{{short description|US magazine for African-American women}} {{shortlead|date=September 2023}} {{Use American English|date = September 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date = September 2019}} {{Infobox magazine | title = Essence | image_file = Essence magazine May 2010.png | image_size = 220px | image_alt = Musician Jill Scott appears on the cover of the May 2010 issue of Essence | image_caption = Musician [[Jill Scott (singer)|Jill Scott]] on the cover of the May 2010 issue of ''Essence'' | editor = | editor_title = | previous_editor = | staff_writer = | frequency = 6 issues annually | total_circulation = 756,800<ref>{{cite web |url= https://pressgazette.co.uk/media-audience-and-business-data/media_metrics/us-magazine-circulations-2024/ |title= Top 50 magazines in the US: The Atlantic is fastest growing title in second half of 2024 |date= March 7, 2025 |publisher= [[Press Gazette]] |access-date= November 29, 2025}}</ref> | circulation_year = 2024 | category = | company = Essence Communications<br>(Essence Ventures) | publisher = | firstdate = {{start date and age|1970|5}} | country = [[United States]] | based = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S. | language = | website = {{URL|essence.com}} | issn = 0014-0880 }}
'''''Essence''''' (stylized in [[all caps]]) is an American monthly [[lifestyle (sociology)|lifestyle]] [[magazine]] covering [[fashion]], [[beauty]], entertainment, and culture. First published in 1970, the magazine is written for [[African-American]] women.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Woodard |first=Jennifer Bailey |date=November 1, 2005 |title=Black Womanhood: Essence and its Treatment of Stereotypical Images of Black Women |journal=Journal of Black Studies |volume=36 |issue=2 |pages=264–281 |doi=10.1177/0021934704273152 |citeseerx=10.1.1.1018.2605 |s2cid=144676210 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Danky |first=James Philip |url=http://archive.org/details/africanamericanne00dank |title=African-American newspapers and periodicals : a national bibliography |last2=Hady |first2=Maureen E. |date=1998 |publisher=Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press |others=Mark Graham |isbn=978-0-674-00788-8 |pages=214}}</ref>
==History== [[Edward Lewis (publisher)|Edward Lewis]], Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth and Jonathan Blount founded Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) in 1968. It began publishing ''Essence'' magazine in May 1970.<ref>{{cite web|title=Magazines in Alphabetical Order|url=http://guides.library.harvard.edu/schlesinger_womens_magazines|work=Radcliffe Institute|access-date=October 19, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Krishnan, Satya P.|display-authors=etal|title=Coverage of AIDS in Popular African American Magazines|journal=Health Communication|date=1997|volume=9|issue=3|pages=273–288|doi=10.1207/s15327027hc0903_5|url=http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/n/x/nxy906/COMPS/messageframing/media%20framing%20lit/krishnanAIDSframing.pdf|access-date=February 26, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115720/http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/n/x/nxy906/COMPS/messageframing/media%20framing%20lit/krishnanAIDSframing.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Lewis and Smith called the publication a "lifestyle magazine directed at upscale African American women". They recognized that black women were an overlooked demographic and saw ''Essence'' as an opportunity to capitalize on a virtually untouched market of black women readers.<ref name=":0" /> Its initial circulation was approximately 50,000 copies per month, subsequently growing to roughly 1.6 million.<ref name="bynoe">Bynoe, Yvonne. ''Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip-hop Culture''. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2006, p. 263, {{ISBN|978-0-313-33058-2}}.</ref> [[Gordon Parks]] served as its editorial director during the first three years of its circulation.
