The recession devastated many businesses – most notably, magazines. With advertising budgets having plummeted, magazines that were most affected by declining add dollars had to cease publication including Vibe magazine (which was later resurrected as a quarterly publication), Domino, and Men’s Vogue among many others. But some have managed to stay afloat, including some Black mags that have managed to stick around for the long haul – magazines we can’t even remember living without. Here is a look at the Black glossies which have informed, inspired and survived through the decades.
Right On! and Black Beat
These magazines targeting the Black teen market have held on for decades – four decades that is. Right On! debuted in 1971, with the Jackson 5 on their first cover. It was the first magazine to cater to Black teens and was the African-American version of mags like Tiger Beat and Bop. It can rightfully claim to be one of the longest running urban magazines in the country. The two publications are currently owned by Dorchester Media, LLC, but the history of the founder(s) remains a mystery as Dorchester Media is keeping quiet on the exact origins of the pubs.
Ebony and Jet Magazines
These two sister magazines published by Johnson Publishing have monopolized grocery aisle newsstands for generations. Ebony was founded as a monthly magazine by John H. Johnson in 1945, with a focus on highlighting Black achievement from “Harlem to Hollywood.” The first issue, which featured a program to improve race relations, sold out its run of 25,000 copies. By 1997, its circulation had peaked at 2 million.
Jet debuted in 1951 as the “weekly negro news magazine,” which focused on current events and the civil rights struggles. Jet was one of the few media outlets to publish photos of Emmitt Till, the 14-year-old African American boy who was lynched for whistling at a white woman in the Jim Crow South.
The Johnson Publishing Company is still independently owned and can claim to be the world’s largest African-American owned and operated publishing company. In August 2010, the company made news when it appointed former White House social secretary Desiree Rogers to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Since she took office, Ebony magazine has undergone a major redesign with the new look having debuted this month.
Black Enterprise
The business magazine is one of the few Black-oriented publications which is still black owned. Earl Gilbert Graves, Sr founded Black Enterprise in 1970. Today, his son Earl G. Graves Jr runs the family owned operation as president and CEO. According to its website, the magazine has close to 4 million readers. As the mag continues to highlight Black business owners, professionals and business advice on its pages, the company is investing in its online presence and has expanded into television with the debut of the syndicated program “Our World With Black Enterprise.”
The Source
Before hip-hop went ultra mainstream, there was The Source. When it first appeared on the scene in 1988, it was a must-have for hip-hop fans who had few outlets to learn about, and be exposed to, the news and happenings of urban music. Just think, at the time, hip hop was limited to just one hour on MTV (Yo! MTV Raps anyone?). The glossy was founded by Dave Mays and his Harvard college buddies. It rose to prominence quickly, considering that it was both filling a void and creating the market.
The Source’s history is not without controversy thanks to its former editor-in-chief and co-owner Benzino. The magazine became the source of hip-hop drama when Benzino started a fued with Eminem in 2002. Later, word of sexual harassment of the female staff came to light. Despite all his troubles, Benzino eventually moved on to found Hip Hop Weekly with Dave Mays. The Source is still one of the most recognizable rap brands in the world today.
Sister 2 Sister
Jamie Foster Brown, a former producer at BET, founded Sister 2 Sister Magazine as a monthly trade newsletter in 1988. Today, the monthly mag focuses on entertaining and catering to young black women. Brown, who still owns the company 23 years later, told Mediabistro last year that she has managed to boast 200,000 in circulation with only a small staff of less than nine people. Known for its lengthy interviews with celebrities, the magazine continues to be a credible source of entertainment news and views.
Essence
Essence magazine continues to be the go-to magazine for Black women. Since its debut in 1970, it has been dispensing information about beauty, celebrity, relationships and beauty to its million plus readers. The magazine was founded in 1968 by Edward Lewis, Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth, Jonathan Blount, and Denise M. Clark and was bought out by Time Inc. in 2000. Although it is technically not black-owned, it continues to dedicate itself to its African-American fan base, despite the fact that its loyalties were questioned after the controversial appointment of a white woman to the post of fashion director.
