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. Jan 03, 2018. Richelieu Dennis speaks onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival in 2018. Got it from H&M for $10 a year ago. In the Medium essay and on social media, Black Female Anonymous has called for the resignations of Ms. Profet and Ms. Luu; demanded that Ms. Ebanks leave the board; and demanded that Mr. Dennis have nothing to do with running Essence. At the time of the purchase, Mr. Dennis, who was born and raised in Liberia, said Essence would serve and empower women of color under his stewardship. Because I hope they dont stray from the culture of Essence. In the Medium article, titled The Truth About Essence, anonymous staffers claimed that Dennis slept with his employees and harassed those who rejected his advances. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Receive updates about new stories in the industry daily or weekly. In 2000, Time Inc. acquired a 49 percent stake of Essence from its founders and acquired the remaining percentage five years later. Although financial details remain confidential, Essences sale comes at a precipitous time for both the magazine and the larger media landscape. The allegations didnt even go very far. Essence Communications announced Thursday that it was acquired from Time Inc. by Essence Ventures for an undisclosed sum. Members of the team were excited about the announcement. JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION with Umojah Nation Reggae Band and the Griot Project at the Art & Soul of Buckeye Park in Cleveland. Our objective is to make it into that by making it inviting, by diversifying subjects, by being inclusive in the brands, by being intentional in the commitments.. When The Daily Beast spoke to him this week about his buy up of BeautyCon, Dennis refused to directly answer any questions about the 2020 controversy and his promise to step away from Essence magazine. I would have to see change, see an apology, in order to participate or contribute. It does not store any personal data. Mr. Dennis would not discuss the details of the sale. They have allowed us to invest into the business so that we can bring in the infrastructure and resources.. Essence covers African-American beauty and style. Again, with skinnys I like my booty to be covered as much as possible. I like my face in this, though. We have an opportunity to control our media and tell our own story and that is often muted when traditional media companies that represent the African-American culture are owned by someone outside of an African-Americans hands it loses something. We are hiring for both print as well as online articles. 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. Despite the allegations made against him, Dennis has broken some racial barriers within the beauty industry. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. [3] [4] Lewis and Smith called the publication a "lifestyle magazine directed at upscale African American women". The acquisition 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, Ms. Ebanks said in the statement. Ebony is a monthly magazine that focuses on news, culture, and entertainment. Derek T. Dingle, chief content office of Black Enterprise magazine, described it as groundbreaking, and lauded Essences return to black ownership as a rare event in contemporary black business history.. Taylor served as Editor-in-Chief of Essence from 1981-2000, but worked for the magazine since its conception in 1970. Thats commendable. Essence CEO Richelieu Dennis Resigns Following Scathing Op-Ed (Page Six), These Mother-And-Son Entrepreneurs Went From Selling Soap On Harlem Streets To An $850 Million Fortune (Forbes). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Boxing legend George Foreman and actor Khris Davis share inspiration for Big George Foreman film, Deborah Janes Strange Fruit film revisits the past to fix the future in racial reconciliation, Black home buyers considering buying a home 5 ways to purchase a house without a down payment, Rolling out kicks off 2023 Sisters with Superpowers 10-city tour and awards dinner in Atlanta, May 4; tickets available, Breaking the Chains provides job training and opportunities to the youth, Shara McHayle shares how hip-hop inspired her business, Hoop 88 Dreams. Under the agreement, the $2.8 billion deal would include Time, Fortune and Sports Illustrated. Lol, FAMILY: The children and I @University Circles Parade the Circle, Modeling for: http://www.afropunk.com/ Brooklyn, New York, August 2014. 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Jean Carroll Rape Trial, JPMorgan Stock Set For Second-Best Day This Year After First Republic Takeover, First Republic Taken Over By JP Morgan After Regulators Shut It Down, Texas Mass Shooting: Police Have Zero Leads On Suspect Accused Of Killing 5 In Execution-Style Shooting, Weekend Box Office: Super Mario Bros. Will Hit $1 Billion In Sales On Sunday, Studio Says, White House Correspondents Dinner: Biden And Roy Wood Jr. Take Shots At Fox News And GreeneAnd Bidens Age, This Stock Market Indicator Is The Weakest Its Ever BeenAnd Other Warning Signs Are Flaring, Essence CEO Richelieu Dennis Resigns Following Scathing Op-Ed, These Mother-And-Son Entrepreneurs Went From Selling Soap On Harlem Streets To An $850 Million Fortune. Ebanks is referring to the fact that Essences executive team consists entirely of black women. Ms. Wanga joined the company as its chief growth officer on Monday. The Epoch Times is looking for writers who are passionate and knowledgeable in the field of classical art. And the mid-sized Penske Mediaowner of Variety and Robb Reportjust snapped up Rolling Stone. ESSENCE