In 2000, [[Time Inc.]] purchased 49 percent of Essence Communications Inc.<ref name="CampbellMartin2012">{{cite book|author1=Richard Campbell|author2=Christopher R. Martin|author3=Bettina Fabos|title=Media and Culture with 2013 Update: An Introduction to Mass Communication|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rYC_WEqUcAUC&pg=PA277|access-date=January 13, 2013|date=February 20, 2012|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-1-4576-0491-1|page=277}}</ref>
In 2005, Time Inc. made a deal with Essence Communications Inc. to purchase the remaining 51 percent. The deal placed the ownership of the 34-year-old ''Essence'' magazine, one of the United States' leading magazines for women of color, under widespread ownership, rather than black ownership.<ref name = "The New York Times">Carr, David. ''The New York Times'', 2005.</ref> In January 2018, the magazine returned to a fully black-owned publication after its acquisition by Richelieu Dennis, the founder of Sundial Brands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/essence-magazine-bought-by-shea-moisture-founder-returns-100-percent-black-ownership-1071575|title=Shea Moisture Founder Buys Essence Magazine, Returns to 100 Percent Black Ownership|date=January 4, 2018|first=Sam|last=Reed|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref>
In 2020, Black Female Anonymous, a group made up of former and possibly current Essence employees, published a Medium article alleging sexual harassment claims against Dennis, as well as egregious claims of bullying and mistreatment of employees by members of the C-Suite. Following the Medium post, an investigation was launched into the claims.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, Essence furloughed staff in 2020 after receiving a PPP loan from the government.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tani|first=Maxwell|date=2020-09-30|title=Essence Magazine Furloughs Staff Due to COVID-19 Revenue Losses|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/essence-magazine-furloughs-staff-will-only-pay-salaries-through-the-week|access-date=2020-10-02|website=The Daily Beast|language=en}}</ref>
==Contents== In "Black Womanhood: ''Essence'' and its Treatment of Stereotypical Images of Black Women," professors stated that diverse images of black women are not often included in white magazines and media but that those black women can see themselves in different lights in ''Essence''.<ref name=":0"/> The magazine features sections called Celebrity, Fashion, Beauty, Hair, Love, and Point-of-View.<ref name="Essence">[http://www.essence.com/ "Essence"], Essence.com.</ref> The magazine has covered topics from family, to social issues in the African-American community, African-American women in the military, and being HIV positive. Celebrities including [[Michelle Obama]] and the late [[Whitney Houston]] have appeared on the cover and been featured in the magazine through interviews and photo spreads.<ref>PR Newswire US, 2011.</ref> Originally launched primarily as a fashion magazine, ''Essence'' has grown to be a guideline for African-American women in many aspects of life.
Frequent contributors, including current editor-in-chief Vanessa K. De Luca, provide advice for the business-minded black woman.<ref>[http://aalbc.com/writers/essence.htm "Essence Magazine"]. AALBC.</ref>
=== Format === The online version of the magazine opens with large images that also display links to main articles.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.essence.com/tags/magazine|title=Essence|date=2017|website=www.Essence.com|access-date=May 12, 2017}}</ref> Scrolling farther the down, viewers of the site will find "Top Stories", "Hot Right Now", and other sections.<ref name=":2" /> There are tabs to the various categories of the publication's material, including "Celebrity," "Fashion," "Beauty," "Hair," "Love," "Lifestyle," "News", and "Videos".<ref name=":2" />
Several spots on the website provide links to the magazine's social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Google Plus.<ref name=":2" /> The bottom of the page presents a "From the Mag" section that features content from the magazine.<ref name=":2" />
=== Imagery in advertisements === ''Essence'' issues in the early 2000s featured mostly black woman models with lighter skin complexions.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Hazell|first=Vanessa|date=September 2008|title=Race and Gender in the Media: A Content Analysis of Advertisements in Two Mainstream Black Magazines|jstor=40282545|journal=Journal of Black Studies|volume=39|issue=1|pages=5–21|doi=10.1177/0021934706291402|citeseerx=10.1.1.1008.142|s2cid=144876832}}</ref> The magazine then began to include a greater number of models with darker skin complexions.<ref name=":3" />
In terms of hair types, long and wavy hairstyles were almost equally represented as short and curly styles.<ref name=":3" /> The sizes of the noses and lips of most of the models were considered average.<ref name=":3" /> The bodies of the models were not often displayed.<ref name=":3" /> When they were, thinner and average body types were more likely to be shown than fuller body types.<ref name=":3" />
These observations rose out of a study titled "Race and Gender in the Media: A Content Analysis of Advertisements in Two Mainstream Black Magazines."<ref name=":3" /> They were then used to comment on what the image practices of ''Essence'' may say about how black media represents black people, chiefly black women, and how these representations may reflect and reveal larger truths about how black people themselves.<ref name=":3" />
==Circulation== * Rate base: 1,600,000<ref name="bynoe" /> * Subscriptions: 78% * Single-copy sales: 22%
==Essence Music Festival== The [[Essence Music Festival]] is the nation's largest annual gathering of African-American musical talent, and has been going on annually since 1994 in [[New Orleans]], bringing more than 400,000 people. The festival is a three-day event, that includes cultural celebrations, empowerment seminars, and nights of musical performances. Awards honoring prominent musicians in the African-American community are celebrated during the festival as well. The festival is held every [[Fourth of July]] weekend, and has featured some of the biggest names in music, including [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Beyoncé]], [[Patti LaBelle]], [[Mary J. Blige]], [[Lionel Richie]] and others.<ref>PR Newswire US, 2012.</ref>
In 2007, presidential candidates [[Barack Obama]] and [[Hillary Clinton]] made special appearances at The Essence Music Festival, and in 2009 the festival was held in honor of Barack Obama's inauguration and presidency, with Beyoncé as the headliner.<ref>''[[New Musical Express]]'', 2009.</ref> In 2008, after partnering with ''Essence'' to develop and tape a co-branded special presentation ''Black in America: Reclaiming the Dream'', [[CNN]] reported live on-site throughout the Music Festival weekend.
