Edward Boyd, born June 27, 1914, was an advertising executive for Pepsi-Cola and responsible for marketing products specifically to African-Americans. This was a time when Jim Crow laws were still in effect and blacks were discriminated, mocked or ignored in advertising. Businesses could be attacked if it was discovered they sold products to the African-American community.
His efforts allowed Pepsi to substantially increase market share to the detriment of Coca-Cola. He assembled a sales team of African-Americans to travel around the country to promote Pepsi. Racial discrimination and hatred were rampant and the salesmen faced racial barriers constantly. They attacked Coke's reluctance to hire blacks and Coke chairman's support of segregationist Herman Talmadge (Georgia Governor at the time).
After the sales team visited Chicago, Pepsi's share overtook Coke for the first time.
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