Essence: Журнал для афроамериканских женщин

US magazine for African American women

Essence (stylized in all caps) is an American monthly lifestyle magazine covering fashion, beauty, entertainment, and culture. First published in 1970, the magazine is written for African American women.

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. 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. 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. 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. In January 2018, the magazine returned to a fully black owned publication after its acquisition by Richelieu Dennis, the founder of Sundial Brands. 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.

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. 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. 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.

In January 2005 Essence launched a 12 month initiative to combat misogyny in hip hop culture. 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.

This long running award event, held each February on the Thursday before the Oscars, began in 2008 and continues to this day. His ceremony annually honors black women who have achieved success in Hollywood. In the event's first decade, awards were presented in several categories. Beginning in 2017, the event had a single theme and individuals were honored, with no specific award titles.

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. 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. 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.