Citing an abusive work culture, the essays writers also said that Black women at the company are systematically suppressed by pay inequity, sexual harassment, corporate bullying, intimidation, colorism and classism.. Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Top editors from Refinery29, the New York Times, Bon Apptit and the Philadelphia Inquirer resigned last month in response to journalists calling out their own organizations and now Essence can be added to the list of companies making changes. 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 . *Terms apply. 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. 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. Essence said that he helped lead the team but never took on the role and responsibilities as CEO. [3] [4] Lewis and Smith called the publication a "lifestyle magazine directed at upscale African American women". It tells the stories of real Americans who take individual initiative to make their lives and the lives of others better. And you can make your world or break it by your own thinking. -Susan Taylor, When is Kwanzaa and my daily Kwanzaa practice, "I saw the Angel in the marble, and carved until I set him free", Prime my subconscious, one hint at a time. 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. Dennis sold his cosmetics company Sundial Brands to Unilever for an estimated $1.6 billion in 2017. Because I hope they dont stray from the culture of Essence. Copyright 2022 Rolling Out. 40 Founders Of Black-Owned Hair Care Brands You Should Know About | Essence At the helm of these beloved brands are Black business owners who've made it their mission from the beginning to. Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Magazine articles are $250 per article. It does not store any personal data. 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. Essence Communications announced Thursday that it was acquired from Time Inc. by Essence Ventures for an undisclosed sum. Starting with the magazine in 1970, it has expanded. 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. - Edward long Timeless reading that calms and reassures is hard to find. We know that we work for you and nothing makes us happier. Essence is Black A.F., Nottingham said, which is beautiful, but how are they going to [integrate that with BeautyCon]? Co-founded by Ed Lewis and Clarence Smith in 1968, Essence has been one of the lifestyle go-to companies for African-American women. Mr. Dennis would not discuss the details of the sale. The move returns 48-year-old Essence to black ownership for the first time in over a decade, and solidifies the magazines status as the most important minority-owned publication in America. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Essence, a 48-year-old monthly lifestyle magazine, has a majority-black readership. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I like my face in this, though. 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.. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Articles in classical art, music, craft and architecture aims to showcase the timeless beauty of master artists and craftsman throughout antiquity. The owner of Black business empire Essence Ventures, who vowed to step away as the acting CEO of Essence magazine after being an awful boss during last year's racial reckoning, is. After the former CEO Michelle Ebanks stepped down in March, the company announced that Dennis would have direct oversight of the company while it searched for a new CEO. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Instead, he framed his latest venture as part of a mission to fight racism in the retail industry. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Essence currently reaches over 16 million people via social media, print, digital engagement and live events, according to a spokeswoman for Essence Ventures. Would love your thoughts, please comment. We may earn a commission from links on this page. 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. The authors called for the resignation of Dennis and other executives, urged for an advertising boycott and painted a damning portrait of Dennis, including alleging that his surface-level commitment to Black women is driven by greed and a debaucherous sexual appetite, that he has sexually harassed multiple women and has used NDAs to protect his family against liability or disparagement. 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. Essence Ventures is an African-American owned company focused on merging content, community, and commerce founded by Richelieu Dennis, the CEO and founder of Sundial Brands. A clean bed is necessary for healing. 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 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 most valuable part of writing a business plan is the education you gain by researching and . The essay said Mr. Dennis tried to force Essence employees and contractors to sign nondisclosure agreements to protect him and his family from liability or disparagement after a string of wrongful layoffs. It also said that Mr. Denniss wife, Martha Dennis, whom it described as the companys head of human resources, should not serve in that role, calling the arrangement a blatant conflict of interest. (An Essence spokeswoman denied that Ms. Dennis was the head of human resources, saying that she had advised the company in its ongoing HR transition as the company searched for a full-time HR lead.). Long a touchstone of Black culture, Essence celebrated its 50th anniversary with its May issue, which featured the model Naomi Campbell on the cover. We are hiring for both print as well as online articles. In 2018, he bought the Essence brand, vowing to scale Black-owned brands and bring much-needed diversity to the beauty and lifestyle world. The conversations @richelieudennis and I started a few months ago about his strategic vision for @Essence and the opportunity to be on a team furthering the health/wealth of the global black diaspora, across a portfolio of businesses including @essence, was a win. A win stitched together by a 50-year legacy of black creatives, businesses, and community that I would be honored to be a part of., Ms. Wanga noted that she had learned there are things that need to be better for our team and culture and Im ready to begin that work, adding, Im committed to flourishing while fixing and fastening what needs to work to be in service to our teams, communities and partners. I dont know, but I dont have high hopes of BeautyCon being a more Black space.. The anonymous essay suggested that many Essence employees believe he has not lived up to that statement. American Essence magazine is a breath of fresh air in troubled times! 