Essence Magazine during better times in 2001Apparently it's not only some Black politicians who have forgotten who their base supporters are. Essence magazine seems to have forgotten as well. Essence, a lifestyle magazine aimed at Black woman, has confirmed that it plans to hire a White fashion director.
So, in a world where Black woman have virtually no chance of being hired by Vogue or Elle or any other fashion or lifestyle mag aimed at White women Essence has decided to close a door of employment that has existed for 40 years for Black woman.
Some people don't get what this is about. They think that Black woman who are dumbfounded and upset about this are being racist. Yep, read it for yourself here in the comments. Black woman who are upset about this aren't being racist. We are just tired of being taken for granted time and time again. Especially by a publication that only exists because of our support.
Since when do you kick your customers in the face and think it's not going to be a problem, as the editor-in-chief of Essence Angela Burt-Murray seems to think.
Essence editor-in-chief Angela Burt-Murray"I got to see firsthand her creativity, her vision, the positive reader response to her work, and her enthusiasm and respect for the audience and our brand," Burt-Murray said. "As such, I thought she'd make an excellent addition to our team. And I still do. This decision in no way diminishes my commitment to black women, our issues, our fights." - Angela Burt-Murray to CNN
Our fights?
I think Angela Burt-Murray may be more concerned about her standing with Essence magazine's owner Time, Inc than what is best for Black women. I wonder if Debra Lee, BET's CEO, is Angela's secret mentor?
Anyway, this is just another example of the lack of support that Black women get in general these days. We are constantly under attack. And now the one place in the media that existed for us has become the enemy.
I'm all for equal opportunity. And if all things were equal I'd have no problem with Essence hiring a non-Black woman fashion director. But all things are not equal. The fashion industry is one of the most racist industries around. Black women can hardly walk a runway much less find a high powered position such as fashion director at a mainstream fashion mag.
And that's why this is a slap in the face to Black women. I for one won't be supporting a magazine that doesn't support women that look like me. I'll be leaving Essence magazine on the newsstand. And it seems Essence may have just put itself out of its misery with this move because if what I've read is true a lot of Black women beside me are saying they will be walking past Essence on the newsstands as well.
And by the way, Essence magazine's motto is, "where black women come first". That's got to be a joke, right?
And by the way, Essence magazine's motto is, "where black women come first". That's got to be a joke, right?
16 comments:
Angela Murrey is a perfect example of how far some Black folk will go to maintain their status within a corporation or community.
When Essence was brought a few years ago by Time-Warner Inc. the writing was on the wall for where the Mag would go,we seem to again be asleep at the wheel,thinking white folk have our best intrest at heart!
sorry about the typo that should be interest.
This definitely reeks of corporate decision-making where the faces we see, and the names who know have little to do w/ the actual factuals. Cagey indeed, especially and after Essense's history and just what it's always represented and has meant to the Black community (BTW: not just Black women. I've been a reader for years/decades and have been twice published inside its glossy covers).
The reality is QUALIFIED Black women will be denied the opportunity to be placed in this coveted position! That's what sucks the most!
Sadly... money talks. It speaks in loud-azz volumes and it continues to be the way the publishing/ media/entertainment industry (and the world) seems to work.
One.
I still never got putting Reggie Bush on the cover of the black love issue.
Why can't black owned business stay black owned? Their target audience is black women, is she serious?
I am sure there were plenty of qualified sisters for that job.
Great read. I actually sat here and read it twice. I don't have time to click onto the links at the moment, but all sound like interesting reads, as usual.
I don't even know what to say, as I hardly know anything about fashion. I am familiar with the manner in which Essence conducts business from back in '08.
There might be more to come, if you ask me. (All) Black women have the opportunity to come together and make a stand.
But will they?
Hi Val! I have long since left Essence on the shelf. And I used to live for this magazine! I have read it since it was 9 years old! I remember breathlessly waiting for it to arrive each month, and when it DID--I got that feeling of excitement and anticipation of what new fashion, or hairstyle, or love info or cool black star or whatever I was going to learn about! I had great love for the mag! I right now have a huge photo album book full of hairstyle picture from Essence that I clipped over the years and I've featured some of them on my Black Woman's beauty blog. Such great memories!
Black folks!! Very Soon You will see a Beautiful Caucasian woman on Essence's Cover--It's Coming, I Promise YOu, and then the end will come.
Anna Renee
@BigMac
I agree. This is about Time, Inc. and Angela thinking about her future rather than her present. I think she's gonna pay for this though.
@Lin
Exactly, this is a opportunity a Black women will miss out on. And that's the shame of this.
@?
I think they were trying to be provocative with that cover but it back-fired badly. A lot of women walked away from the magazine at that point.
@Jason
"Why can't black owned business stay black owned? Their target audience is black women, is she serious?"
Because some people can only see the short money and not the long money. That's too bad because they really lose out.
Yep, a ton of Black woman are qualified but they'll just have to continue being underemployed I guess.
@Don
Thanks, that means a lot coming from you.
Yeah this isn't over to be sure. If this was the first time Essence showed us how it really felt about us then maybe it wouldn't have been such a big deal. But this is the last in a series of missteps from Essence. And I'm sure with Angela at the helm it won't be the last.
@Anna Renee
I used to read my moms Essence mags when I was a kid too. Then as a teen I had my own subscription. I think most Black women have pleasant memories of Essence from their childhood and teen years and that what makes today's Essence so hard to accept.
You know, I was just thinking that last night. I really wouldn't be surprised to see Kim Kardashian on the cover sometime soon.
"Why can't black owned business stay black owned?"
"Very Soon You will see a Beautiful Caucasian woman on Essence's Cover--It's Coming, I Promise YOu..."
I say the same thing about WOC clubs here in the Bay. Can we have something of our own that isn't diluted, misrepresented, or taken over altogether by white folks? ...and I feel the same about white women wearing bindis and head wraps!
Essence is simply selling out!
@Felicia Monique
Yeah we def have a problem with our things being co-opted. And usually, like with Essence, it's an inside job.
Essence isn't owned by black folks anymore and Ebony and Jet will either be bought out or close. My wife is seriously thinking about letting her subscription end. I wouldn't worry about it folks. It is what it is folks!!! I've heard some black folks say that we can't have it both ways. We can't want jobs at white mags and get mad when black mags hire white folks. Interesting..............
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