For today’s Black Journalists through history post, I’m going to be talking about the history of Essence magazine and then I’m going to get a little bit personal. I couldn’t possibly share about this iconic publication known as the Black Woman’s Bible and not mention my own personal history with the brand. Our relationship started early and continues to endure. And honestly, I don’t think I’m alone in my life-long affection for Essence. I truly believe that every Black female journalist at one time or another, dreamed of seeing her byline in the pages of Essence magazine.
The History of Essence Magazine
Essence magazine officially launched in May 1970. Ironically, the founding publishers were not women, but rather four Black men, Edward Lewis, Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth and Jonathan Blount. The four businessmen saw an opportunity to create a publication for Black women and decided to get it done. The foursome did not stay intact for long and they initially struggled to find an editor-in-chief who could bring their vision to life. But by 1971, they appointed the legendary Marcia Ann Gillespie to the top editorial post and she steered Essence into its first decade of success from 1971-1980. Fun fact, Gillespie left Essence to work at Ms. magazine where she would eventually become the editor-in-chief, and as such, the first African American to lead a mainstream publication. (Black History win!)
The Essence of Essence
Officially Essence is billed as a lifestyle publication and covers everything from beauty to business, politics to pop culture. In layman’s terms, Essence was supposed to be the Black woman’s bible. For me, for a long time, it was. I remember growing up, my mother always had a subscription to Essence and I gobbled up the content. Essence was the only place where I saw women who looked like me, even if they were significantly older than I was as a child and teen. I remember thinking Essence was way cooler than the stodgy Ebony magazine my father subscribed to. Every time an Essence magazine arrived in the mailbox, it felt like someone, somewhere was telling me that Black women were beautiful, successful and important and that one day, I’d get out of my very white world and be a part of the Essence universe. I’d finally get to live my life in color.
Finding My Way to Essence
By the time I finished college, I knew I wanted to be a magazine journalist. I’d had internships at local magazines in my hometown and my college town. But I was now ready for the big time and more than anything in the world, I wanted to work at Essence. Even though I’d published many articles by this time and had even served as an editor at a local newsweekly, I was completely prepared to start at the bottom at Essence. I honestly would have taken any job and happily worked my way up to staff writer (they still had those jobs back then.). I wasn’t looking for any handouts, just a big break.
So, here’s what I did. I bought a bus ticket to New York City. (I was living in western Massachusetts at the time) I found the address to Essence’s editorial office, printed out a copy of my resume and set off. Yes, I showed up unannounced and uninvited to Essence headquarters and just knew they were going to hire me on the spot. Sadly, I didn’t make it past the reception desk and they didn’t take my resume. I was devastated. I walked all around Manhattan, waiting for my bus back home and thought I would never become the journalist of my dreams.
But of course there is an epilogue to my Essence story. After working in New York for a couple of years, going to grad school, getting a masters degree in journalism, and working at a bunch of amazing pop culture magazines, I got my chance with Essence again. By this time, I’d written my first book and had been published in other larger magazines. An Essence editor called me one day and asked if I wanted to write a story, and then another. Soon, I was writing for them regularly as a freelancer. Despite my previous publishing credits, getting published in Essence really felt special to me. And to my family.
My mother, my grandmother, aunties and play cousins finally believed I had arrived as a journalist when they saw my name in Essence.
The Essence Legacy Continues
Essence really is the Black woman’s bible. Admittedly, over the years there have been ups and downs with the editorial direction and ownership. Sometimes I felt the content was lacking or the layout dated. But I will always come back to this magazine that continues to put Black women first. In a world that still struggles to portray Black women in their full humanity, in their full beauty and with their best interests at heart, I appreciate Essence now more than ever.
If you’re interested in reading the full story of how Essence came to be, check out founder Ed Lewis’ excellent book, The Man from Essence:Creating a Magazine for Black Women.
