Essence (magazine)

Edward Lewis, Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth and Jonathan Blount founded Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) in 1968. It began publishing Essence magazine in May 1970.[3][4] Lewis and Smith called the publication a "lifestyle magazine directed at upscale African American women". They recognized that black women were an overlooked demographic and saw Essence as an opportunity to capitalize on a virtually untouched market of black women readers.[2] Its initial circulation was approximately 50,000 copies per month, subsequently growing to roughly 1.6 million.[5] Gordon Parks served as its editorial director during the first three years of its circulation.

In 2000, Time Inc. purchased 49 percent of Essence Communications Inc.[6]

In 2005, Time Inc. made a deal with Essence Communications Inc. to purchase the remaining 51 percent. The deal placed the ownership of the 34-year-old Essence magazine, one of the United States' leading magazines for women of color, under widespread ownership, rather than black ownership.[7] In January 2018, the magazine returned to a fully black-owned publication after its acquisition by Richelieu Dennis, the founder of Sundial Brands.[8]

In 2020, Black Female Anonymous, a group made up of former and possibly current Essence employees, published a Medium article alleging sexual harassment claims against Dennis, as well as egregious claims of bullying and mistreatment of employees by members of the C-Suite. Following the Medium post, an investigation was launched into the claims.

As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, Essence furloughed staff in 2020 after receiving a PPP loan from the government.[9]

In "Black Womanhood: Essence and its Treatment of Stereotypical Images of Black Women," professors stated that diverse images of black women are not often included in white magazines and media but that those black women can see themselves in different lights in Essence.[2] The magazine features sections called Celebrity, Fashion, Beauty, Hair, Love, and Point-of-View.[10] The magazine has covered topics from family, to social issues in the African-American community, African-American women in the military, and being HIV positive. Celebrities including Michelle Obama and the late Whitney Houston have appeared on the cover and been featured in the magazine through interviews and photo spreads.[11] Originally launched primarily as a fashion magazine, Essence has grown to be a guideline for African-American women in many aspects of life.

Frequent contributors, including current editor-in-chief Vanessa K. De Luca, provide advice for the business-minded black woman.[12]

• Rate base: 1,600,000[5]
• Subscriptions: 78%
• Single-copy sales: 22%

The Essence Music Festival is the nation's largest annual gathering of African-American musical talent, and has been going on annually since 1994 in New Orleans, bringing more than 400,000 people. The festival is a three-day event, that includes cultural celebrations, empowerment seminars, and nights of musical performances. Awards honoring prominent musicians in the African-American community are celebrated during the festival as well. The festival is held every Fourth of July weekend, and has featured some of the biggest names in music, including Prince, Beyoncé, Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige, Lionel Richie and others.[15]

In 2007, presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton made special appearances at The Essence Music Festival, and in 2009 the festival was held in honor of Barack Obama's inauguration and presidency, with Beyoncé as the headliner.[16] In 2008, after partnering with Essence to develop and tape a co-branded special presentation Black in America: Reclaiming the Dream, CNN reported live on-site throughout the Music Festival weekend.

In 2013, the Essence Music Festival rebranded to the Essence Festival to showcase the event as more than a music festival.

In 2016, the first ever associate event to the Essence Festival was announced – Essence Festival Durban – set to take place in Durban, South Africa on November 8–13. Essence President Michelle Ebanks commented at the time, "This is a milestone year for the Essence brand as we get ready to bring one of our most beloved events to the heart of South Africa in the coastal city of Durban which represents an exciting mix of cultures. This inaugural Essence Festival Durban will bring together voices of influence and power from the continent of Africa, the U.S. and across the globe to connect communities and empower women spanning the diaspora."[17]

• 2017[18]

In January 2005 Essence launched a 12-month initiative to combat misogyny in hip-hop culture.[5] The campaign, titled "Take Back the Music", was intended to inspire public dialogue about the portrayal of black women in rap music.[19] Essence also holds a Young Women's Leadership Conference, and released a book in 2009 titled Essence Presents: The Black Woman's Guide to Healthy Living.[20]

The 2005 purchase of Essence Communications Inc. marked the first time an African-American magazine would be owned by a white man, sparking controversy because of the company's 34 years under African-American ownership.[7]

In 2011, the magazine engaged with controversy when the editor-in-chief, Constance C. R. White, announced that the magazine's new managing editor was a white male by the name of Michael Bullerdick. White assured readers that Bullerdick had no control over the content of the magazine and was only to oversee the day-to-day operations of the magazine.[33] In April 2012, Bullerdick parted ways with the magazine after politically conservative views that ran counter to what Essence has historically stood for were discovered on his private Facebook page.[34]

In July 2020, controversy rose again when anonymous magazine staffers alleged mistreatment and abuse under the leadership of Richelieu Dennis. In a post called "Black Female Anonymous" on Medium, it is alleged that senior staffers subjected black female employees to sexual harassment, pay inequity and bullying. Dennis subsequently stepped down and named Caroline Wanga as interim CEO.[35][36][37][38]

• Ida E. Lewis (1970–1971)
• Ruth Ross (1975)
• Marcia Ann Gillespie (1971–1980)
• Susan L. Taylor (1981–2000)
• Monique Greenwood (2000)[39]
• Diane Weathers (2000–2005)[40][41]
• Angela Burt-Murray (2005–2010)
• Sheryl Hilliard Tucker (2010-2011)[42][43]
• Constance C. R. White (2011–2013)
• Vanessa K. De Luca (2013–2018)
• Danielle Cadet (2022 - present)[44]

• Audrey Edwards (June 1980). "The Essence of Sweet Success". Black Enterprise: 134–138. ISSN 0006-4165. Retrieved January 13, 2013.

• Official website
• Saffold, Jacinta R. (July 1, 2020). "Celebrating 50 Years of Essence as a Black Women's Archive". Black Perspectives. AAIHS.