Co-founder Ed Lewis, former editors-in-chief Marcia Ann Gillespie and Susan L. Taylor speak on the evolution of the magazine and brand. However, she also doesnt think BeautyCon will suffer from the negative stain of Essence. Essence Magazine is now 100% black-owned. Shanygne Maurice, creator of beauty product reviews on a YouTube channel called TooMuchMouth, said she had a rather unpleasant experience as a Black creator at the last BeautyCon but actually sees the Essence buyout as an opportunity to make the event more inviting and inclusive for Black influencers and enthusiastsgiven Essences history in the Black community., Im not sure if Id participate in the first one [under Essences ownership], she said. Receive updates about new stories in the industry. Were counting on you, Caroline. For more than 50 years, ESSENCE has been a leader in promoting Black-Owned beauty brands. AMERICAN ESSENCE brings to you stories that remind us of the promise of America. , who will keep her place at the helm of the company will also joining its board of directors. Best-known for massive magazine brands like Time, People, and Sports Illustrated, Time Inc. bought Essence more than a decade ago, back when the publishing company was one of Americas most formidable media giants. Published January 6, 2018. Headwraps by Queen Fatima Chui. But while Meredith hopes to cut costs, Essences new owners are planning to investheavily. Essence Communications, a brand known for its popular monthly magazine and annual music festival, is once again 100 percent African-American owned. Starting with the magazine in 1970, it has expanded globally, eventually leading to the annual Essence Music Festival in 1995 and online website ESSENCE.com. Braids by my homegirl Aziza Yasmine. Celebrity OTE - Spring Arts Guide Daniel Kaluuya. Mr. Dennis sold Sundial Brands to Unilever that month. 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.. Essence is not owned by a beauty-products firm, she says. It is a brand I only see at Target. A target of Black Female Anonymous is Richelieu Dennis, the owner of Essence Ventures, the parent company of the magazine and Essence Communications. In the essay, Black Female Anonymous tied their efforts to the larger social protest movement that has swept the country. In a phone interview on Wednesday, Mr. Dennis, 48, said that he bought the magazine to serve and empower women of color., This will give Essence a platform and a voice to serve its consumers, which are women of color, Mr. Dennis said during a flight from his native Liberia to the United States. The ESSENCE team has extended the brands reach and influence across multiple platforms, solidifying its position as the premier destination for African-American women serving an audience of 16.3 million, said Time Inc. President Rich Battista in a memo to staff obtained by NBC News. 5:11 pm. This is a continuation of my quest to do that.. The once exalted media brand dedicated to Black women has been hijacked by cultural and corporate greed and an unhinged abuse of power, the writers said in the essay. Ebanks insists this sacred wall will still be honoredand that Essence is not directly owned by Sundial, but rather a separate Dennis-helmed entity. As a woman who writes, and aspires to publish a book, I really admire Susan, and I think that she is one of the most influential women in journalism. Last year, The Wrap reported that a year after a huge event that attracted thousands of attendees, BeautyCon was still struggling to pay vendors. Melody Spann-Cooper, chairwoman of Midway Broadcasting Corporation, which owns WVON, a Chicago radio station whose target audience is black, welcomed Essence's return to being an. It will serve as a guide to make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality, help you avoid costly mistakes, assist in financial preparations, serve as a resume of sorts for future potential business partners and much more.. 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, Essencepresident Michelle Ebanks told Business Wire, who will keep her place at the helm of the company will also joining its board of directors. But if I were to see how that goes and hear about the event moving in the right direction and it being the fun and inviting event its supposed to be, Id certainly attend in the future., Nottingham, however, questioned whether Essence could really change BeautyCon or if it was another case of diversity initiatives being whitewashed.. The original name in concept was Sapphire. Essence has been an influence for African-American women since its first publication in May 1970. An anonymous essay published on Sunday criticized Essence, the groundbreaking Black media brand, citing an abusive work culture in which bullying and sexual harassment were common. (The festival was canceled this year and replaced with a digital event because of the coronavirus pandemic.). But we must fix the systemic brokenness of any Black cultural institution that devalues Black women. 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. On Thursday (Jan. 4), Essencethe nation's leading African American-focused publicationwas sold by Time Inc. to a . Its branding was so popular . - Monica Guza .. non-political, real-life look at goodness, decency, and excellence in the world. 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. The executive team will also have an ownership interest in the business. You may negotiate rate based off experience and expertise. For the first time in nearly two decades, Essence magazine is once again a fully black-owned publication. Co-founded by Ed Lewis and Clarence Smith in 1968, Essence has been one of the lifestyle go-to companies for African-American women. 