If you are an Essence Magazine reader you may have noticed their slow decline over the past few years. They recycle the same 5 people on the cover, the issues aren’t as meaty and worse of all they are losing their original voice.
Former editor-in-chief of Essence magazine, Constance C.R. White spoke out last week saying she didn’t leave as initially reported, she was actually fired.
I went in there with passion and excitement and high expectations. It wasn’t what I expected at all.
After being sold to Time INC back in 2005, Essence has seen the departure of many of its figure heads and they have also see a decline in readership. Constance blames the new owners, saying:
The final “tug of war” came in January, White said. Referring to Martha Nelson, White recalled, “My boss said, ‘you know what? It’s time to go.’ I was asked to leave my position. I asked, ‘Was it something we can discuss, or has the decision been made?’ She said, ‘The decision has been made.’
“I had a certain point of view about black women being central to this magazine. The boss didn’t agree with me, and the president didn’t agree with me,” she said, referring to Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications Inc. “It became an untenable situation.” [ READ MORE ]
Very interesting. She went on to say:
I was not able to make the creative hires that needed to be made. When was the last time you saw Essence in the community advocating for or talking with Black women?
Essence needs stability and the brand needs a leader with a vision. Black women are social leaders, cultural leaders, we are aspirational and spiritual. Black women deserve the best. Essence is the last place where black women should be demeaned and diminished [ READ MORE ]
If I am not mistaken and please correct me, Time Inc is a white company. Usually when you sell a black company to a white one, they try to make our voices disappear. Look at BET.
The person that she’s having an issue with, Michelle Ebanks, is a black female.
And the boss over her is a white woman, Martha Nelson. No one black has power at Essence.
So are you saying that the citation here is miquoted?
No it’s quoted right. She said “boss” and president. The President is Michelle and the boss is Martha. If you read the full article it says that. I also see that CL updated added more to the article quote to be more clear.
@ Shame
Ok, I see. Well that is the way in which corporate America is designed.
wealthyfisher.ｃｏm==It is a focused elite dating site, where you can meet rich successful men and gorgeous women. Our members include highly successful entrepreneurs, millionaires, doctors, celebrities, models,etc. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.dstgrd
If Constance C.R. White had these feelings about content and her “battle” for the voice of “black women”….. Why did she not resign on her own rather than having to be fired from such an oppressive work place? This sounds to me like SOUR GRAPES because since she has been at the magazine its not done well. I don’t read Essence but I would like to know how a magazine that is filled with Black women, with stories about black women that somehow this magazine did not have a voice for black women? Talking bad about a former employer does not seem smart especially since there are always two sides to every story. Constance C.R. White also said that the President of the Magazine also did not agree with her, but isn’t Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications Inc. a Black woman? Is Constance C.R. White saying a black woman demeaned and diminished her? Again this sounds like sour grapes.
If you read the full article she was also talking about Martha Nelson, who is the boss over Michelle Ebanks. Blacks don’t own Essence anymore, so it will never be the same. I’m glad she spoke out about it because I won’t be renewing my subscription!
@ Shame
I don’t doubt that a white woman runs Essence. Caucasian females have been behind the scenes in the cultural and spiritual guidance of black females since the 1960′s, but the snippet cited Michelle Ebanks. It sounds to me like you’re attempting to disregard a certain aspect of the situation to make it look like there was no issue between the black females there.
I read the article and it said she was caught between TWO people. One of those two is a Black woman. If race was such an issue why did she not resign before having to be fired if she was so unhappy? It’s clear her job performance was an issue not anything else. Look at Jet Magazine? Fantasia is fighting with the EIC of that magazine over the photo that was used. The black female EIC called her illiterate. There are always two sides to a story is my point. I think the issue is much deeper than what Constance C.R. White is presenting it to be. It’s easy to make false charges against people in the press AFTER you get fired.
@ Richard
I agree, and I stated something along those lines in my previous comment on this thread, but it was moderated. Black females become very racially conscious once their money gets affected lol.
Nelson is the one who fired her not Ebanks. Does anyone read anymore? LOL
@ Shame
Respectfully…..You don’t get it. You are so quick to pass judgment on Nelson (without any facts) and give White the “sister” pass.” White said she was up against TWO people one of which was a Black Woman. If White’s direction was valid why did she not say that at least Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications Inc. supported her ideas or “concerns and presented them to Nelson? White said neither of these women supported her. I just don’t buy anything that Constance C.R. White is saying. AFTER being fired she now wants to paint herself as the vanguard of Black Women’s issues. If White felt this way she should have left on her OWN accord before being fired and begging her for JOB. Maybe then her comments would carry more weight.
