Ebony (magazine)

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Ebony
ISSN
0012-9011

Ebony is a monthly magazine that focuses on news, culture, and entertainment. Its target audience is the African-American community, and its coverage includes the lifestyles and accomplishments of influential black people, fashion, beauty, and politics.[4][5]

Ebony magazine was founded in 1945 by

U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois, U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Tyrese Gibson, and Tyler Perry. Each year, Ebony selects the "100 Most Influential Blacks in America".[7]

After 71 years, in June 2016, Johnson Publishing sold both Ebony and Jet, another Johnson publication, to a private equity firm called Clear View Group. The new publisher is known as Ebony Media Corporation.[8][9] After the publication went bankrupt in July 2020, it was purchased for $14 million by Junior Bridgeman in December 2020.

History

1945–1969

Ebony was founded by John H. Johnson in 1945. The magazine was named by Johnson's wife, Eunice Walker Johnson, thinking of the dark wood.[10] The magazine was patterned after the format of Life magazine.[11] Ebony published its first issue on November 1, 1945, with an initial press run of 25,000 copies that sold out completely.[12] Ebony's earlier content focused on African-American sports and entertainment figures, but eventually began including black achievers and celebrities of many different professions.[13]

Blanche J. Lawrence, "Atom Scientists", Ebony magazine, September 1949

Editors stated in the first issue:

We like to look at the zesty side of life. Sure, you can get all hot and bothered about the race question (and don't think we don't), but not enough is said about all the swell things we Negroes can do and will accomplish. Ebony will try to mirror the happier side of Negro life – the positive, everyday achievements from Harlem to Hollywood. But when we talk about race as the No. 1 problem of America, we'll talk turkey.[14]

During the 1960s, the magazine increasingly covered the

Black Power movement. In 1965, executive editor Lerone Bennett Jr. wrote a recurring column entitled "Black Power", which featured an in-depth profile of Stokely Carmichael in 1966.[15] Ebony also commemorated historical events that contributed to black citizenship and freedom such as the September 1963 issue that honored the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.[16]

1969–1985

Ebony's design and content began to shift in the late–1960s and early–1970s. A new level of competition for subscribers and readers began during the 1970s. Due to the emergence of new African-American oriented magazines such as Essence, Ebony began to cover more political activism and achievements in the 1970s. The magazine's February 1971 cover featured 13 black congressmen and women. Ebony highlighted the black professionals serving in Jimmy Carter's administration in the March 1977 issue.[17]

1985–2005

The magazine reached unprecedented levels of popularity, with marketers estimating that Ebony reached over 40% of the African-American adults in the United States during the 1980s, a feat unmatched by any other general–interest magazine at the time.[18] Beginning in the mid-1970s, advertisers created customized ads for the magazine which featured African-American models using their products.[19] In 1985, Ebony Man, a monthly men's magazine was created, printing the first issue in September 1985.[5] By Ebony's 40th anniversary in November 1985, it had a circulation of 1.7 million.[14]

2005–present

In December 2008,

Google Book Search. As of that date, all issues from November 1959 to December 2008 were made available for free.[20] In 2010, the Johnson Publishing Company sold its historic building at 820 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago's loop to Columbia College Chicago
. The same year, Ebony was redesigned to update its longtime brand. In the past, the magazine was persistently upbeat, much like its postwar contemporary Life magazine. However, in the 21st century, Ebony featured more controversial content.

