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.[4][5]
Former editors
- Tracey Ferguson
- Kyra Kyles
- Kierna Mayo
- Amy DuBois Barnett
- Bryan Monroe
Monthly
1,333,421[1]
November 1, 1945[2]
Ebony Media Operations, LLC
(2016–present)
Johnson Publishing Company
(1945–2016)
United States
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
(2020-Present)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.[3]
(2017–2020)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
(1945–2017)
English
Ebony magazine was founded in 1945 by John H. Johnson, for his Johnson Publishing Company. He sought to address African-American issues, personalities and interests in a positive and self-affirming manner.[6] Its cover photography typically showcases 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, Tyrese Gibson, and Tyler Perry. Each year, Ebony selects the "100 Most Influential Blacks in America".[7]
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.[8][9] After the publication went bankrupt in July 2020, it was purchased for $14 million by Junior Bridgeman in December 2020.
History[edit]
1945–1969[edit]
Ebony was founded by John H. Johnson in 1945. The magazine was named by Johnson's wife, Eunice Walker Johnson, thinking of the dark wood.[10] The magazine was patterned after the format of Life magazine.[11] Ebony published its first issue on November 1, 1945, with an initial press run of 25,000 copies that sold out completely.[12] Ebony's earlier content focused on African-American sports and entertainment figures, but eventually began including black achievers and celebrities of many different professions.[13]
Notable coverage[edit]
100 Most Influential Blacks[edit]
One of the most famous 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.[24] However, some researchers have noted that black scholars, teachers, and higher-education administrators are rarely, if ever, included on the list.[25][26] The list exclusively focuses on entertainment figures, politicians, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs.[27]
The May 2001 "100+ Most Influential Black Americans" issue did not include a number of influential African Americans such as Thomas Sowell, Shelby Steele, Armstrong Williams, Walter Williams and, most notably, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The Economist described the exclusion of Justice Thomas from the list as spiteful.[28]
25 Coolest Brothers of All Time[edit]
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.[30]
65th anniversary edition[edit]
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.[31]
Ownership[edit]
In 2016, Johnson Publishing Company sold the magazine along with Jet to private equity firm Clear View Group.[32][33][34] In May 2017, the editorial staff for the magazine moved from Chicago to Los Angeles along with the editorial staff for Jet magazine.[35] In December 2020, the magazine and its sister publication Jet[36] were purchased for $14 million by Junior Bridgeman.[37]