Get notified about exclusive offers every week! American Essence Magazine is also a nonpolitical magazine that aims to showcase the values and traditions of American culture with stores of the people and places, past and present, that helped and continue to help shape this nation. Edward Lewis, Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth and Jonathan Blount founded Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) in 1968. The new journey on which we are embarking will be fueled not only by the passion we have (and have always had) for Black women, but also that Black women will be at the helm as we move forward.. It focuses on culture, beauty, fashion, and entertainment. The anonymous essay was published at a time when many other media companies have wrestled with race and discrimination against Black employees and other workers of color. Essence currently reaches an audience of more than 16 million across its various platforms, including its print magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; and live events, such as the annual Essence Festival, a 22-year-old cultural celebration that attracted more than 450,000 attendees to New Orleans last summer. Got it from H&M for $10 a year ago. American Essence | The Epoch Times It began publishing Essence magazine in May 1970. Its target audience is the African-American community, and its coverage includes the lifestyles and accomplishments of influential black people, fashion, beauty, and politics.. Ebony magazine was founded in 1945 by John H. Johnson, for his Johnson Publishing Company.He sought to address African-American issues . The new company, to be. Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) was founded in 1968 by Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth, Jonathan Blount, Denise M. Clark, and Edward Lewis. Mr. Dennis said that he approached Time Inc. about buying Essence after Time Inc. agreed in November to be sold to the Meredith Corporation, the owner of Better Homes & Gardens and Family Circle, in an all-cash transaction worth about $2.8 billion. Essence is Black A.F., Nottingham said, which is beautiful, but how are they going to [integrate that with BeautyCon]? The executive team will also have an ownership interest in the business. The magazine was founded in 1970 as a black-owned publication for black women who, coming out of the Civil Rights era and in the midst of a new feminist wave, were eager to read not only about fashion and beauty but careers and spirituality too. Essence Ventures is an African-American owned company focused on merging content, community, and commerce founded by Richelieu Dennis, the CEO and founder of Sundial Brands. I am a believer that when we own our media companies they represent an authentic voice, Ms. Spann-Cooper said. But while Meredith hopes to cut costs, Essences new owners are planning to investheavily. I spent 30 years of my life breaking down the racial barriers of beauty, he said. For the first time in nearly two decades, Essence magazine is once again a fully black-owned publication. We may earn a commission from links on this page. This is historical.. A person who identified herself as a representative of the essays writers, contacted through the Black Female Anonymous Instagram account, declined to be interviewed for this article. It is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent African-American owned company focused on merging content, community, and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of women of color.. While [people] say they want to protect Black women, thats a lie. Mr. Dennis, the founder of Sundial Brands, a Black beauty products company, bought Essence from Time Inc. in 2018. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Yet the sale, no matter its community significance, suggests that minority-focused magazines will forever remain along the fringes of major media. And I feel that over the years they expanded their branding and their marketing, which is fine, but I feel like they kind of neglected their base demographic. Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The company hired two law firms to conduct an investigation, which found that staff felt overworked and underappreciated but concluded that Dennis didnt engage in behavior that would have amounted to unlawful discrimination, harassment or retaliation. (The anonymous writers of the Medium article did not speak to investigators.). 1035, and the Maine Classic Car Museum has No. No one cares about Black women, she continued. ! She ended her statement with the hashtag #BlackWomenRiseTogether., Black Female Anonymous replied to Ms. Wanga on social media. Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts are the first same-sex couple on Essence They dont take into account victims unless its close to home or it happens to them personally.. Receive updates about new stories in the industry. By clicking submit, you agree to receive emails from Rolling Out and accept our web terms of use and privacy and cookie policy. As we launch BRIGHT Magazine this week, I have in my head the guiding voices of SJN's co-founders. This is a BETA experience. JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION with Umojah Nation Reggae Band and the Griot Project at the Art & Soul of Buckeye Park in Cleveland. Ms. Wanga joined the company as its chief growth officer on Monday. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Please email all questions and submissions to jennifer.diane@epochtimes.nyc. Dennis bought Essence from Time Inc. in 2018 for an undisclosed sum. It took me 16 years before I agreed to go into mass retail. Essence said that he helped lead the team but never took on the role and responsibilities as CEO. This article was originally published in American Essence magazine. AMERICAN ESSENCE brings to you stories that remind us of the promise of America. Creating Effective Employee Resource Groups | HISPANIC Network Magazine Citing an abusive work culture, the essays writers also said that Black women at the company are systematically suppressed by pay inequity, sexual harassment, corporate bullying, intimidation, colorism and classism.. and a graphic artist! This will give Essence a platform and a voice to serve its consumers, which are women of color, Dennis told the New York Times earlier this week. Essence Ventures is founded and chaired by Richelieu Dennis, founder of Sundial Brands which owns Shea Moisture. I like the tapered sweater. Essence has always had a close connection to its readers. Article length can vary from 500 to 2500 words. Throughout the years, I have seen her with various writers, artists, activists, and its easy to see that she is loved. Essence magazine sold (Image Source: Facebook/@Essence) Since 1970 Essence has been the premiere fashion and culture magazine for women of color. Im very focused on giving back, investing and growing my community, he said. Under the influence of coconut oil, shea, olive, and a slight bit of gel to hold it. Essence Communications Inc., the 48-year-old mutliplatform brand that owns Essence magazine and the annual Essence Festival, has gone back to black (ownership), having been acquired by Essence Ventures LLC, an independent African-American-owned company, Essence Ventures announced in a press release. Historian Victor Davis Hanson on the Farmer's Virtues - American Essence Ivie is a Nigerian-American, native New Yorker, and journalist covering, Essence Ventures LLC, an independent black-owned company today announced its acquisition of Essence Communications Inc., home of, magazine, from Time Inc. on Wednesday. It is with great joy that we announced that Essence is under new ownership and is now an independent African-American-owned company. Gerren Keith Gaynor March 13, 2013 918. We can now invest in women of color as consumers., With Sale, Essence Is Once Again a Fully Black-Owned Magazine, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/03/us/essence-sale-black-owned.html. The top editor of Bon Apptit, Adam Rapoport, resigned last month after a photo of him costumed in stereotypical Puerto Rican attire resurfaced on social media. Ebanks issued a statement which reads in part, This acquisition of ESSENCE represents the beginning of an exciting transformation of our iconic brand as it evolves to serve the needs and interests of multigenerational Black women around the world in an even more elevated and comprehensive way across print, digital, e-commerce and experiential platforms, In addition, it represents a critical recognition, centering and elevation of the Black women running the business from solely a leadership position to a co-ownership position.. We wish you could have been in the room to see the excitement and pride on the Essence Teams' faces as we gave them the good news, according to a statement on the Essence website . An anonymous post on Medium that said it was written by current and former Essence employees is part of a social media campaign for change at the groundbreaking Black media brand. They also alleged that he tried to force Essence employees and contractors to sign non-disclosure agreements to protect himself and his family members who worked in leadership positions at Essence. As part of the growth plan, we will launch and/or acquire new content verticals and new brands in order to super serve our community of women,says company president Michelle Ebanks, who is leading Essences all-female executive team. We are looking for experienced, freelance writers that are passionate and knowledgeable in the field of classical art to cover areas in the following categories: For more information, visit their websites: Radiant Life, American Essence, and The Epoch Times. And while BeautyCon devotees have described the event as an inclusive community that allows beauty and lifestyle enthusiasts to network, meet their favorite influencers and get discounted makeup, Black influencers have not always felt welcome. This was an important week for minority media. An op-ed, titled "The Truth About Essence" and written by "Black Female Anonymous" was published on Medium on Sunday that outlined allegations of a toxic workplace culture in which Black. According to a statement released by the magazines owner, Essence Ventures, Essence will keep its current executive team, which consists entirely of black women, including Michelle Ebanks, the magazines president. Starting with the magazine in 1970, it has expanded. We dont want @Essence to fold, the group said. We know that we work for you and nothing makes us happier. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".