In 2013, the Essence Music Festival rebranded to the Essence Festival to showcase the event as more than a music festival.
In 2016, the first ever associate event to the Essence Festival was announced – Essence Festival Durban – set to take place in [[Durban]], South Africa on November 8–13.{{Update inline|date=July 2017}} Essence President [[Michelle Ebanks]] commented at the time, "This is a milestone year for the Essence brand as we get ready to bring one of our most beloved events to the heart of South Africa in the coastal city of Durban which represents an exciting mix of cultures. This inaugural Essence Festival Durban will bring together voices of influence and power from the continent of Africa, the U.S. and across the globe to connect communities and empower women spanning the diaspora."<ref>{{cite web|title=Essence Festival Durban 2016 – Passion, Inspiration & Power|url=http://www.5stardurban.co.za/essence-festival-hitting-durbans-shores/|website=5 Star Durban Magazine|date=2016-09-23}}</ref> * 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://partyfixx.co/ecategory/2017-essence-festival/|title=2017 Essence Festival Concerts Tickets, Parties and Events Guide.|date=2017|website=The Party Fixx Company|access-date=July 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307123916/https://partyfixx.co/ecategory/2017-essence-festival/|archive-date=March 7, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Activism== In January 2005 ''Essence'' launched a 12-month initiative to combat [[misogyny in hip-hop culture]].<ref name="bynoe" /> The campaign, titled "Take Back the Music", was intended to inspire public dialogue about the portrayal of black women in [[Hip-hop culture|rap music]].<ref>Weisstuch, Lisa (January 12, 2005). [https://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0112/p11s01-almp.html "Sexism in rap sparks black magazine to say, 'Enough!'"]. ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'', accessed October 3, 2011.</ref> ''Essence'' also holds a Young Women's Leadership Conference since 2009, and released a book, also in 2009, titled ''Essence Presents: The Black Woman's Guide to Healthy Living''.<ref name="Advertising Age">{{Cite web |last=Dumenco |first=Simon |date=October 6, 2008 |title=The American Magazine Vanguard Awards |url=https://adage.com/article/the-media-guy/american-magazine-vanguard-awards/131470/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502034209/http://adage.com/article/the-media-guy/american-magazine-vanguard-awards/131470/ |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=[[Advertising Age]] |language=en}}</ref>
==Awards==
=== Awards run by ''Essence'' === ==== Black Women In Hollywood Awards ==== This long-running award event, held each February on the Thursday before the Oscars,<ref>{{Cite book|author=((The Editors of Essence))|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8jRNDwAAQBAJ&q=%22black+women+in+hollywood+awards%22+2008|title=ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood: A Salute to Trailblazers at the Oscars|date=2018-02-16|publisher=Time Inc. Books|isbn=978-1-5478-4316-9|language=en}}</ref> began in 2008 and continues to this day. His ceremony annually honors black women who have achieved success in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fluker|first=Dominique|title=How ESSENCE'S Black Women In Hollywood Awards Is Further Diversifying Hollywood|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominiquefluker/2020/02/07/black-women-in-hollywood-awards/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref>
In the event's first decade, awards were presented in several categories. Beginning in 2017, the event had a single theme and individuals were honored, with no specific award titles.
