the Alexandria Black History Museum delves into the groundbreaking contributions of Moss H. Kendrix (1917-1989), a pioneering figure in public relations and advertising. Known as the “Father of Black Public Relations,” Kendrix’s innovative campaigns redefined African American representation in media during the Jim Crow era, making significant strides for more inclusive and authentic portrayals.

During a time when African American people were still treated as second class citizens under oppressive system of racial segregation that upheld the bigoted legal standard of “separate but equal,” he appealed to Black people’s aspiration for access to the “American Dream.”

The exhibition features objects from the Moss H. Kendrix Collection, offering a unique glimpse into his influential career. Visitors will explore his strategic work with major clients like The Coca-Cola Company, Ford Motor Company, and Carnation Milk, and see firsthand how his activism helped challenge and dismantle entrenched racial stereotypes, promoting more inclusive and respectful media representations.

In 1948, Kendrix founded The Moss Kendrix Organization in Washington, D.C., to market to Black consumers, create job opportunities for Black people in excluded industries, and transform the advertising landscape through his commitment to valuing diverse perspectives, embodied in his motto, “What the Public Thinks—Counts!”

Exhibition Experiences

Interactive educational activities further engage visitors, highlighting the evolution of advertising and the ongoing importance of inclusivity. Discover how Kendrix’s visionary efforts have transformed advertising practices and continue to resonate today.

The Moss Kendrix Collection is a microcosm of mid-20thcentury African American life and an invaluable repository of the African American experience. Moss Kendrix revolutionized the advertising industry, reimagined and repositioned the African American image in the media, and paved the way for the diversity of actors and models who today are featured in print ads and billboards, television and radio commercials.

• Moss Kendrix Collection
• Moss Kendrix: pioneer, trailblazer, visionary. Out of the Attic, originally published in the Alexandria Times, February 20, 2020
• The Moss Kendrix Collection at the Black History Museum. Out of the Attic, originally published in the Alexandria Times, January 14, 2021.
• The MLK - Moss Kendrix Connection, Out of the Attic, originally published in the Alexandria Times, January 13, 2022.
• The Moss Kendrix Collection: -- Guess Who? Through his work Moss Kendrix met many famous faces – how many can you recognize?