The November 2011 cover featured a pregnant

biracial Americans need more acknowledgment in today's society. In 2018, Ebony's publishing schedule was changed from being published monthly to a double issue published once each month. On May 24, 2019, Clear View Group suspended the print edition of the magazine, with the Spring 2019 issue the last to be printed.[21]

In March 2021, the magazine relaunched in digital format.[22][23]

Notable coverage

100 Most Influential Blacks

One of the most famous aspects of the magazine was its list of "100 Most Influential Blacks". This list—which began in 1963, took a hiatus until 1971, and has continued on ever since—lists those who have made the greatest impact in the African-American community during the year. Most of those listed were well-educated, with 55 percent having completed a graduate degree.[24] However, some researchers have noted that black scholars, teachers, and higher-education administrators are rarely, if ever, included on the list.[25][26] The list exclusively focuses on entertainment figures, politicians, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs.[27]

The May 2001 "100+ Most Influential Black Americans" issue did not include a number of influential African Americans such as Thomas Sowell, Shelby Steele, Armstrong Williams, Walter Williams and, most notably, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The Economist described the exclusion of Justice Thomas from the list as spiteful.[28]

Coolest Black Family in America

In 2018, the magazine published a series highlighting Black families from across the United States with the intention of showcasing Black family dynamics.[29]

25 Coolest Brothers of All Time

In August 2008, the magazine had published a special eight-cover edition featuring the "25 Coolest Brothers of All Time". The lineup featured popular figures like Jay-Z, Barack Obama, Prince, Samuel L. Jackson, Denzel Washington, Marvin Gaye, Muhammad Ali and Billy Dee Williams.[30]

65th anniversary edition

In November 2010, the magazine featured a special 65th-anniversary edition cover featuring

Desiree Rogers, of the Obama administration, had become the chief executive officer of the magazine.[31]

Ownership

In 2016, Johnson Publishing Company sold the magazine along with Jet to private equity firm Clear View Group.[32][33][34] In May 2017, the editorial staff for the magazine moved from Chicago to Los Angeles along with the editorial staff for Jet magazine.[35] In December 2020, the magazine and its sister publication Jet[36] were purchased for $14 million by Junior Bridgeman.[37]

Ensuing financial difficulties

In July 2019, three months after Johnson Publishing Company filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy liquidation, it sold its historic photo archives including the prints and negatives to a consortium of foundations to be made available to the public.[38][39] After suspending the print edition of the magazine in May 2019, Clear View Group and Ebony Media Operations laid off the majority of the editing staff in June 2019.[40][41]

Lawsuits

In 2017, 50 freelance writers created a social media campaign #EbonyOwes due to not being paid by the magazines' current owner, Clear View Group. In response to the campaign, Clear View Group made an effort to pay 11 of the 50 writers $18,000, ending with only three being paid in full. In late 2017, the remaining writers with the help of The National Writers Union filed suit against Clear View Group and Ebony Media Operations.[21]