===== 2008 =====
* Power Award: [[Jada Pinkett Smith]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=A Look Back at All of ESSENCE's Black Women in Hollywood Honorees|url=https://www.essence.com/awards-events/red-carpet/black-women-hollywood/essence-black-women-hollywood-honorees/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Essence|language=en-US}}</ref>
===== 2009 =====
* Legend Award: [[Diahann Carroll]]<ref name=":1" /> * Power Award: [[Halle Berry]]<ref name=":1" /> * Star to Watch Award: [[Taraji P. Henson]]<ref name=":1" /> * Visionary Award: [[Gina Prince-Bythewood]]<ref name=":1" />
===== 2010 =====
* Breakthrough Performance Award: [[Gabourey Sidibe]]<ref name=":1" /> * Legend Award: [[Cicely Tyson]]<ref name=":1" /> * Power Award: [[Queen Latifah]]<ref name=":1" /> * Songstress of the Year: [[Mary J. Blige]]<ref name=":1" /> * Star to Watch Award: [[Zoe Saldaña]]<ref name=":1" />
===== 2011 =====
* [[Viola Davis]]<ref name=":1" /> * [[Loretta Devine]]<ref name=":1" /> * [[Angela Bassett]]<ref name=":1" /> * [[Jennifer Hudson]]<ref name=":1" />
===== 2012 =====
* Breakthrough Performance Award: [[Octavia Spencer]]<ref name=":1" /> * Legend Award: [[Pam Grier]]<ref name=":1" /> * Shining Star Award: [[Paula Patton]]<ref name=":1" /> * Vanguard Award: [[Kerry Washington]]<ref name=":1" /> * Visionary Award: [[Shonda Rimes]]<ref name=":1" />
===== 2013 =====
* Breakthrough Performance Award: [[Quvenzhané Wallis]]<ref name=":1" /> * Power Award: [[Oprah Winfrey]]<ref name=":1" /> * Shining Star Award: [[Naomie Harris]]<ref name=":1" /> * [[Alfre Woodard]]<ref name=":1" />
===== 2014 =====
* Breakthrough Performance Award: [[Lupita Nyong'o]]<ref name=":1" /> * Trailblazer Award: [[Cheryl Boone Isaacs]]<ref name=":1" /> * Visionary Award: [[Ava DuVernay]]<ref name=":1" />
===== 2015 =====
* Breakthrough Performance Award: [[Gugu Mbatha-Raw]]<ref name=":1" /> * Fierce and Fearless Award: [[Regina King]]<ref name=":1" /> * Visionary Award: [[Ruth E. Carter]]<ref name=":1" />
===== 2016 =====
* Fierce and Fearless Award: [[Tracee Ellis Ross]]<ref name=":1" /> * Power Award: [[Nina Shaw]]<ref name=":1" /> * Legend Award: [[Debbie Allen]]<ref name=":1" />
===== 2018 =====
* Honorees: [[Tiffany Haddish]], [[Lena Waithe]], [[Danai Gurira]], [[Tessa Thompson]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=ESSENCE To Honor Tiffany Haddish, Lena Waithe, Danai Gurira & Tessa Thompson At 2018 Black Women In Hollywood Event|url=https://www.essence.com/awards-events/red-carpet/black-women-hollywood/black-women-hollywood-2018-honorees-danai-gurira-tiffany-haddish-tessa-thompson-lena-waithe/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Essence|language=en-US}}</ref>
===== 2019 =====
* Theme: The Power of our Presence: Art and Activism<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards To Honor Amandla Stenberg, Jenifer Lewis, Kiki Layne & Regina Hall|url=https://www.essence.com/awards-events/red-carpet/black-women-hollywood/essence-black-women-in-hollywood-honorees-2019/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Essence|language=en-US}}</ref> * Honorees: [[Amandla Stenberg]], [[Jenifer Lewis]], [[KiKi Layne]], [[Regina Hall]]<ref name=":4" />
===== 2020 =====
* Honorees: [[Niecy Nash]], [[Melina Matsoukas]], [[Lashana Lynch]], and the cast of ''Pose'', along with its executive producer Janet Mock<ref>{{Cite web|title=Inside The 2020 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards|url=https://www.essence.com/feature/inside-black-women-in-hollywood-2020/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Essence|language=en-US}}</ref>
==== ''Essence'' Literary Awards ==== The first and only ''Essence'' Literary Awards ceremony was held in New York City on February 7, 2008, to celebrate both emerging and established African-American authors in nine categories: Fiction, Memoir, Inspiration, Non-fiction, Current Affairs, Photography, Children's Books, Poetry and Storyteller of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First-Ever Essence Literary Awards Celebrate African-American Writers|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/16804-first-ever-essence-literary-awards-celebrate-african-american-writers.html|access-date=2020-06-28|website=PublishersWeekly.com|language=en}}</ref> The honorees were as follows:
