“I think we've got enough color around here,” says the distasteful corporate boss, throwing a resume in the circular file. He's referring to Mr. Gonzalez, a qualified applicant, who has just been interviewed for a job. A crestfallen Asian receptionist sadly shakes her head.

        But corporate guy No. 2 grabs the resume from the trash and smoothes it out on the boss' desk. “You dropped something,” he says.

This public service ad, from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, will begin airing later this month. (Leo Burnett USA) | ZOOM |

        “The Interview,” one of three public service announcements from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, will begin airing in the next week. The campaign, created in partnership with the Ad Council and Leo Burnett USA is aimed at getting viewers to speak out against issues of injustice that stand in the way of individual freedom.

        “We tried to cover as broad and diverse a range of situations in three ads as we could,” said Freedom Center President Ed Rigaud. “We wanted people to get the sense that standing up for racial injustice works in all kinds of ways with all kinds of people.”

        Filmed in the workplace, a school cafeteria and a playground, the ads suggest that inaction perpetuates injustice.

        Actor Danny Glover delivers the tag line, “Imagine the power of one voice.”

        “To illustrate the power of one voice, we created situations that were universally recognizable, portrayed by characters we could all relate to,” said Cheryl Berman, chairman and chief creative officer of Leo Burnett. “Creating this campaign gave the agency a unique opportunity to address the issue of racial discrimination in an honest and direct manner, demonstrating how it touches our most basic interactions.”

        The new PSAs fit with successful campaigns the Ad Council has become famous for. Since the 1940s, the not-for-profit council has launched campaigns (“Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires,” “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste,” “Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk.”) that have changed attitudes and saved lives. Made up of some of the biggest talents in the ad business, the council not only aids in shaping the client's message, but also in securing a minimum of $32 million in donated placements.

        “We know the media has a real appetite for messages like this one,” said Ad Council President and CEO Peggy Conlin. “So it will get very good support. It is one of the most important issues we have represented.”

        The PSAs are directed by four-time Clio award winner Bob Giraldi. Best known for directing music videos for Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, to name a few, Mr. Giraldi has made more than 2,000 commercials and won more than 400 awards.

        But it's not easy to get accepted by the council.

        “The criteria are very strict. They get 300 proposals a year,” said Mr. Rigaud, who said the request went through the proposal process in record time. “It's a tremendous victory for the Freedom Center.”

        The Ad Council has sent the PSAs to more than 15,000 television stations and 10,000 radio outlets, which will begin airing spots in three weeks.

        “The ads will teach all of us we can take individual steps of courage to eliminate injustice and unkindness in how we deal with each other every day,” Mr. Rigaud said. “These are the same lessons from the history of the Underground Railroad the Freedom Center will highlight to bring us together today.”

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