It is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent African-American owned company focused on merging content, community, and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of women of color.. In 2017, it was sold to the conglomerate Unilever, but Dennis remains Sundials CEO and executive chairman. Starting with the magazine in 1970, it has expanded. Instead, he framed his latest venture as part of a mission to fight racism in the retail industry. Essence, a 48-year-old monthly lifestyle magazine, has a majority-black readership. When it started off, we knew their demographic. Ms. Wanga joined the company as its chief growth officer on Monday. Essence Ventures LLC, an independent black-owned company today announced its acquisition of Essence Communications Inc., home of Essence magazine, from . 2,017 people have signed it. You may negotiate rate based off experience and expertise. Essence Ventures is founded and chaired by Richelieu Dennis, founder of Sundial Brands which owns Shea Moisture. For the first time in nearly two decades, Essence magazine is once again a fully black-owned publication. It also holds an annual music festival, which was headlined last year by Diana Ross, Mary J. Blige and Chance the Rapper. The monthly lifestyle magazine covers fashion, beauty, entertainment and culture. iSoloArtist. Essence Communications announced Thursday that it was acquired from Time Inc. by Essence Ventures for an undisclosed sum. His firm, Sundial Brands, was founded to provide hair- and skin-care products to minority women, and was inspired by traditional shea-butter recipes found in Denniss native Liberia. https://t.co/q2BGN0pxNF pic.twitter.com/CbLQlpK9Qz. Essence covers African-American beauty and style. American Essence April 24, 2022 Liberty Tree: A Look at Thomas Paine's Song Celebrating the Beauty of American Freedom In a chariot of light from the regions of day, The Goddess of Liberty. Under the agreement, the $2.8 billion deal would include Time, Fortune and Sports Illustrated. 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. I would have to see change, see an apology, in order to participate or contribute. The magazine has a circulation of more than one million and its website attracts nearly seven million unique visitors each month. 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. Receive updates about new stories in the industry daily or weekly. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. 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. A new CEO was named for Essence magazine and the company, which owns several other entities like Afropunk festival and hair care company Naturally Curly, promised that Dennis would be taking a step back. The company also runs the annual Essence Festival in New Orleans, a celebration of Black culture that has drawn headliners like Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige and John Legend. Print fond memoriesThis pocket Bluetooth printer lets you print your precious memories before they hit Instagram. 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. We are hiring for both print as well as online articles. For more than 50 years, ESSENCE has been a leader in promoting Black-Owned beauty brands. Ms. Luu, the head of content, will step back from day-to-day operations during the course of the review, the statement said. This major move marks. Originally from Liberia, he founded Black beauty brand SheaMoisture and then Sundial Brands, the parent company to SheaMoisture. I spent 30 years of my life breaking down the racial barriers of beauty, he said. Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Please email all questions and submissions to jennifer.diane@epochtimes.nyc. Last year, The Wrap reported that a year after a huge event that attracted thousands of attendees, BeautyCon was still struggling to pay vendors. Why the FT bought a majority stake in Endpoints News, Vice News Tonight canceled, company announces layoffs, The Messenger hires Scotti as a biz and finance editor, Traditional Art (Paintings and Sculptures from Renaissance to early 1900s), Classical Architecture and Houses of Beauty in America as well as Europe, History of Performative Art (opera, theatre and ballet), All applicants must send a sample of their writing along with their resume. The company hired two law firms to conduct an investigation, which found that staff felt overworked and underappreciated but concluded that Dennis didnt engage in behavior that would have amounted to unlawful discrimination, harassment or retaliation. (The anonymous writers of the Medium article did not speak to investigators.). This was an important week for minority media. Essence Magazine is now 100% black-owned. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. AMERICAN ESSENCE brings to you stories that remind us of the promise of America. Essence, as an archive of Black life, is also a cornerstone in the . 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. The coronavirus pandemic didnt help financial matters. 1035, and the Maine Classic Car Museum has No. Copyright 2022 Rolling Out. This is a BETA experience. 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.. American Essence Magazine is also a nonpolitical magazine that aims to showcase the values and traditions of American culture with stores of the people and places, past and present, that helped and continue to help shape this nation. Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning. An anonymous post on Medium that said it was written by current and former Essence employees is part of a social media campaign for change at the groundbreaking Black media brand. As reported earlier by Journal-isms for The Root, the Essence brand was not part of the historic, nearly $3 billion sale of Time Inc. to the Meredith Corp. in November 2017. And the mid-sized Penske Mediaowner of Variety and Robb Reportjust snapped up Rolling Stone. Essence currently reaches over 16 million people via social media, print, digital engagement and live events, according to a spokeswoman for Essence Ventures. The essay is part of an online campaign that includes Twitter and Instagram accounts and a change.org petition, which has collected more than 2,000 signatures. 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. Since then, Essence has installed Caroline A. Wanga, a former Target executive, as its interim leader and has also pledged to hire law firms to conduct a review of workplace issues. READ: Chance The Rapper Joins Essence Fest As Headlining Act. I dont know, but I dont have high hopes of BeautyCon being a more Black space.. Recording Studio: Great journey, I gave a lot of myself to these sessions. Reporters, poking around, have unearthed intriguing connections: a documentary co-produced with Steve Bannon; a donor who worked at the secretive hedge fund run by the Breitbart benefactor Robert. I like the tapered sweater. JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION with Umojah Nation Reggae Band and the Griot Project at the Art & Soul of Buckeye Park in Cleveland. Headwraps by Queen Fatima Chui. Writing a comprehensive business plan is the first step in starting a business. The whole idea when [BeautyCon] was founded was to be an inclusive place for all women to express their individual beauty, Dennis said. This was an important week for minority media. Because I hope they dont stray from the culture of Essence. This major move marks Essences return to being a 100% black-owned company. Magazine articles are $250 per article. - Edward long Timeless reading that calms and reassures is hard to find. 