* Children's Books: ''Marvelous World'' by [[Troy CLE|Troy Cle]]/Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing * Current Affairs: ''An Unbroken Agony'' by [[Randall Robinson]]/ Basic Civitas * Fiction: ''The Pirate's Daughter'' by [[Margaret Cezair-Thompson]]/Unbridled Books * Inspiration: ''Quiet Strength'' by [[Tony Dungy]]/Tyndale * Lifetime Achievement: [[Terry McMillan]] * Memoir: ''Brother, I'm Dying'' by [[Edwidge Danticat]]/Knopf * Non-fiction: ''Supreme Discomfort'' by Michael Fletcher and [[Kevin Merida]]/Doubleday * Poetry: ''Duende'' by [[Tracy K. Smith]]/Graywolf Press * Photography: ''Daufuskie Island'' by [[Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe]]/University of South Carolina Press * President's Award: ''Reposition Yourself'' by [[T. D. Jakes|T.D. Jakes]]/Atria * Storyteller of the Year: [[Leslie Esdaile Banks|L.A. Banks]] * Save Our Libraries: Countee Cullen Regional Library in Harlem
=== Awards received by ''Essence'' ===
* 1970: [[National Magazine Awards|National Magazine Award]] for Fiction for Hortense Spillers' "Isom"<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lewis|first=Edward|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FIKMCwAAQBAJ&q=national+magazine+award+hortense+spillers&pg=PA189|title=The Man from Essence: Creating a Magazine for Black Women|date=2016-02-16|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-4767-0349-7|language=en}}</ref> * 2008: AdAge American Magazine Vanguard Award for "magazines that are innovating smartly beyond print."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-10-06|title=The American Magazine Vanguard Awards|url=https://adage.com/article/the-media-guy/american-magazine-vanguard-awards/131470|access-date=2020-06-28|website=adage.com|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Advertising Age" /> * 2008: 12 New York Association of Black Journalists awards in the Investigative, General Feature, International, Business/Technology, Science/Health, Arts and Entertainment, Personal Commentary, Public Affairs and Online categories. * NABJ Magazine Specialty Award – This award was received for their two part series "The Story of AIDS in Black America"<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2014-05-13|title=ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the USA2014 134 ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the USA Ann Arbor, MI ProQuest 2013–|journal=Reference Reviews|volume=28|issue=4|pages=22–24|doi=10.1108/rr-11-2013-0288|issn=0950-4125}}</ref> * NABJ Magazine Award for Business – This award was received for their Essence Home Ownership Campaign.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2014-05-13|title=ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the USA2014 134 ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the USA Ann Arbor, MI ProQuest 2013–|journal=Reference Reviews|volume=28|issue=4|pages=22–24|doi=10.1108/rr-11-2013-0288|issn=0950-4125}}</ref> * 2010: NABJ Award for Investigative writing for Angela Burt-Murray, Jeannine Amber, Rosemarie Robotham's "Lost Girl"; Single Topic Series for "Realizing the Dream" <ref>{{Cite web|title=Salute to Excellence - National Association of Black Journalists|url=http://www.nabj.org/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=www.nabj.org}}</ref>
==Controversy== The 2005 purchase of Essence Communications Inc. marked the first time an African-American magazine would be owned by a white man, sparking controversy because of the company's 34 years under African-American ownership.<ref name="The New York Times" />
In 2011, the magazine engaged with controversy when the editor-in-chief, Constance C. R. White, announced that the magazine's new managing editor was a white male by the name of Michael Bullerdick. White assured readers that Bullerdick had no control over the content of the magazine and was only to oversee the day-to-day operations of the magazine.<ref>Watkins, Boyce. "Should Essence Magazine Have a White Male Managing Editor?." yourblackworld.com.</ref> In April 2012, Bullerdick parted ways with the magazine after politically conservative views that ran counter to what Essence has historically stood for were discovered on his private Facebook page.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.theroot.com/node/62118|title=Essence Shifts White Male Managing Editor|magazine=[[The Root (magazine)|The Root]]|year=2012|access-date=April 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705052144/http://www.theroot.com/node/62118|archive-date=July 5, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In July 2020, controversy rose again when anonymous magazine staffers alleged mistreatment and abuse under the leadership of Richelieu Dennis. In a post called "Black Female Anonymous" on Medium, it is alleged that senior staffers subjected black female employees to sexual harassment, pay inequity and bullying. Dennis subsequently stepped down and named Caroline Wanga as interim CEO.