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, a 48-year-old monthly lifestyle magazine, has a majority-black readership. Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude. We may earn a commission from links on this page. ! She ended her statement with the hashtag #BlackWomenRiseTogether., Black Female Anonymous replied to Ms. Wanga on social media. The whole idea when [BeautyCon] was founded was to be an inclusive place for all women to express their individual beauty, Dennis said. More curiously, his history with beauty brands, which will be core Essence advertisers, also raises questions about the magazines ability to truly separate its business and editorial sidea core value of traditional media that is quickly eroding in the age of advertorials and native advertising. - Edward long Timeless reading that calms and reassures is hard to find. 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. 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. The sale of Essence to Mr. Dennis comes at time when traditional media companies continue to struggle to adapt to an increasingly digital landscape, challenges also faced by black-owned media. Clearly Dennis has committed his life (and substantial economic resources) to supporting minority women. This is a BETA experience. What we now have is an opportunity to have the liquidity to make investments in Essence, said Mr. Dennis. 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.. Time Inc. announced Wednesday, that Essence Ventures LLC, an independent African-American owned company, acquired the media company. Its not to say that they shouldnt be able to cater to all types of hair and all types of people, but theres always this desire to cater to whiteness and white features. Entertainment & Arts How a $970,000 award represents hope and change for a Black L.A. dance company Jan. 15, 2021 Founded in 1945 by Chicago-based publisher John H. Johnson, Ebony magazine was. Magazine articles are $250 per article. American Essence FO R E V E RYO N E W H O LOV E S T H I S C O U N . As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Michelle Ebanks will continue to serve as president of ESSENCE Communications and will join its board of directors. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Speculation Centers on Value of Successful Festival. Essence currently reaches over 16 million people via social media, print, digital engagement and live events, according to a spokeswoman for Essence Ventures. Richelieu Dennis, the owner of Essence Ventures, at the 2018 Essence Festival in New Orleans. Those findings have not changed the views of some. American Essence brings you the best of America, past and present, to help you create a better future for yourself and the country. The reason is because of the racist structures that existed in mass retail., He said hair care products were once racially segregated on store shelves but, thanks to his efforts, retailers have come to realize theres a much bigger market opportunity when you engage in Black brands on a fair and consistent basis. In a statement on Thursday, Latraviette Smith-Wilson, an Essence spokeswoman, described the essays accusations and demands as unsupported and outdated., The statement also addressed Ms. Ebanks, saying she has had no role in day-to-day operations since her departure, and said that Ms. Collins Profet had already accepted a new role with another company before the anonymous blog was posted.. This website or its third-party tools process personal data.In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The company said that there had not been claims or evidence of sexual harassment or misconduct and that it would review any new instances brought to HR. The future of Essence was uncertain when it was announced Meredith Corporation was buying Time Inc. in November. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Articles to be published in our magazines will be roughly 900-2,000 wordcount and articles that are published to our online website can be 500 to 1,000 wordcount. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Richelieu Dennis, the founder of Sundial Brands, said he bought the company to serve and empower women of color.. In 2000, the magazines founders, Clarence Smith and Ed Lewis, sold a 49 percent stake in Essence to Time Inc. The company announced Tuesday night that it had appointed Caroline Wanga to be interim CEO and that they would launch an independent investigation into the workplace culture. READ: Chance The Rapper Joins Essence Fest As Headlining Act. The demand for a new America calls for the complete accountability of all Americans, even those of us in Black America and our cultural institutions, the writers said. The website for Bright is The Epoch Times (see below). Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Savor each page [of American Essence]. [W]e are excited to be able to return this culturally relevant and historically significant platform to ownership by the people and the consumers whom it serves, and offer new opportunities for the women leading the business to also be partners in the business, said Dennis of the Essence brand acquisition. An annual study found that the total number of magazine readers in the U.S. remained above 220 million in every year between 2016 and 2020, having previously hovered around the 210 and 215 million . Essence has always had a close connection to its readers. iSoloArtist. The coronavirus pandemic didnt help financial matters. Edward Lewis, co-founder of Essence Magazine, is defending his decision to sell the legacy publication to Time Inc. after recent criticisms from recently .