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. Despite Dennis promises, Black influencers are still wary. We wish you could have been in the room to see the excitement and pride on the Essence Teams' faces as we gave them the good news, according to a statement on the Essence website . No one cares about Black women, she continued. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Know Thyself sweathshirt available @Alkebulan Ujaama Book Store. 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. Similar uprisings have taken place at The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the womens lifestyle website Refinery29. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. But Black capitalism looks like misogyny, sexism, and sexual assault. Dennis acknowledged that, though progress has been made in the beauty industry in terms of racial efforts, it doesnt mean the problem is solved. He said theres still a need for awareness and education to dismantle structural racism at the root of bias in the community. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". And I feel that over the years they expanded their branding and their marketing, which is fine, but I feel like they kind of neglected their base demographic. According to a statement released by the magazines owner, Essence Ventures, Essence will keep its current executive team, which consists entirely of black women, including Michelle Ebanks, the magazines president. This flare shirt is amazing! Although financial details remain confidential, Essences sale comes at a precipitous time for both the magazine and the larger media landscape. Whether BeautyCon becomes a platform to help combat those inequities remains to be seen. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Is Our TV Pick Of The Week, Small Town Horror Story: The Racist Attack Of A FedEx Worker. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! 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.. Essence Communications will be led by an all-black female executive team. filed for bankruptcy last year after being ravaged by the pandemic. The release states further that Essence will focus on expanding its digital businesses and continue to plant its rich content in more global markets (the Essence Festival launched a Durban, South Africa, festival in 2016). And while BeautyCon devotees have described the event as an inclusive community that allows beauty and lifestyle enthusiasts to network, meet their favorite influencers and get discounted makeup, Black influencers have not always felt welcome. As a classicist, he's at ease with the ancient world but often brings a historian's insightful perspective to current . Essence Ventures swooped in at a foreclosure sale to acquire BeautyCon, the so-called Super Bowl of the Beauty industry that nearly filed for bankruptcy last year after being ravaged by the pandemic, financial issues, staff layoffs, and unpaid bills. While [people] say they want to protect Black women, thats a lie. 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, said Ebanks. The Essence motto is Black women come first, and Mr. Dennis said he intended to live up to it. Michelle Ebanks will continue to serve as president of ESSENCE Communications and will join its board of directors. 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. 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. However, they either didnt respond or declined to comment. Everybody aint lying, she said. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 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. [3] [4] Lewis and Smith called the publication a "lifestyle magazine directed at upscale African American women". The allegations didnt even go very far. Continuing in our tradition, we're introducing you to the masterminds behind some of the most popular. We dont want @Essence to fold, the group said. Thoughts have power; thoughts have energy. Essence Ventures started in 2017 and is chaired by founder, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, In addition, the all black female executive team of, Jalen Hurts Reaches $255 Million Deal With Help of All-Women Management Team, Drake Opens for Lil Wayne During Welcome to tha Carter Toronto Tour Stop, Chance The Rapper Talks Conversation With Dave Chappelle At Black Star Line Festival, Chance The Rapper & Vince Mensas Ghana Festival to Include Erykah Badu, T-Pain & More, Carolyn Bryant Donham, Woman At the Center of Emmett Till Saga, Has Died, Dwyane Wade Moved His Family From Florida Due to Anti-LGBTQ Policies, Controversial Talk Show Host Jerry Springer Has Died, Red Table Talk Canceled as Meta Ends Facebook Watch Originals. Lol, FAMILY: The children and I @University Circles Parade the Circle, Modeling for: http://www.afropunk.com/ Brooklyn, New York, August 2014. According to Black Enterprise magazine, Essence president Michelle Ebanks will continue in her role and join its board of directors. I dont believe in losses, she wrote. . The essay, titled The Truth About Essence, was published on the digital platform Medium under the byline Black Female Anonymous, which has identified itself as a group of former and current Essence employees. Melody Spann-Cooper, chairwoman of Midway Broadcasting Corporation, which owns WVON, a Chicago radio station whose target audience is black, welcomed Essences return to being an all-black-owned company. By clicking submit, you agree to receive emails from Rolling Out and accept our web terms of use and privacy and cookie policy. With the sale of Essence magazine to a personal-care products mogul, the publication is once again fully black-owned for the first time since 2000. I remember in December 2012, in a meeting to set the definition of solutions journalism, Tina insisted we use the word "rigorous" so as to differentiate it from fluffier stories about firefighters saving cats from trees. Other businesses and contractors who worked the event were reported to have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau or sought assistance from collections agencies. But we must fix the systemic brokenness of any Black cultural institution that devalues Black women. Celebrity OTE - Spring Arts Guide Daniel Kaluuya. However, she also doesnt think BeautyCon will suffer from the negative stain of Essence. It also marks the first time a major womens style magazinewhich heavily features beauty-based advertisements and editorialis connected via ownership to a consumer-products company. The event had always centered white women and white entrepreneurs, DelSol said, and therefore never appealed to her. That superseded the priority of Black hair care.. The executive team will also have an ownership interest in the business. Article length can vary from 500 to 2500 words. Even with your apology, [victims] still have their trauma and the after-effects. Mr. Dennis said that he was raised by a single mother who read Essence magazine and that his four daughters read it. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Mr. Dennis, the founder of Sundial. Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) was founded in 1968 by Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth, Jonathan Blount, Denise M. Clark, and Edward Lewis. It is a brand I only see at Target. Got it from Dillards for $14. But this month, he was back. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The City of Cacapava, Sao Paolo, Brazil, owns No. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". I thank the entire ESSENCE team for their tremendous passion and unrelenting commitment to driving the brands success.

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