Essence Magazine is just one media outlet on a planet with over 6 billion Humans. As A FOR-PROFIT Reflection Of A Particular Cultural Lifestyle Publication, i cannot find any difference in the celebrity used now as before.

i have found that the thinking of ‘black’ as some monolith is usually theories put forth by those whose only problem with oppression is that he or she is not the oppressor.

(now i will look at how much space you used on Women you classify as unworthy)

“One of the speakers listed under “Empowerment” is “NeNe” Leakes. She is one of the main characters of the reality TV show, “The Real Housewives of Atlanta“. The show is about the private lives of women who are dating or is married to successful men in the Atlanta area.
Leakes is a foul mouth, angry, nasty person on the show and from media accounts in real life also. She is also the founder of Twisted Hearts Foundation (which focuses on domestic violence against women).

They were forced to close down last year after being suspected of money laundering. Leakes is also a former stripper.
One of the other speakers listed under “Empowerment” is Shaunie O’Neal, former wife of N.B.A. great Shaquille O’Neal. She is the executive producer of “Basketball Wives.” The women’s only claim to fame is that they either dated or were married to a pro basketball player. They have nor had no identity outside the athletes they were involved with.

Both shows portray women in the worst light imaginable—using high profile men to get fame and fortune. These women then try to exploit their former relationships to get their own TV show. They are paid to tell the most intimate details of their former relationships.”

(and those you deem worthy)

By the way, Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander was the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in America (1921). Alicia Jillian Hardy is the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D from M.I.T. in mechanical engineering (2007). Katie Washington, a 21 year old, became the first Black female valedictorian in the history of Notre Dame University (2010). She gave a wonderful speech (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaouUZrn2vI).

iREJOICE in The Knowing that as An Indigenous Diasporan, My sense of self is not reliant upon my proving The ESSENCE of My Humanity to you or anyone else.

cindy A. quashie
@BrokePimpStyles

p.s. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated, the Individual to have taken his place was One Ms. Josephine Baker, A STRIPPER!

I applaud your candid article on “Black Women No Longer Have Their Essence,” circulated via email. I have never been a keen reader of Essence Magazine for precisely some of the reasons you outlined in your article. I believe we are living in trying times and our young ladies need to be surrounded by other women who can make a palpable difference in their lives; by mentors who can inspire them to aspire to achieve their greatest potential not only as strong-thoughtful black women, but also as professionals in their careers and their roles as future wives and mothers.

Unfortunately these are not the women our young ladies are exposed to in this consumerist and entertainment driven society. Surely it would be inspiring to hear from the media—especially black media network—more about the achievements of young women like Alicia Jillian Hardy and Katie Washington, who perhaps can relate to some of the day-to-day life experiences of our young black and hispanic women, and are excellent and encouraging examples to learn from; who can, without a doubt, say to our young black women yes! You can achieve what you set out to do, and No! Despite what media portrays, the entertainment industry is not the only way to achieve worthy goals.

Thanks again for sharing your insightful thoughts which I will make sure to share with others who aim to serve as mentors and change agents to make a difference in the lives of our young people as a whole.

Sincerely,
F. Jordan

I will say that I think much of the younger generation is the blame for this. Essence wouldn’t be there if people would stop going to them as their source. They’re not a Black publication!!

I helped launch a Black publication for women that got tons of visits from people, but little support (users preferred tweeting/facebooking their latest “ain’t that a shame” stories about Black folks, instead of helping to spread the word about the site…meanwhile, they visited, and did not comment, even when we damn near begged them to). Finally, we shut the site down and as we tend to do, people cried out like babies, writing to me demanding to know what happened and tweeting to find out how to get into my site/publication.

The fact is, Black people prefer to go to White publications for a reflection of themselves: Essence, The Root, Grioo…they are ALL WHITE PUBLICATIONS. And these shameful people have the audacity to feign upset and offense when these publications disrespect them!

Go to a Black publication and actively support Black publications working for your people! (As mine was.)

We are the ONLY PEOPLE I can think of on the face of this earth who have ZERO SENSE of loyalty to each other, or to our collective goals as a race! Fools!

Empower whom?

Essence, please give us a break!

Although I give all women their respect, these two are in no position of empowerment, not do they offer anything other than sheer entertainment (for some) who like that type of “entertainment”

Both should have turned down any request by Essence or anyone else
to be listed as such.

By contrast, we have so many accomplished, black women whom I am sure would inspire others, and uplift us as a people if only some would look beneath the flim-flam, and although I do not see Essence or any magazine staying in the position they were in 30 years ago, most intelligent, Black women, or any women for that matter, knows when there is substance and when there is not!