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Dalvin|title=Essence magazine names temporary CEO; launches internal investigation into anonymous claims|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/07/01/essence-magazine-names-new-temporary-ceo-amid-toxic-workplace-claims/5354634002/|access-date=2020-09-17|website=USA Today|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Robertson|first=Katie|date=2020-09-08|title=Essence Names Interim Chief After Claim of 'Abusive Work Culture'|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/02/business/media/essence-magazine-accusations.html|access-date=2020-09-17|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Fuster|first=Jeremy|date=2020-06-29|title=Essence Magazine Staffers Demand Resignation of Leadership Amid Accusations of Toxic Workplace Culture|url=https://www.thewrap.com/essence-magazine-staffers-demand-resignation-of-leadership-amid-accusations-of-toxic-workplace-culture/|access-date=2020-09-17|website=TheWrap|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-01|title=Essence Responds to 'Toxic Culture' Allegations; Names New Interim CEO|url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/essence-responds-to-toxic-culture-allegations-names-new-interim-ceo/|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Black Enterprise|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Editors== * [[Ida E. Lewis]] (1970–1971) * Ruth Ross (1975) * [[Marcia Ann Gillespie]] (1971–1980) * [[Susan L. Taylor]] (1981–2000) * Monique Greenwood (2000)<ref> {{Cite web | title = Bios of the Phenomenal Women | publisher = [[Our Time Press]] | date =April 3, 2010 | url = http://www.ourtimepress.com/?p=2384 | access-date = September 23, 2016}} </ref> * Diane Weathers (2000–2005)<ref> {{Cite web | last = Gordon | first = Ed | title = Diane Weathers, Former Editor of 'Essence' Magazine | publisher = [[NPR]] | date =April 5, 2005 | url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4585511 | format = [[Windows Media Player]] or [[Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language]] | access-date =January 27, 2011}} </ref><ref> {{Cite web |last = Stanley |first = Jeffrey |title = Diane Weathers '67 |publisher = Brooklyn Friends School |date = December 2003 |url = http://www.brooklynfriends.org/RelId/606222/pagenum/2/ISvars/default/2003_December_%25e2%2580%2594_Diane_Weathers_%25e2%2580%259967.htm |access-date = January 27, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725103350/http://www.brooklynfriends.org/RelId/606222/pagenum/2/ISvars/default/2003_December_%E2%80%94_Diane_Weathers_%E2%80%9967.htm |archive-date = July 25, 2011 }} </ref> * [[Angela Burt-Murray]] (2005–2010) * Sheryl Hilliard Tucker (2010–2011)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.blackradionetwork.com/departure_of_essence_editor_shocks_staff|title=Departure Of Essence Editor 'Shocks' Staff|work=Minority News|first=Richard|last= Prince}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/22945326/black-alumni-network-new-columbia-j-alumni-board-chairman-|journal=Black Alumni Network Newsletter|volume=31|issue=5|title=New Columbia J-alumni board chairman |first=Wayne|last=Dawkins|date=May 2011}}</ref> * Constance C. R. White (2011–2013) * Vanessa K. De Luca (2013–2018) * Danielle Cadet (2022 – present)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fluker |first=Dominique |title=ESSENCE Taps Danielle Cadet As Executive Editor And Vice President Of Content |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominiquefluker/2022/12/02/essence-taps-danielle-cadet-as-executive-editor-and-vice-president-of-content/ |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== *{{cite journal|author=Audrey Edwards|title=The Essence of Sweet Success|journal=Black Enterprise|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qyQAUdgjPXMC&pg=PA134|access-date=January 13, 2013|date=June 1980|pages=134–138|issn=0006-4165}}
==External links== * {{Official website|www.essence.com}} * {{cite web|url=https://www.aaihs.org/essence-as-a-black-womens-archive-celebrating-50-years/|title=Celebrating 50 Years of Essence as a Black Women's Archive|first=Jacinta R.|last=Saffold|website=Black Perspectives|publisher=AAIHS|date=July 1, 2020}}
{{African American press}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:African-American magazines]] [[Category:Lifestyle magazines published in the United States]] [[Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States]] [[Category:Women's magazines published in the United States]] [[Category:Magazines established in 1970]] [[Category:Magazines published in New York City]] [[Category:Women's fashion magazines published in the United States]] [[Category:Black-owned companies of the United States]]