@ Richard – no you don’t get it. You obviously have never been in a corporate job before. I read the full article and by the looks of it, she was trying to bring in young creative black minds and they weren’t having it. I read Essence and have seen the decline in content and features. They are still set in an old mindset, like it’s 1995. Ebanks is probably playing by the rules and Constance was in the fight alone. So eventually Nelson fired her.
@ Shame
I think you just don’t want to accept that White’s ideas were also not accepted by Ebanks a BLACK WOMAN (in a position of power @ Essence). And I know all about corporate jobs. Having a corporate job does not mean you can’t express a point of view or that TWO people (in positions of weight) can’t suggest a pathway to a higher power if they BOTH feel strongly about it. That of course does not mean it would be accepted or implemented but I sure did not read that Ebanks was supportive of ANY of White’s ideas. I think you are far more interested in supporting this notion of Black oppression rather than entertain the idea that White was not doing a good job. Nor do you want to accept that another Black woman did not support White, when the article clearly says she was not supported by the two women. You LOVE the idea of two Black women being oppressed in corporate jobs that they BOTH lack the POWER or intelligence to leave or change. SAD. Stop being a victim. If Whitefelt her situation was untenable why did she have to be FIRED rather than leave in her own accord? Why did she want to “fix” something she now claims was untenable? It was White who was told to leave not the other way around. You are taking one side of the story that fits your sensibilities.
@ Judah
EXACTLY! Someone on here asked “Where are the uncompromising, stand-up-for-what’s right folks?” I just wanted to suggest that “Constance C.R. White” is not one of those “stand-up” people. I would respect her much more if she resigned on her own accord and then made these “allegations.” I read another article where she even plead for her job (and the status quo she is not attacking) The quote was, “White recalled, My boss said, ‘you know what? It’s time to go.’ I was asked to leave my position. I asked, ‘Was it something we can discuss, or has the decision been made?’ She said, ‘The decision has been made.”
If White felt these things why did she not take action and remove herself then make these allegation? Fact is she was fired and shown the door. NOW all of a sudden she is this “conscious” sister. Come on. I just don’t buy it.
@ Richard
Yes, I agree. I don’t read “Essence” magazine so I honestly could care less what happens to that publication lol. Nothing but a pamphlet of mis/disinformation and propaganda. If it’s geared towards black females, it’s almost unerringly structured to encourage pride, simplicity, and nonsense. Look at the snippet. “Black women are ‘cultural’ leaders, ‘social’ leaders……’spiritual’….” lol. Really? In order for you to be “cultural”, you must know your culture. It just always entertains me how “conscious” they get when the funds get cut off. i honestly would like to hear both Ebanks and Nelson’s stance on why this female was fired.
I don’t read it either. But I remember this cover they had a few years ago… It was Sean combs and Kim Porter on the COVER with the headline….”BLACK LOVE”. This is what Black women are looking to read about and aspire to? I mean that cover was pure deception. Yet and still on the Blogs women supported it. I also remember they had Jill Scott and Nia Long on past covers talking about how they don’t need men to raise their children…etc. I mean if this is the stuff that black women support good luck to them. I agree…lets hear the ENTIRE story.
Why does she have to be fired to have credibility? You are dictating what actions mean “i am standing up for my principles”. If she was trying to do her job of what she beleived in and then they chose to fire her for not conforming how is that losing credibility? If she had quit and walked away then the story would be “Why didn’t she stay and fight?”. The real issue is whether or not the magazine has changed it’s focus of progressive support for black women and women in general. If the readership is down then I think that is a potential indicator of an issue. In terms of Essence being filled with articles about black women equalling quality articles about black women, the only thing I have to say about that is look at BET. Filled with black people but lacking positive content 90% of the time. Real Housewives of ATL, 90-100% black women but poor content, My Baby Daddy (damn near set us back 50 years) but was just a hair away from being on tv. Containing blacks and being positive for blacks are not mutually inclusive.
@marshka
I think White suffers from a credibility gap because we are only hearing ONE side of the story. And since it is one side we’re not getting the entire situation. The fact is White was fired and that can mean that a lot of her comments are that of a disgruntled employee. I think you can walk away from BET and no person would say you gave up and the same can be said of Essence if she felt half as strongly as she is presenting to us now. Content is of issue and on those grounds I’m sure all sides could contribute in a healthy debate about that. I just think people should be cautious of the narrative that White is painting. This seems much deeper than a person with corporate power suppressing the voice of a magazine that is aimed at Black women. The narrative that White is painting seems counterintuitive since she wanted to stay there and was not allowed. I’m sure her job performance was at issue not her race or gender.
I don’t see a lack of credibility because what do we have to go one that should make us think she is lying? She speaks out and has nothing to tarnish her image in her past but she doesn’t have credibility? Just not used to seeing a person with no history of issues be judged as having an agenda with no evidence of this agenda.
another one bites the dust… Where are the uncompromising, stand-up-for-what’s right folks?