5:11 pm. Later in the essay, the writers said the problems at Essence predated the arrival of Mr. Dennis. However, she also doesnt think BeautyCon will suffer from the negative stain of Essence. Mr. Dennis has also stepped away from the daily leadership role he had assumed since the departure of Ms. Ebanks, the company said in a separate statement. You win and you learn. Bain Capital took a minority stake in Sundial in 2015. In 2017, it was sold to the conglomerate Unilever, but Dennis remains Sundials CEO and executive chairman. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Ms. Luu, the head of content, will step back from day-to-day operations during the course of the review, the statement said. Ebanks insists this sacred wall will still be honoredand that Essence is not directly owned by Sundial, but rather a separate Dennis-helmed entity. All rights Reserved. Forbes reports that he and his cofounder and mother Mary owned 51% of the company and walked away with an estimated $850 million fortune, making them two of the wealthiest Black entrepreneurs in the world. In the summer of 2020, a Medium article was published with damning accusations against Essences owner Richelieu Dennis. [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. They have allowed us to invest into the business so that we can bring in the infrastructure and resources.. Clearly, Ebanks team hopes that Essence wont just evolve, but thrive and survive for the next 48 years. Essence Ventures LLC, an independent black-owned company today announced its acquisition of Essence Communications Inc., home of Essence magazine, from . 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 . 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. The strategic vision and leadership that Michelle has provided to ESSENCE over the years have been exemplary, and we are thrilled to work with her and her talented team to provide the necessary resources and support to continue to grow the engagement and influence of the ESSENCE brand and transform this business, Dennis said. Essence covers African-American beauty and style. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Mr. Dennis, the founder of Sundial. Essence Ventures announced in a press release, in November, Unilever acquired the parent company for SheaMoisture, Sundial Brands. Ebanks issued a statement which reads in part, 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, 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.. 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. 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. Everybody aint lying, she said. It is with great joy that we announced that Essence is under new ownership and is now an independent African-American-owned company. 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. iSoloArtist. Its branding was so popular that Time Inc., purchased the magazine and for the past 12 years, a publication dedicated to Black women was in White hands. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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 event had always centered white women and white entrepreneurs, DelSol said, and therefore never appealed to her. READ: Missy Elliott To Receive Essence 2018 Black Women In Music Honor. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Essence Communications Inc., the 48-year-old mutliplatform brand that owns Essence magazine and the annual Essence Festival, has gone back to black (ownership), having been acquired by Essence . We wish the ESSENCE team the best and will watch this celebrated brand continue to flourish in its next chapter," he stated. Michelle Ebanks will continue to serve as president of ESSENCE Communications and will join its board of directors. We value Black activism. Essence Ventures is founded and chaired by Richelieu Dennis, founder of Sundial Brands which owns Shea Moisture. Those findings have not changed the views of some. I could live life on the beach, but it was very cold near Lake Erie. Essence Communications Inc., the 48-year-old mutliplatform brand that owns Essence magazine and the annual Essence Festival, has gone back to black (ownership), having been acquired by Essence Ventures LLC, an independent African-American-owned company, Essence Ventures announced in a press release. Ebanks will also have equity stake in the business along with the executive team of ESSENCE. Co-founded by Ed Lewis and Clarence Smith in 1968, Essence has been one of the lifestyle go-to companies for African-American women. Instead, Essence is now in the hands of Dennis, a media newcomer who made his fortune in shea-butter cosmetics. - Monica Guza .. non-political, real-life look at goodness, decency, and excellence in the world. 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. Members of the team were excited about the announcement. Its branding was so popular . Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I thank the entire ESSENCE team for their tremendous passion and unrelenting commitment to driving the brands success. It is a brand I only see at Target. Its target audience is the African-American community, and its coverage includes the lifestyles and accomplishments of influential black people, fashion, beauty, and politics.. Ebony magazine was founded in 1945 by John H. Johnson, for his Johnson Publishing Company.He sought to address African-American issues . These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The company bought the remaining 51 percent in 2005. It is a magazine that focuses on traditional American values and great American stories. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. . 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. 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. This is historical.. Thoughts have power; thoughts have energy. As a classicist, he's at ease with the ancient world but often brings a historian's insightful perspective to current . I would have to see change, see an apology, in order to participate or contribute. Last year, The Wrap reported that a year after a huge event that attracted thousands of attendees, BeautyCon was still struggling to pay vendors. This article was originally published in American Essence magazine. 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. Fix it or fold.. The Epoch Times is looking for writers who are passionate and knowledgeable in the field of classical art. 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. In 2000, the magazines founders, Clarence Smith and Ed Lewis, sold a 49 percent stake in Essence to Time Inc. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. The magazine focuses on fashion, pop culture, music and black life. 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. That reality was reflected by Johnson Publishing Companys sale two years ago of Ebony and Jet to a private equity firm in Texas, creating a void in black-owned media companies. Were very proud of that, and we see [BeautyCon] as a continuation of that work.. 