The remaining writers settled their lawsuit with the company in February 2018. The magazine owners were ordered to pay $80,000[42] Ebony Media Operations, Clear View Group and the National Writers Union agreed that all unpaid invoices would be paid over four quarterly installments by the end of 2018.[42] In October 2018, the magazines' owner missed its third quarter payment and another lawsuit was filed in November 2018. Clear View Group made the final payment to the writers in December 2018.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ Circulation of select African American magazines in the United States in 2nd half 2015, by type(in thousands).Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  2. ^ Sharon Shahid (October 29, 2010). "65 Years Ago in News History: The Birth of Ebony Magazine". Newseum.org. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013.
  3. ^ Robert Channick (May 5, 2017). "Ebony cuts a third of its staff, moving editorial operations to LA". Chicagotribune.com. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  4. Project MUSE 814089
    .
  5. ^
    doi:10.1207/s15327027hc0903_5
    .
  6. ^ Wormley, J. Carlyne; Heinzerling, Barbara; Gunn, Virginia (1998). "Uncovering history: An examination of the impact of the Ebony Fashion Fair and Ebony magazine" (PDF). Consumer Interests Annual. 44: 148–150.
  7. ^ "From Negro Digest to Ebony, Jet and Em – Special Issue: 50 Years of JPC – Redefining the Black Image". Ebony. November 1992. Archived from the original on March 28, 2007.
  8. ^ Kai EL'Zabar, "Ebony Jet Sold!" Archived June 17, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Chicago Defender, June 16, 2016.
  9. ^ Ember, Sydney; Fandos, Nicholas (July 2, 2016). "Pillars of Black Media, Once Vibrant, Now Fighting for Survival". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Hevesi, Dennis (January 9, 2010). "Eunice Johnson Dies at 93; Gave Ebony Its Name". The New York Times.
  11. S2CID 145071337
    .
  12. ^ "John H. Johnson | American publisher". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  13. ^ "Ebony | American magazine". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  14. ^ a b Shipp, E. R. (December 6, 1985). "Ebony, 40, Viewed as More Than a Magazine". The New York Times.
  15. S2CID 151966947
    .
  16. ^ Glasrud, Bruce (September 18, 2007). "Ebony Magazine • BlackPast". BlackPast. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  17. S2CID 152126803
    .
  18. ^ Staples, Brent (August 11, 2019). "The Radical Blackness of Ebony Magazine". The New York Times.
  19. doi:10.1080/00913367.1992.10673359
    .
  20. ^ Dave Foulser (December 9, 2008). "Search and find magazines on Google Book Search". Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  21. ^ a b c Yvonne de Salle, "Ebony Magazine In Flux – Print Magazine Folds, Digital Seems To Continue", Tin Shingle, July 8, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  22. ^ Business Insider, Eden Bridgeman Talks EBONY and JET relaunch, Interview, March 8, 2021
  23. ^ The Root, 'Rebirth of an Icon': Ebony Magazine Set to Digitally Relaunch Today, No Plans for Print Just Yet, March 1, 2021
  24. JSTOR 274717
    .
  25. JSTOR 2963216
    .
  26. JSTOR 2962770
    .
  27. JSTOR 3134282
    .
  28. ^ "Lexington: The school of very hard knocks". The Economist. October 4, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  29. ^ Dingle, Joycelyn (December 7, 2016). "The Coolest Black Family in America No. 74: The Coopers". Ebony. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  30. ^ Sewing, Joy (July 9, 2008). "Ebony magazine honors the 'coolest' black men ever". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  31. ^ Cheryl Corley, "'Ebony,' 'Jet' Parent Takes A Bold New Tack", NPR, September 22, 2011.
  32. ^ Channick, Robert. "Johnson Publishing sells Ebony, Jet magazines to Texas firm". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  33. ^ "Ebony and Jet magazines have been sold – Northstar News Today". Northstar News Today. June 15, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  34. ^ "Books, Ebony magazine's legendary photo archive is up for auction", LA Times, July 19, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  35. ^ Erick Johnson (Chicago Crusader/NNPA Member), "EBONY magazine moves to Los Angeles, Ebony Heads West, Leaves Chicago for Los Angeles", New York Amsterdam News, May 31, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  36. ^ "This Millennial Bought Ebony and Jet For $14M, Plans to Bring the Magazines Into the Digital Era". August 11, 2021.
  37. ^ Cedric "Big Ced" Thorton (Black Enterprise), "Ebony Magazine Purchased by Former NBA Player Ulysses 'Junior' Bridgeman for $14 Million", Black Enterprise, December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  38. ^ "Rare look inside the Ebony and Jet magazine photo archive that just sold for $30M". CBS News. July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  39. ^ Noyes, Chandra (July 29, 2019). "Foundations Unite to Save Ebony Magazine Archives". artandobject.com. Journalistic, Inc. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  40. ^ N'dea Yancey-Bragg, "Ebony magazine's digital staff abruptly laid off without pay as asset auction looms", USA Today, June 21, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  41. ^ Miana Massey, "Ebony and Jet magazines fire remainder of staff, may close, Legacy publications beset by financial issues", The Charlotte Post, July 7, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  42. ^ a b "Ebony to pay freelancers $80,000 to settle lawsuit after #EbonyOwes campaign", Chicago Tribune, February 27, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ebony magazine.
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