I ALWAYS WONDERED WHY SHE WAS AT ESSENCE AND NOT AT EBONY…IT SEEMED LIKE THE TWO EDITORS SHOULD HAVE FLIPPED FLOPPED
THIS WOMAN IS VERY TALENTED AND TOO MUCH FOR ESSENCE….WHO REMAINS VERY STAGNANT AND DOESN’T SEEM INTERESTED IN REAL TRANSFORMATION (ASIDE FROM THEIR MUSIC FESTIVAL $$$$$)
SHE IS TOO GOOD TO WORK FOR ANOTHER MAG…..JUST WHAT IS NEEDED…SHE SHOULD START HER OWN MAGAZINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ASIDE FROM EVERYTHING ELSE TO ME ESSENCE HAS NEVER GROWN UP….JUST THE SAME ONE-DIMENSIONAL PERSPECTIVE RE-HASHED IN EVERY FORM IMAGINABLE (EVEN IF THEY’D CONCENTRATED SOLELY ON WOMEN IT WAS NOTHING NEW JUST RE-HASHED CONTENT WITHOUT DISPLAYING A DEEPER VOICE FOR WOMEN AND WHAT MATTERS TO THEM) SAME THING: TACKY FASHION, LICQUER, “AFRO-CENTRIC/FAKE KENTE”, HAIR, WORK-OUT, SEX, AND MORE SEX——IS THAT A REVOLUTION FOR WOMEN…..OR JUST A HALF-BAKED IDEA OF WHAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN CAN HANDLE?
EBONY WENT BEYOND PUBLISHING, CULTURAL MOVEMENT, AND REPORTING—-THEY BECAME ACTIVE VOICES AND LEGS FOR CHANGE AND THE EMBETTERMENT OF PEOPLE ESPECIALLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS, FAMILIES, AMERICA, ETC. ……EBONY COULD HAVE BENEFITTED FROM A TALENT LIKE CR WHITE
when will ppl learn the only black companies around is tv one and sister 2 sister magazine essence is owned by illumanti rockefeller time inc, the same magazine who named Adolf Hitler Man of the yr TWICE and jet magazine is owned by JP Morgan the same company who raped and pillaged the country with the help of obama during the 08 bail outs. In 2000, the Rockefellers and the Morgans joined forces, when JPMorgan and Chase Manhattan merged to become JPMorgan Chase Co so this who ever said this is a conspiracy is right its just another effort for the illumanti to shape and control our community.
TV One isn’t 100% black owned. They are part owned by Comcast.
yes Comcast is half owner of but Cathy Hughes Radio One owns a 51% interest in TV One which is more than any than any other AA can say. In 1991, BET network became the first black-controlled company on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2003, the network was no longer a black owned business when it was bought by media conglomerate Viacom for $3 billion so tv one is doing better than any other and Cathy is still the head of TV One
@Shame, I appreciate that you are trying to explain what’s in the article. Unfortunately, you are wasting your time with whom you’re trying to explain it to. There are boys on this site that simply despise Black women and take great pleasure in ‘kicking em when they’re down’. I used to be amazed at some of the things they wrote; in no way helpful to the Black collective, but claiming they are spouting only truths. They are DBR (damaged beyond repair)black boys and only seem to wish harm. It’s sad really because they appear intelligent and could really be leaders but are so destructive that one can’t get beyond it to hear any sense…
I have only purchased one Essence magazine since Time, Inc. took over. I noticed less pages and less political/informative information relative to everyday Black women. I usually check the website or read the magazine at the hair salon.
The heart of the matter is that something that was once very much big part of black households is now being whitewashed. First, the traditional image of black woman’s body now plastered on almost every white woman (i.e. the lip/ass injections)…now a magazine that is suppose to be uplifting display of black beauty, now more and more we see white women in this magazine again being glorified in almost every kind of advert as you turn the page…we need to OWN our OWN…black businesses need to be promoted more in these strip malls in the local community, I’ve even contacted Tyra Banks production company for a Black dating show like Bachelor/Bachelorette….WE need to GET OURS in this world, what better time than during the last term of this country’s first BLACK president, after Obama, the come up will be on Latinos (and please take note of how many jobs are seeking bi-lingual applicants NEED ONLY APPLY, after this, we will be just passing phase, honestly, has slavery been forced on us again in the 21st century??? I refuse to stand in the background of any WHITE woman/man…I deserve to be up front no matter what I’m doing or where I’m at…my ancestors fought for my right to be and therefore I AM…
Where is Susan L. Taylor when we need her–we miss you Susan!