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. The new company, to be. I spent 30 years of my life breaking down the racial barriers of beauty, he said. 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We idolize Black capitalism, Black consumerism, and Black wealth over Black people, and I dont see this being an issue at all for them. Under the influence of coconut oil, shea, olive, and a slight bit of gel to hold it. 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 top editor of Bon Apptit, Adam Rapoport, resigned last month after a photo of him costumed in stereotypical Puerto Rican attire resurfaced on social media. Black women deserve to feel safe both in white America and Black America., In a Wednesday letter to Ms. Wanga, Black Female Anonymous asked for a guarantee that Mr. Dennis would not have a role in running Essence and that the three other executives they had identified leave the company by the close of business on Friday. The website for Bright is The Epoch Times (see below). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. Writing a comprehensive business plan is the first step in starting a business. Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Richelieu Dennis had the title of interim CEO. 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. It focuses on culture, beauty, fashion, and entertainment. I think its cool that it has pockets. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. When we think about power dynamics and who has the power, if the allegations are true regardless of an investigation that took placewhere can these women go? Richelieu Dennis speaks onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival in 2018. 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. As we launch BRIGHT Magazine this week, I have in my head the guiding voices of SJN's co-founders. The magazine has a circulation of more than one million and its website attracts nearly seven million unique visitors each month. 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. Print fond memoriesThis pocket Bluetooth printer lets you print your precious memories before they hit Instagram. Essence Ventures started in 2017 and is chaired by founder, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist Richelieu Dennis. Today, however, Time Inc. is set to be owned by Midwest magazine publisher Meredith Corporation, which bought the conglomerate late last year in a $2.8 billion take-over, partially funded by the conservative-focused Koch brothers. I like the tapered sweater. The group has given Ms. Wanga, the interim leader, until the close of business on Friday to comply. The owner of Black business empire Essence Ventures, who vowed to step away as the acting CEO of Essence magazine after being an awful boss during last years racial reckoning, is not-so-quietly asserting his power againand Black influencers are torn. Got it from Dillards for $14. Time Inc. announced Wednesday, that Essence Ventures LLC, an independent African-American owned company, acquired the media company. But Black capitalism looks like misogyny, sexism, and sexual assault. Colorful earrings by @wheatgrass_scorpio. Austin-based Michael Gibson's ClearView Partners, with backing from Houston private-equity firm Park View Capital Partners, are the new owners of the 62-year-old monthly. I hope this means there is an opportunity for us to stay in business, she said. They faulted a previous Essence leader, Michelle Ebanks, blaming her for a toxic culture. Ms. Ebanks stepped down as the chief executive of Essence Communications in March, after nearly 20 years at the company, and is a member of the Essence board. Im not in the business of selling my soul for a couple of dollars or for popularity, one Black content creator told The Daily Beast. Lol, FAMILY: The children and I @University Circles Parade the Circle, Modeling for: http://www.afropunk.com/ Brooklyn, New York, August 2014. Even with your apology, [victims] still have their trauma and the after-effects. Were counting on you, Caroline. Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), https://africanessence.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/music-nov-29_solange_whenigethome_dreams_7.mp3, They tried to bury her, but she kept on giving birth . and a graphic artist! Essence has necessarily brokered introductions between Black ideas and Black people. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Under the agreement, the $2.8 billion deal would include Time, Fortune and Sports Illustrated. In 2000, Time Inc. acquired a 49 percent stake of Essence from its founders and acquired the remaining percentage five years later. Sources familiar with Essence told Page Six that it is likely that current and former employees wrote the anonymous op-ed. 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). In the same . On Thursday (Jan. 4), Essencethe nations leading African American-focused publicationwas sold by Time Inc. to a newly formed company backed by Richelieu Dennis, a multimillionaire personal-care-products mogul. This pocket Bluetooth printer lets you print your precious memories before they hit Instagram. Essence Names Interim Chief After Claim of Abusive Work Culture, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/02/business/media/essence-magazine-accusations.html. For the last 50 years, Essence Magazine has consistently found innovative approaches to archiving Black women's lives by immortalizing our intellect, literature, and culture on glossy pages. 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). Fine art articles for American Essence include American architecture and houses of beauty, traditional American artists and musicians that helped establish the culture as well as cinema and film stars that inspired the nation and the American people. Gerren Keith Gaynor March 13, 2013 918. According to Page Six reporting, the employees are giving Essence executives an ultimatum: respond in five business days or they will release personal testimonials of pay inequity, workplace bullying, lay-offs while on maternity leave and immediately after giving birth and sexual harassment. Using the Black Female Anonymous nom de plume again, they launched a change.org petition to get signatures for their resignation. - Charles Middlemas Uplifting stories about exceptional Americans. An op-ed, titled "The Truth About Essence" and written by "Black Female Anonymous" was published on Medium on Sunday that outlined allegations of a toxic workplace culture in which Black. Essence Communications will be led by an all-black female executive team. But hes entering the industry as a neophyte at a time when mediaparticularly independent mediais struggling for survival. ! She ended her statement with the hashtag #BlackWomenRiseTogether., Black Female Anonymous replied to Ms. Wanga on social media.
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