Ebony (magazine)
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.
Ebony magazine was founded in 1945 by John H. Johnson, who sought to address African–American issues, personalities and interests in a positive and self-affirming manner. Its cover photography typically showcases prominent African American public figures, including entertainers and politicians, such as Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois, U.S. First lady Michelle Obama, Beyoncé Knowles, Tyrese Gibson, and Tyler Perry. Each year, Ebony selects the "100 Most Influential Blacks in America".
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.
History
1945–1969
Ebony was founded by John H. Johnson in 1945. The name of the magazine was created by Johnson's wife, Eunice Walker Johnson, in reference to the dark wood. The magazine was patterned after the format of Life magazine. Publishing the first issue on November 1, 1945, The magazine's initial 25,000 copy press run sold out completely. EbonyEditors 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, 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."
During the 1960s, the magazine increasingly covered the Civil Rights Movement. Articles published in the magazine were about political events happening all over the U.S., in which activists protested racial violence and advocated for increasing social mobility for African–Americans across the diaspora were. Also published in the magazine was content about the Black Power Movement. In 1965, Lerone Bennett Jr., a executive editor wrote a recurring column entitled, Black Power, which featured an in-depth profile of Stokely Carmichael in 1966.. Ebony also commemorated historical events that contributed to black citizenship and freedom such as the September 1963 issue that honored the 100 year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.
1969–1985
Ebony1985–2005
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. Beginning in the mid–1970s, advertisers created ads specifically for the magazine which featured African–American models using their products. In 1985, Ebony Man, a monthly men's magazine was created, printing the first issue in September 1985. By the magazine's 40th anniversary in November 1985, it had a circulation of 1.7 million.2005–present
In December 2008, Google announced that it was scanning back issues for Google Book Search; all issues from November 1959 to December 2008 are available for free. 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 began a redesign process 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 has started to feature more controversial content.The November 2011 cover featured a pregnant Nia Long, reminiscent of the iconic image of actress Demi Moore featured naked while pregnant on a major magazine cover two decades before. Some of Ebony′s more conservative readers disagreed with the cover choice, stating it inappropriate to feature an unwed, pregnant woman on the cover. The cover made national headlines, as it was featured in US Weekly and in a five-minute segment on CNN. Recent issues questioned whether President Obama was still right for black America and whether biracial Americans need more acknowledgement in today's society. In 2018, Ebony's publishing format was changed; it went 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 Spring 2019 issue the last to be printed.
Notable Coverage
100 Most Influential Blacks
One of the most infamous 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. However, some researchers have noted that black scholars, teachers, and higher-education administrators are rarely, if ever, included on the list. The list exclusively focuses on entertainment figures, politicians, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs.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.65th Anniversary Edition
In November 2010, the magazine featured a special 65th-anniversary edition cover featuring Taraji P. Henson, Samuel L. Jackson, Usher and Mary J. Blige. The issue included eight cover recreations from historic and iconic previous covers of Ebony. Blair Underwood posed inside, as did Omar Epps and Jurnee Smollett. National Public Radio marked this anniversary edition as the beginning of redesign of Ebony. Former White House social secretary Desiree Rogers, of the Obama administration, had become the chief executive officer of the magazine.Ownership
In 2016, Johnson Publishing Company sold the magazine along with Jet to private equity firm Clear View Group. In May 2017, the editorial staff for the magazine moved from Chicago to Los Angeles along with the editorial staff for Jet magazine.Other Information
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. After suspending the print edition of the magazine in May 2019, Clear View Group and Ebony Media Operations laid-off majority of the editing staff in June 2019.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, concluding with only 3 being paid in full. In late-2017, the remaining writers with the help of The National Writers Union filed case against Clear View Group and Ebony Media Operations.The remaining writers finally settled their lawsuit with the company in February 2018. The magazine owners were ordered to pay $80,000 Ebony Media Operations, Clear View Group and the National Writers Union came to an agreement that all unpaid invoices would be compensated in four quarterly payments by the end of 2018. In October 2018, the magazines' owner missed its third quarter payment and another lawsuit was filed in November 2018. Clear View Group then made the final payment due to the writers in December 2018.